How to hit #1 on Amazon... Showing 2,101-2,150 of 2,339

[Dr]

Christina

Each self-published author becomes a publisher's marketing agent and has the responsibility of promoting their own book or books. We have to build a huge fan base, share with others authors (and alike), write blogs and posts, carefully construct a marketing network and so many other things required to get our information out to the public. Many author friends have spent lot of time researching other authors finding out what works and what doesn't. The same rules apply that we use on the playground. That includes honesty, sincerity, a desire to win and fair play. If you want to see thousands of posts and entries, just Google my name, Dr Robert E McGinnis. Our contacts will come from far away and unusual sources. Here is a link to a comment by someone in France, someone I did not know before and never met. http://fidesgrace.blogspot.com/2011/0...

These kind of things make writing worthwhile and good for the soul. Thanks for your comment. Dr Robert E McGinnis

[Todd Fonseca]

Christina,
Interesting - I heard that the UK site was considering this. I still see tags for paperbacks. Anyone else hear anything?
T

[Larry]

Dr wrote: "I also never use tags as I know they are phony. There is so much collusion among authors and friends, I don't even want a review from someone that hasn't read my books. Yes, that happens. Play the ..."

As an author, I should be objecting, but I can't as I know it to be true. I put category tags, such as mystery, crime, murder, self-help, on my Kindle books, but I'm hoping for honest [ideally favorable :-)] reviews rather than what I personally consider such a deceptive and unethical practice.

Best,
Larry Moniz

[Dr]

An author should tag their own work, that is a good thing, it is about giving a road map to a treasure of reading. I think where I object is those competitive tagging processes that pile on tags without depth, meaning and truth and requested of others who in many cases have no idea what the books are about. If a book is good, it will eventually sell. It may take a little longer, but the luster will last a lifetime. Dr Robert E McGinnis published author for over thirty years.
PS (two more books due out within weeks, The Golden Cross and White Panther's Legacy) One more book is scheduled out sometime this summer. (Wisnook Treasure)

[Chaz]

Well, as an author struggling along, I am glad that other authors tagged my books. Now they are more visible to people who might be interested. I have also met a lot of other authors, started making friends with them, and learned a lot from their book covers, Facebook pages, and blogs. I have several books that I am intending to buy from some of the authors that I tagged. When I read their books, I will go and write reviews for them.

[Christina]

Like I said, I think it's great that people are helping each other.

I think in some cases (enough for Amazon to notice and take action) the tags become superfluous and muddied the waters, so to speak. With people clicking and tagging and liking work they've never read, (Amazon knows who has purchased a book, hence the "verified Amazon purchase" tag on most reviews) it became clear it was a fraudulent use of the service.

In any case, tags are gone for ebooks.

[Christina]

Oh, and Todd, FYI, the tags for print books were removed for a day or two but came back. Not sure if it was a glitch that had them disappear, or popular demand that made them reappear, but they are back.

[Elizabeth]

I don't purchase all of my books on Amazon, probably only 1/3 of them. But I do write reviews on Amazon for many of the books I read no matter where they are purchased. So just because a review is not verified by Amazon does not make any less valid.

[Christina]

You're absolutely right, Elizabeth. I was referring to the people who are clicking, tagging, and reviewing w/o reading as a means of promotion, of which there are many.

It seems that the tags for ebooks have returned, so people can get back to that practice if they choose to.

[Dr]

Instead of clicking, faking reviews, (you do me and I will do you) and all of that back and forth promotion among ourselves, why don't we work instead to build a fan base and let them do it for us. If they like the book, write a review, click until their heart is content, so will I be content. I love this business and from what I can see, some of you do too. I particularly love reading some of the comments here, I think you make good sense. One last word, if you don't have die hard fans, then whatever you are doing, isn't working. Dr M

[John]

Stands up and claps for Dr.'s post. Spending your time involved in back and forth promotion is preaching to the choir. Are writers struggling for recognition reading others or are they getting caught up in a game analogous to collecting friends on facebook?

I'd rather be writing... after all, isn't it all about the craft?

[Dr]

Thanks John, join those of us who are working to put our fans first and not our pride. Your the man today. rm

[Reena]

I honestly don't see anything wrong with tagging a work. A tag is not a review, it's acknowledging a work falls withing a certain category. You don't have to read a book to determine the category. For example, if I pick up a Sherrilyn Kenyon book, there's a pretty good chance it's going to be paranormal. As someone familiar with her work, I feel comfortable tagging it without having read it.

Furthermore, if my author buddy said they wrote a thriller, will I tag their book, I'm not going to say no! I don't believe you wrote a thriller unless I read it for myself. That's ridiculous.

Tagging makes a work easier to find as I understand. The more tags you have in a particular category, the more the work is searched, the more the work is purchased, then the higher the work appears in the search engines as relevant. I'm really not sure why folks wouldn't want to help pull their writing buddies out of obscurity by using tags. There's nothing dishonest about it. You're saying, yes... I agree with these tags. If you don't agree with the tags, don't click them.

I also believe one of the ways Amazon determines how books enter sub-genre for the top 100. No tags mean you're stuck in the general categories. It's much easier to reach a top 100 in a sub-genre than the general.

