Apple may need help to catch up with Kindle, Nook

Apple is currently hunting for a US marketing manager to help with the iBookstore, as evidenced by a new job listing. The successful hire will be based in Cupertino, California, and tasked with driving "awareness and sales of iBooks through co-marketing programs with publishers and authors, strategic partnerships, and via online and direct marketing tactics." Candidates must have a "deep and thorough understanding of the publishing industry and the effective techniques of marketing books," and ideally, a "strong understanding of and passion for both traditional and digital media, a vision of what the technology will bring about and the ability to help navigate the transition."

The iBookstore may need the assistance to achieve further growth. Apple has generally been quiet on the subject of the iBookstore's performance, although in June it claimed that the iBookstore represented 22 percent of US e-book sales. Amazon continues to dominate the market, thanks to the Kindle and corresponding apps for Android and iOS. Barnes & Noble has also made headway as a result of its Nook readers and apps. Still other competitors include Kobo.

Apple already has iBookstore managers for the UK and Canada, and has been searching for more to handle Australia, France and Germany. The company has generally had a harder time with the iBookstore outside the US, thanks to different licensing requirements.

by MacNN Staff