new site for book reviews

[John]

Hi all, I've just set up a new site to help authors get book reviews: http://www.paperbackreviewer.com/ It's just me scratching my own itch as a non-fiction author who spent years writing and now hopes for some qualified critique. I wasn't happy with the options on Goodreads or Library Thing, so this is my solution. You can pay for reviews (I know, I know), you can accept/decline requests by readers to review your book, it all happens online via the site.
It just went live so the first 10 authors to sign up can post for free (instead of $40). Just get in touch via the site. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
All the best,
John

[Barbara]

Did I get that right, authors have ot pay $40 to post? That's the fee for all possible reviews or does every review cost? You don't say anywhere, how much the reviewer gets. I suppose an author wants to get more than one review.
I can't see how this could work. And if the reviews are just on your site (and not on amazon or goodreads) who will read them?

[John]

Hi Barbara, sorry for the confusion. It's set up like this:
$40 to post a book
You (the author) choose how much (if anything) you want to pay per review on top of that fee. This is a max fee - the reviewers can bid under that fee - so if they really want to read it, they can do it for free even if you offer up to $5, let's say.
You determine the max nr of online review copies to give away. So, if you want 10 reviews and will pay up to $5, then you need to add an extra $50 to the $40. But, it is absolutely possible no one will ask to review your book. In this case, you get back the $50.
The reviewer is asked to post his/her review on Amazon and Goodreads, and any 3rd site of your choosing.
If they don't, they don't get paid. If they were reviewing if for free, the site "tags" them as someone who got a free review copy but then did not review in the agreed upon time frame (you decide the time frame).
I hope that clears things up. I'll look at the site and see if I can make it immediately clear. Any more questions, please let me know.
John

[Barbara]

Thanks for the explanation

[Emma]

Paid reviews are against amazon Terms and conditions. You risk having your account banned if you subscribe to a service such as this.

[John]

Thanks for the heads-up, Emma. I know it's a controversial topic, but didn't realize it was against Amazon's policy. Will have a rethink.

[Emma]

No problem John, I thought that might be the case, but people can and will jump on you from a very high place. Now offering to beta read a book for money is legitimate, but you'd have to show some expertise in that sphere. Getting a significant number of reviews of books you have read up on goodreads is an excellent start.
If getting reviews for your own work is a problem, there are plenty of non-reciprocal groups and 'swap' reviews groups on goodreads.

[John]

Hi Emma, Thanks for your response. I've set this site up because I've been disappointed with "review groups" on Goodreads. I've also been disappointed with the Goodreads and Library Thing "giveaways" where books are given to people who have no real interest in the book and don't really feel the need to actually review the book. It's led me to much administration and work for little result. Reading through forums shows many other authors with similar irritations. I'm trying to improve on that with Paperback Reviewer.

The pluses of this system should be:
- no need to send books (even digitally)
- tracking of readers/reviews is built in
- reviews are "mandated" by the system and have a deadline - in terms of x days or a specific (launch) date)
- actual review writing and posting is facilitated by the system
- control over who gets to read and review your book

Does this sound interesting to anyone else? Anything to add to this?

[Emma]

These works for me.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Putting in the effort to help other indies out, is a good way to make contacts and get reviews.

[John]

Hi Emma,
Thanks. I've looked into such groups, but never was attracted to the idea of review-trading. Call me a hopeless romantic, but I want people to see my book, be interested in it, read it, and then review it. I even believe this is possible when paying for reviews. But, if the powers that be scorn paid reviews, fine, I've taken them off the site.
Anyway, this is just my personal approach to things. Paperback Reviewer is thus a reflection of how I would like to see things go in my search for reviews. I hope and suspect that other authors and even readers will like this angle too.

[Emma]

Starting a non-fiction review blog may well be a worthwhile, popular undertaking. It's the money angle that's the problem. I wish you luck with your book.

[John]

Thanks, Emma. And I appreciate your feedback.