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Readers helping self-published authors?
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Hi Jen,I do understand your point of view. And I partly agree with it.
However, I'll explain you my point of view:
Likes help us (us - as self-published authors) to reach more readers. Actually, I'm not sure, but that's what I understand. And I can tell that even that top reviewers liked my book and gave wonderful reviews, most people can't reach my book because I don't have an advertisement budget or a big agency.
So I need to use what I can in order to reach more people. I don't think it's "unfair". It can only help my visibility in Amazon.
Hope you can understand my point of view.
Shir
Hi Linda,I got great reviews from bloggers as well. (And from one reader as well).
I'd love to get reviews from all kinds of readers. As I mentioned - it's more difficult to reach people when it's "one man show"...
In this age of high-tech, virtual social interaction, the words like, follow, friend, and fan no longer bear any resemblance to their original meaning. "Liking" someone's Author Page will not sell books. With, very few exceptions, the time-tested method of selling a book is for the author to take the time and expend the energy necessary to obtain the knowledge, learn the skills, and apply the techniques required to create a work that is worth reading.
There are rare exceptions to every rule; however, for the most part, there are no shortcuts to success.
Jim,Believe me - I'm not looking for shortcuts. That's the last thing someone can possibly say about me.
It's just so difficult. It's a really tough market. Especially when you do it 100% by yourself.
I wish that a good product was enough. It's not.
Shir wrote: "Jim,Believe me - I'm not looking for shortcuts. That's the last thing someone can possibly say about me.
It's just so difficult. It's a really tough market. Especially when you do it 100% by you..."
Shir,
You are correct; thus the advice to obtain the knowledge...etc., which includes books, and low-cost or free courses and seminars, many of which may be found in the local public library, that provide methods and contacts to obtain support from legitimate publishers, agents, and marketers who can truly help an unknown author achieve their goal and eliminate those who claim they will, but don't.
Those same sources unanimously recommend that the internet not be used to seek such help, since those who have been rejected by a legitimate publisher, agent, or marketing representative, because their work did not meet established standards, often seek revenge by slandering them in websites, blogs, and virtual social media. Most such tirades are grossly exaggerated or not true.
Shir wrote: "...got already 11 reviews by Amazon's top reviewers..."I'm still shuddering over the use of "got already".
I'm not sure what "liking" an author page does? I know on FB "like" swapping is no longer effective, FB will only show posts to engaged users.
Yes it's tough to gain visibility and traction. The best thing to do is use engage as a reader on social media, don't spam and don't try to game the system.
Then go write another book, and another one, and another one...
I DO understand your POV. You want attention for your work. I get that. Whether or not "likes" get you attention is debatable, but let's not get into that. It IS difficult to market an indie book. Want to know why? Let me tell you:1. Reviews have been tainted by trading, phony accounts, and paid endorsements.
2. "Liking" has been cheapened by trading, phony accounts, and paid endorsements.
3. Author spotlights, interviews, and "features" on blogs (for example) have been cheapened by trading, phony accounts, and paid endorsements.
You published one book one month ago. Real fans take time. Real endorsements, reviews, and likes TAKE TIME. Any overnight success is automatically suspicious. Don't give readers more reasons to abandon indie authors.
I believe that part of the problem may be Shir's lack of understanding regarding self-promotion and her attempts to apply it.In her Goodreads profile, Shir lists only one book in the "Read" shelf - her own. She names only one author in the "Favorite Authors" section - herself. Shir also includes herself among those identifying themselves as her fans.
Jim wrote: "I believe that part of the problem may be Shir's lack of understanding regarding self-promotion and her attempts to apply it."Agreed.
Completely agree with Jen. Rather than asking for "likes," you would do better to join some of the great groups on GR and FB where authors share information about how to effectively and legitimately market. There are inexpensive promotion sites that will help get your book noticed. Be patient. Engage with readers as a person, not a salesman. Persevere. Best of luck to you.
Jen's reply truly made me shiver. "Don't give readers more reasons to abandon indie authors." It is such a constant struggle to overcome the few bad apples.
Robin wrote: "Jen's reply truly made me shiver. "Don't give readers more reasons to abandon indie authors." It is such a constant struggle to overcome the few bad apples."Robin,
Jen was just telling it like it is. Sometimes the truth hurts; however, that doesn't make it any less true.
Many independently and self-published books are as technically well-written and skillfully narrated , as any of those released by tratitional, mainline publishers. Some, even better. Unfortunately, many are not.
When all indies and SPA's, without exception, focus upon continuously striving to improve their technical writing and narration skills, rather than trying to discover some clever gimmick to sell their books, the stigma attached to independently and self-publised books will disappear. If they don't, it won't.
Robin wrote: "Jen's reply truly made me shiver. "Don't give readers more reasons to abandon indie authors." It is such a constant struggle to overcome the few bad apples."I'm sorry Robin, but "a few bad apples" is a serious understatement. At this point in time, my own calculations and experience put those "bad apples" in a strong majority. Please don't hide your head in the sand. Jim is correct - if your books are well written and worth reading they will eventually surface.
(Do something about finding the "good apples" - Join the review site "The Source" and help screen and spotlight the good indie books.)
I agree with christine. if your works are awesome, someone will find it and spread the word. i'm bad at marketing and can't afford to pay someone to shill my stuff. so it's slowly making its rounds and i'm startin to get better reviews. i beleive in the strength of my skill and now folks are noticing. you will not be rich off your writing. whoever is telling you that is lying. so don't be a spammer.
Shir wrote: "...I thought to create a thread here for readers and authors to like Amazon's author pages of self-published authors..."Seriously - this is no more than promotion and I would never "like" your page because you requested it. Why do you think anyone would support you blindly.
I checked out your page on GR and your reviews are suspect in my mind. I'm not impressed with your poor use of English in this request.(Aren't you a writer?)
I personally believe this is nothing more than spamming (something authors are NOT allowed to do) and should be reported for deletion.
Wow. I still don't agree.However, if asking help consider as "spam" then I remove my request.
Best of luck.
My two cents...