Raise the Bar Press

Raise the Bar Press is a new publisher committed to using technology to bring fresh voices into the public domain through innovative word of mouth marketing techniques. Just as the landscape of music and film distribution is evolving, RTB is exploring how alternative approaches can allow independent authors to complement the traditional book trade and contribute to the intelligent exchange of timely opinions and creative thought.

J.E. Schwartz’s novel, Doublethink: A Tale of Unintended Consequences is the imprints first title. The author hopes it will contribute to public dialog leading up to the 2006 and 2008 elections and encourage voters of all perspectives to start listening to each other again.

Because media promotion and distribution is so tightly controlled in the publishing industry, RTB is focusing much of its efforts on alternative Web 2.0 social networking and experiential approaches, including:

• Viral emails
• Viral text messages
• Active participation on political blogs like DailyKos and HuffingtonPost
• Online discussion forum
• Online study guide
• Humorous micro-videos created in collaboration with GGFilms to be distributed via YouTube, blip.tv, LaughRocket and other video sharing sites and cell phone content services
• Cross-links with other political sites and blogs, writing articles and diaries for same, and tagging where appropriate
• Actively writing reviews for other books on amazon.com and powells.com as well as soliciting reviews from thoughtful reviewers and bloggers
• Craigslist postings volunteering author to attend book group meetings
• Online contest to solicit talent for audio version of the book