UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion
General Chat - anything Goes
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New releases section in the group. Worth it? Your opinion please.
I don't think I've sold a single book as a result of publicising a new release anywhere on Goodreads. I thought its purpose was a kind of social club rather than a shop window?
I rarely pay any attention to them unless they are my favourites, or a fun discussion starts up. And that can be done in the author threads as well. If you tell the authors they can change their thread titles to announce the release, that would do the job - some of them don't seem to know they can do that.
I'm having a rare moment of seriousness, so please humour me -Is there a way I can save links or shortcuts to my own author threads? It always takes me ages to find them (scattered across a a couple of genres), buried layers deep and loads of pages down. I'm usually distracted along the way, ending up forgetting why I wanted to access my own threads in the first place.
It is a good question.A new release thread has the advantage that people can look and say "Aha, Jim has a new book out."
If I mention it in my author thread, people will just notice it as unread and shrug and assume Patti's just in burning the curtains again.
But as Gingerlily commented we can change the title of our Author threads. So that should work.
So my gut feeling is whatever works best for Patti
Is she going to waste less time explaining to new authors how they can change the title of their author threads than she does telling them how to do a new release title :-)
I'd say ditch it. Just attracts those who don't "join in"
Whatever's best for you, Patti.I'm certain any books of mine that have been purchased by members of this group would likely have been purchased whether they were in the 'new release' thread or not.
Jim wrote: "So my gut feeling is whatever works best for Patti"Always - moderators do too much work as it is; whatever works for the person doing the actual labor.
Pete wrote: "I'm having a rare moment of seriousness, so please humour me -Is there a way I can save links or shortcuts to my own author threads? It always takes me ages to find them (scattered across a a coup..."
Short answer, yes.
Long answer...
When you create the thread, you can bookmark it on your browser.
Or you can click on the buttons at the end of the thread to add it to your update feed and/or notify when people reply.
Or you can use the nifty 'search' feature over there on the right.
Jim wrote: "It is a good question.A new release thread has the advantage that people can look and say "Aha, Jim has a new book out."
If I mention it in my author thread, people will just notice it as unread a..."
To be honest Jim, I'm inclined to think if people are gonna use our group as a marketing tool it's up to them to learn how to utilise it properly.
Google is everyone's friend.
Of course, we're all still happy to help as well but I'm not gonna chase people.
Rosemary (The Nosemanny) wrote: "I'd say ditch it. Just attracts those who don't "join in""Yes, it does seem to be a drop n run magnet.
I'd say go for it.And we'll have a rule that your author thread title cannot be longer than the same of a song by your favorite band
Fairport Convention could well have some more followers :-)
( "Sir B. McKenzie's Daughter's Lament For the 77th Mounted Lancers Retreat From The Straits of Loch Knombe, In The Year of Our Lord 1727, On The Occasion of the Announcement of Her Marriage to the Laird of Kinleakie" )
Get rid of it.Possibly the reason the threads don't get many views is that all the information that is needed is in the title - particularly if it is an author you are interacting with (was going to say following but decided that wasn't the best word). You will be expecting the new release as you have been discussing the progress/reading about cover designs and so so on. The drop and runs might get the odd view to see what type of book it is if it isn't obvious from the book title.
The only thing would be where will the drop and runs post their book news? Is there a way to stop people from opening new threads unless they have made a certain number of posts? Or would that just mean more spam for Patti to clear up?
Nope, Janet. Unfortunately, there's no minimum post.The drop n runs will still happen. I'll just continue to delete them as they appear. We don't seem to get as many as we once did.
I'd say to keep it, but don't bother trying to fix the titles. Make it a recommendation that authors mention their name and the book title when they make a new thread, but not an absolute requirement.Then it becomes zero maintenance and folks can choose to ignore it or use it as they will.
The danger about dropping it altogether is that the flybys will post somewhere else.
But I'll go along with what everyone else wants.
Hmmm, there is that, Will.But if it's gone, perhaps authors will be more inclined to open a proper author thread.
Maybe. Or they could post it somewhere inappropriate. We can't assume that the flybys will be reasonable. I reckon that the new release folder has become a little compulsion for you. You have a love/hate thing going on as you tidy it up. It annoys you and delights you in equal measure when someone gets it wrong.
Frankly, I'd treat it like the kids' playroom and wouldn't try to clean it up. Just close the door on it and don't worry about what happens behind the door.
