Manga List Project

The Manga List Project was created then end of 2008 when statistics showed that more visitors were using the Anime London Review Wiki than any part of the website. To expand the content, we decided to add the titles carried by local anime store, Neo Tokyo, to the wiki database. The initial project took over 2 and half months to complete. This included researching each title and creating content for each title. The Neo Tokyo Manga List was linked to front page so search engines like Google could index nearly 800 pages making up the list.

Since then other stores have join in on the project, for a comlete list of books with pages, check out The Manga List.

What is the Manga List Project?

Is informative index of manga, their content based on other databases found on the internet. Other databases from which information is included is also listed in the external links at the bottom of each page. These databases may also contain additional information not found in the Manga List. It serves as jumping off point for the visitor to find out more about each title including a list of local participating stores that might have the title in stock.

What is NOT the Manga List Project?

The Manga List Project is not a direct sell to the end user. It simply allows those who are looking for a particular manga to know where locally they can find the manga for sell. It's purpose is not a list of current inventory or even what volumes are in stock. We do not display cost of the product other than Available at with the store name and location with link to each store's website. If no website exists then default will be the category page setup for that store with address and contact information. Any promises of price or availability, etc. is on the individual store.

Why have the Manga List?

With the economic downturn, we were worried that small retail including speciality stores that carry manga and other stuff for anime fans might disappear. There is already tons of websites that support Amazon and other online stores but none for the local retailer.
Also with the Anime London Review Wiki seeing more and more traffic, it made sense to increase the number of information content to the Anime London Review Wiki.

What is expect from the retailers?

The retailers responsibility is their own individual lists which contains list of titles they carry or support. Additions or subtractions are made through the individual lists.
Additions are simply adding the titles to the list. No linking or creating of pages required. I usually catch changes with Recent Changes page. With a new title, I go through the process of collecting information on the title and adding the links to sites. Some titles also have animes which are also out there and cross links have to be applied. If a page for the title exists already, links are applied to the manga list.
For subtractions, it might be best to delete the title from your list as well as individual pages. Some titles get dropped by publishers but remaining stock still exists out there. As these books are sold out, and no longer available; they should be dropped from the manga lists. In some cases, publishers like Broccoli Books has stop publication in North America. In time, these books will slowly drop from the lists.
It is in the advantage of participating retailers to keep an accurate list to prevent customers from complaining if the book is out of print but still listed as available at the store.

Okay, where are the reviews?

Another reason to expand and promote the Anime London Review Wiki is to gain new users who will add their reviews to the Manga List. At this current time, users must be added manually due to problems with spammers attacking the openness of Mediawiki format. We're working on adding the ability to add users for the stores who signed on to the Manga List Project or more secure way of handling user authorization.
Also other databases listed in the External Links like Manga Updates and Anime News Network have their own rating and review systems.

Okay what this going to cost?

At this moment, nothing other then some time. As the Manga Lists grow, we will be looking at ad revenue options for publishers.

What if another store has more books than I do?

The intent of the Manga Lists is to spotlight to where a title is available. Each title's Available at lists the stores that carry the title. Whither a store has more or less stock doesn't matter since the end result or search by the user is to find a particular book. The more stores listing having a title available ups the ranking of that page with the search engines. The Manga Lists themselves help the search engines to find the pages to index.
Also this list serves as information on books which you may or may not carry and whither it is worth while carrying a particular title. You can't carry everything but you want stuff that sells, not sits.

What are people looking for?

Anime London uses AWStats as supplied through Databits.ca. This also gives a listing of searches made by users that click to the website. While there is not many searches for popular titles, more obscure titles get searched. While there is no way of telling what geographical region these searches are from, it does show interest in the book is out there.
In addition, we also create a list of new anime shows each season in Japan. Recently, we've also researched which manga these new shows are based on. Some of these new shows already have manga released in North America. This is an added bonus since interest in these shows peek that sales in the books is also. There are a number of the shows not based on manga but also based on light novels, video games and visual novels. Some of these have manga spinoffs as result of the popularity of the anime increases.

What is in it for me?

For retailer, it is one more way to get people into your store.

For the fans, it's information on books they might be interested in.

For us, it's increase in traffic and a better standing within the anime community.

For the publishers, it increases awareness of their product outside the standard big box establishments and maybe a little more support for small stores that carry their product.

You can email us at wiki@animelondon.ca for any further details or questions.