Now reviews are a different story. That's personally saying you've read a work and have an opinion about it. Integrity is at play.

If I see a bunch of 5 stars and nothing else, I sometimes research the reviewers. Often times it'll be from other indie authors I know associate with one another and not a single book reviewer. As good as a book might be, there is always, ALWAYS, someone who didn't find perfection in a work. My radar goes off when a work is top-loaded with 5s.

[Ivan]

Ivan J Torres-Suspense/Fantasy-The Nine Orders.

Name:Ivan J Torres
Age:32
Country:USA
Hobbies:Music, writing, reading and movies
How you found this group:Shelfari
Other:I am the author of The Nine Orders.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1462866743(l..."

[Christina]

You make a good point, Reena. There certainly is a difference between tagging and reviewing. I just would like to know that the best representations of indie authors are up at the top of the search lists b/c I think it elevates our status as a whole. I'd at least need to read the sample chapters of another's book before I'd feel comfortable promoting it. Just my opinion, of course. Others can and should do whatever they feel comfortable with.

[Larry]

Reena wrote: "I honestly don't see anything wrong with tagging a work. A tag is not a review, it's acknowledging a work falls withing a certain category. You don't have to read a book to determine the category. ..."

You say: "My radar goes off when a work is top-loaded with 5s." Does that mean you're wary of Hemingway, Poe, James Patterson, Shakespeare, Homer, and thousands of other great authors, all of whom regularly receive five stars even centuries after their deaths?

[Larry]

Jonathan wrote: "My tags seem to have disappeared - anybody know why - and how to get them back?"

As I understand it, Amazon temporarily suspended tagging due to abuses by some people who were expressing personal opinions about the book price, quality, etc. All things that had no relevance but were adversely impacting author sales.

[Tim]

Hi, Jonathan. Amazon stripped the tags for the abuse problems somebody mentioned earlier. Carrie over a Focus House told me they had been returned to UK a week or two ago and returned to our Kindle books a day or two ago. I think tags for physical books have remained all along. Next time I talk to her, I might ask her to check again.

[Reena]

Larry wrote: "Does that mean you're wary of Hemingway, Poe, James Patterson, Shakespeare, Homer, and thousands of other great authors, all of whom regularly receive five stars even centuries after their deaths?"

I'm not sure if you want an actual response to the comment, since I sense a bit of sacrasm happening.

Still, if a work has 7 5stars and nothing else, I'm suspcious. Even the best of the best has someone out there who didn't enjoy the piece.

For instance, I started reading the Great Gatbsy, and despite the shortness of it, the writing did not capture my attention enough for me to progress past 50 pages. If I manage to make it to the end, the highest I'd give the story is a 3... simply because no matter how great the story might end, the beginning was so drab it was a chore to pick it up the next time.

Another example would be Shakespeare. Now I LOVE his stories... at least the few I was forced to read during junior high and high school. But here's the kicker... I'm not fond of reading plays. For me, that lowers the entertainment value for me. So despite the many many 5s which might appear on his works, I doubt I'd rate anything of his above a 4.

You see... ratings are all about subjectivity. Something as silly as the format of a story can lower a score.

But if Shakespear were an unknown writer with a total of 4 review, all stellar... I would question the validity of those reviews. If he had 100s of reviews, mostly high ratings... then I might google blog reviews of the book and hope to find one from a reviewer I trust. And because I'm twisted, I'd definitely read a few of the 1 and 2 star reviews.

Something about 1 and 2 star reviews for a book everyone raves about just spurs me into a purchase.

[Beth]

I agree as well with Dr. Post, I'd rather be writting. Doing all this so called promotional work tends to kill ones love of the craft but the alternative is to hybernate away, write your masterpeice and hope that one day when its fall out of the closet Pan or Penquin pick it up and you become an overnight success. What are the odds?

[Dr]

I suggest that even the best among us will not be an overnight success. Considering the number of authors in today's market, if you get into the top fifty percent, you are better than average and doing great. I am hoping that no one here expects to make it big until a proven time when critics and fans have gnashed it out and you have come out at least, better than average. I am a realist when it comes to my own writing, which is not up there with the greats and I never expect it to be, I enjoy writing and simply the love of writing is enough for me. Enjoy your life and do your best, it may not be better in the next. Dr M

[Tim]

Reena wrote: "Larry wrote: "Does that mean you're wary of Hemingway, Poe, James Patterson, Shakespeare, Homer, and thousands of other great authors, all of whom regularly receive five stars even centuries after ..."

Reena: I, too, always seek out the worst reviews. I don't remember ever making a purchase because of them or in spite of them, but I definitely feel like I understand the story better when I've seen the unhappy reader opinions.

[Dr]

Dustin, I am with you, it is so difficult to separate the honest reviews from the good old boy reviews that I am in your boat. I love reading adventure and I have read enough to pretty much know how I will like a book before I buy it. What are you writing now days? Dr Robert E McGinnis

[Sean]

Excellent Idea. Submitting mine now.