Last night it was more hate/hate.
I would have said 'close it' but Will makes a good point. Whatever is easier for you, Patti.As others suggest, we can always put news of a new release in our author thread.
I suppose we could just call it 'releases'.
Some groups just have a thread for releases. All releases
Most authors seem to put new releases in both places - NR thread and author thread. Lack of views indicates author thread is the way to go.
Yes, Kath our regulars do both.Drop n runs seldom open author threads.
Jim wrote: "Some groups just have a thread for releases. All releases"Thinking that's the way to go.
Patti (baconater) wrote: "Our group has a purpose???"Can't we have a porpoise instead?
No.But we are dolphin friendly.
Patti (baconater) wrote: "No.But we are dolphin friendly."
Well that explains all the damp patches.
I used it recently because it was there, but wouldn't miss it if it went. It's easier to announce new releases on our author threads.
I can't say I'm that bothered about it that much either.I'm happy with whatever makes the moderation easier.
David wrote: "I'm happy with whatever makes the moderation easier."
You won't say that when she reaches for the duct tape!
I like the new releases section, as I can quickly skim through and see what's new, without having to go into each author thread individually.(I may be biassed as I have a new release coming up.)
I agree, it's a lot easier to glance in the new releases section and see who's got a book out. Once I've spotted there's a book I'm interested in, I don't need to delve into the thread just to see a bunch of 'well done/good luck' posts, I just go to Amazon and buy it.I'm unlikely to trek through a bunch of author threads any more than I currently do, and in the high traffic threads it's very hard to find any actual information hidden in the banter.
I think Patti's idea is that the Author updates their thread title.(I'll run along and do it to mine so I'll show you what I think she means)
The other possibility is to have one New Releases thread per month, like the free books thread.
Gingerlily - Mistress Lantern wrote: "The other possibility is to have one New Releases thread per month, like the free books thread."That'd work. Possibly.
Gingerlily - Mistress Lantern wrote: "The other possibility is to have one New Releases thread per month, like the free books thread."Oh, now that's an idea!
Only one thread to tidy rather than many.
I like to know about new releases and author threads sink and disappear very quickly after a title change. Er hem, well, mine does. I reckon GL's suggestion would make a good solution. I have a new release coming up too.Cheers
MTM
Well, if you don't post on your thread, yes it'll sink.
But there's posting to tell people something and there's having irrelevant chats with your mates. That keeps you near the top but people stop looking. I do, at any rate.
Shame the chats aren't entertaining enough for you. ;)The thread title works well for announcements. As long as it's not a paragraph long...
I think there's a character limit on thread titles. Not sure.
I'm leaning toward GL's excellent idea of a monthly thread.
The irrelevant chat is why I'm here!
But isn't a monthly thread the same as a single thread, with the only difference that it causes more work for you?If we have a single thread, the new stuff goes on the top and the older stuff sinks to the bottom. It does the same job as a monthly thread only you don't have to create a new version each month.
It's a bit like the "good morning" thread. In theory we could have a monthly version of that, but what would be the point? Everyone knows to go the latest unread entry.
Depends on how long it gets and how often the thread goes off topic, Will.We just need to find a balance between what works for our authors and hopefully cutting down on my admin time so I have more time to post irrelevant chat stuff.
Rosemary (The Nosemanny) wrote: "The irrelevant chat is why I'm here!":D
Maybe, maybe. But at the risk of innuendo, isn't the length of the thread irrelevant? The "good morning thread" is a long one, but seems to work. People just go to the latest unread post.And I don't see how a monthly thread deals with your admin time any better than a single thread. You would still have the task of creating a new thread every month.
A single thread with light or no moderation seems to be the least work for you. The latest posts will be on the top. Oops, there's that innuendo again.
Don't want to make an issue of it. I'll go along with whatever you decide.
I think what you're saying might make the most sense.Okay, let's have a "Releases" thread.
HmmmThere's several new releases already posted.
I can't move them to the new thread.
Should I delete them and you lot can repost in the new thread?
If they're left as they are, it might cause confusion.
Jim wrote: "David wrote: "I'm happy with whatever makes the moderation easier."
You won't say that when she reaches for the duct tape!"
By the time she's finished with it I won't be able to say or do anything.
Very few of the threads in that section get more than ten views, I noticed.
I feel new releases can be announced just as effectively in author threads.
Anyone have any compelling reasons to keep that section?