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Amazon to acquire GoodReads
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message 101:
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Jim
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Apr 02, 2013 10:46AM
But not half as exciting ;-)
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Very true.I was actually ridiculously surprised to find out Amazon owned Zappos as well. Our family have been using that site since it's infancy and we thought it was just getting better as the years went by and they got more experienced. We'd no idea it had been bought over (must of missed the announcement) as it didn't change - just improved like any site does over time.
Thanks, that is an interesting article.
One of the things which struck me from the now MASSIVE thread below the original Blog Post is that a lot of people think GR will become a site full of author spam. I suspect most if the have never been on the Amazon forums where one gets flamed if one mentions ones own book in the wrong place. Most people don't go to the MOA and if they do it is other authors looking for sanctuary.Whilst I do agree GR is a reader site primarily and should remain so who do they think is writing these books? Readers are the ones buying them, thus giving Amazon (or anywhere else) the money. There may well be ads for Amazon books but they can be ignored or blocked. I really can't see GR suddenly being overrun with badly behaving authors trying to spam their book at all and sundry.
I have to admit I like the idea of a site where it is readers only. I am not referring to GR here - I mean a new little site (or one that exists now?) where readers can freely talk amongst themselves without freaking authors getting in the way even MENTIONING writing/books. I can't be dealing with that at the best of times and only put up with it in the group because I can avoid most of the threads that talk about it (and it always helps I really like you lot ;) .I had to wonder about the comments that say GR is full of trolls and spam. I do believe someone called it an asylum? Have I been living under a freaking rock?
Phnark, if you have, I've been there with you. Why would authors spam goodreads? If you're an author your profile tells people. If they are interested and want to find out more it's very easy for them. You don't have to tell anyone. At Amazon it's very hard to show people you've written a book without actually mentioning it. And yes as an author I do hope people will be able to find out that I've written a book, and where to buy it, if they like .
Edited to add: the If they like being the important point there. ;-)
Thanks for posting that Nick - some interesting discussion points there.
Louise-Lesley (Elle) wrote: "I have to admit I like the idea of a site where it is readers only. I am not referring to GR here - I mean a new little site (or one that exists now?) where readers can freely talk amongst themselves without freaking authors getting in the way even MENTIONING writing/books. I can't be dealing with that at the best of times and only put up with it in the group because I can avoid most of the threads that talk about it (and it always helps I really like you lot ;) .I had to wonder about the comments that say GR is full of trolls and spam. I do believe someone called it an asylum? Have I been living under a freaking rock?..."
Some goodreads forums aren't as nice as this one.
Not only that but the authors are generally pretty well behaved, Patti bins the occasional drive-by. I was chuffed that some people didn't even notice I was an author, says everything about my ability to promote doesn't it
If you wanted a forum with no authors you could probably set one up on goodreads. You might get people who read but also write, but the good ones wouldn't mention the books especially if the rules were plain, The others you'd just have to have a moderator to eject.
Oh I already am a member of plenty of groups on here that don't allow authors & I have another pile of groups that do.I've yet to come across any that aren't nice.
Maybe my preferred genre is just a really damn nice place to be in since we all get ours kicks :D
Moral of story: everyone read porn.
A curse on that article :) I wanted to rant and rave about evil corporations taking over the world. Now it seems that this might be a good thing!! Grrrr!!!
Yes I am in a couple of forums where authors aren't allowerd to be authors as it were. Personally I think a specific place where authors are allowed to post is a good idea unless it is SPECIFICALLY readers only. Anyone who wants to look at the author promo pages can and anyone who doesn't can avoid them (hopefully).I think the Romance Forum Refugees is no author spam and I have seen a couple more. It is a good point though about the author page but really do you check if someone makes a comment whether they are an author? I don't... other's might though.
I know on the offical Amazon forum you daren't mention you are an author and the MOA no one look 'cept other writers:)
Mostly people here stick to the rules and if they do mention it inappropraitely are usually polite enough to remove it and apologise.
It does occur to me though that the readers are perfectly happy to want the books just not for the writers to mention them. That is often how I find new books. Maybe that is just me. An author PMing with spam would certainly get annoying though.
I have looked at librarything as well, but as I can only import 200 books before paying I will have to choose. I think you have to pay for an author account although I am not sure. I know when I read the guidelines they were really specific about where writers could post.
I look on MOA for books. Had some good'uns from there. (As well)
Actually that isn't a bad plan. I actually joined the European ones as well, there are some forums for books written in English.Not that I need any more books... damn Amazon and the one click of doom:) I have resisted the urge to buy anything on Nook and Kobo now I have the apps. I am not keen on reading on a computer screen and I am not sure I can put on my Kindle
Don't remember the last time I downloaded a book that wasn't one of our authors.I, for one, NEED our meet the author and new release threads.
I can't really think of anyone in our group who is a serial inappropriate
plugger.
Some don't even post their links often enough in their author threads!
Patti (It's a grape life) wrote: "Don't remember the last time I downloaded a book that wasn't one of our authors.I, for one, NEED our meet the author and new release threads.
I can't really think of anyone in our group who is a..."
Guilty as charged!
I'm a serial "Just one more draft then it'll be ready"er...
Oh, tell me about it!(No, please don't!)
Lol I got an email about some author's book (no one here at least not that I know of. I just didn't look as it wasn't my sort of thing. I do get it on FB sometimes... now FB is spam central (I help with that too)