[Todd Fonseca]

Thank you to everyone who has participated in our collective tagging experience over the last three years. After much deliberation, I've decided to close the TMBOA blog. I am humbled by everyone's generosity and support and appreciate all the friends I have made and the books I would have otherwise not been exposed to. For more information, please follow this link:
http://tagmybookonamazon.wordpress.co...

[K.G.]

Todd, thank you for all the hard work you put into TMBOA. All the best, Kathy

[Todd Fonseca]

Thanks Kathy.

[Todd Fonseca]

I just finished reading "Salted Away" by Gina Drew. This is an interesting Espionage Thriller that takes place on Cyprus. Gina's background as a foreign service agent investigating international crime and espionage really shines in this novel.
Check it out if interested!
http://reviewmybookonamazon.wordpress...

[Todd Fonseca]

Just posted a review for "Doodling" by Jonathan Gould. This is a very different book - sort of a modern day parable. Check it out:
http://reviewmybookonamazon.wordpress...

[Larry]

Todd wrote: "I just finished reading "Salted Away" by Gina Drew. This is an interesting Espionage Thriller that takes place on Cyprus. Gina's background as a foreign service agent investigating international ..."


I'm confused. Do you mean the Diplomatic Security Service which protects diplomats and investigates terrorism or the foreign service which works in consulates and embassies and helps Americans abroad?
I don't believe either branch investigates normal "international crime" such as robbery, jewel theft, fleeing felons, etc.

[Todd Fonseca]

I used the information the author provided on her smashwords page:

"Gina Drew is a retired American foreign service officer who specialized in investigating and countering international crime and espionage and who still travels the world in both the imagination and in fact."

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie...

[Todd Fonseca]

Just finished reading and writing a review for "The Escapades of Glamour Grans on Holiday". A funny look at life after 60... Check it out:
http://reviewmybookonamazon.wordpress...

[Lauren]

I had an idea and wondered if my friends at Goodreads would be willing to help me out. Four months ago I paid to have a book trailer made. It turned out great. In the 4 months I have had 840 visits and 24 comments. I may have made some book sales through it – that’s hard to tell.

I asking if all of you would please click onto this site:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQorTk... , and, if possible, leave a comment. That would help me rise up the Youtube ladder. Additionally, I’m requesting that you share the website address onto your Facebook page, Twitter, blogs, etc.

I don’t believe that a book trailer could possibly go “viral” – that only happens to people who burp the Star-Spangled Banner. But it would be a great experiment. Obviously, this request is not completely altruistic – it’s possible I may get some sales out of it. But, we could then all help each other in the same way, since we are all in the same boat.

My thanks to those of you who do this and please let me know your book’s name (website, Amazon link- if you’re an Amazon Associate, etc).

[Laurel]

Lauren wrote: "I had an idea and wondered if my friends at Goodreads would be willing to help me out. Four months ago I paid to have a book trailer made. It turned out great. In the 4 months I have had 840 visits..."

I clicked 'Like', Lauren. It's a lovely book trailer. Laurel
http://laurellamperdwriter.weebly.com

[Lauren]

Thanks, Laurel.

[Todd Fonseca]

Just posted a review for "Deadly Departed" by Tom Ryan. Wow, really really different book of murder in the afterlife (who knew there was such a thing).
Check it out:
http://reviewmybookonamazon.wordpress...

[Sherry]

It's been interesting reading through all these posts, I have a lit to learn and understand. :-)

[Todd Fonseca]

New review posted! For those who liked Joss Wheadon's Firefly, you might enjoy Nick Daws Short story - The Festival on Lyris 5:
http://reviewmybookonamazon.wordpress...

[Dr]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snnz2b...

I have been experimenting with building videos of my works. rm

[Laurel]

Dr wrote: "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snnz2b...

I have been experimenting with building videos of my works. rm"

Great video. Loved the lake scene. Tagged liked.
http://laurellamperdwriter.weebly.com

[Dr]

Laurel, you are so kind, thank you. I am no professional by any means, just an old man having fun. But, funny thing is that a lot of books sold just after I put it on U Tube. /Thanks for the encouragement and kind words. Dr M

[Laurel]

My children's book, Battle of Boodicuttup Creek, is now available as a Kindle.
Three children try to save a creek from the developers.
http://laurellamperdwriter.weebly.com

[Todd Fonseca]

I just posted a review for "The Power Behind the Throne" a mystery regarding England's Royal Family. Check it out (only 99 cents on Kindle): http://reviewmybookonamazon.wordpress...

[Todd Fonseca]

Just posted a review for "The Royal Sheikh" - for romance fans - its worth a look! (4 of 5 stars)
http://reviewmybookonamazon.wordpress...

[Todd Fonseca]

Third review for the day - Fire Season - Great novel about a crop dusting pilot fighting fires and evacuating a small town threatened by a fire storm. Check it out:
http://reviewmybookonamazon.wordpress...

[Todd Fonseca]

Final review for the day - my favorite book so far this year - Escape! Check it out - a super great deal at only $.99 on Kindle:
http://reviewmybookonamazon.wordpress...

[Larry]

:-( I'm scratching my head trying to understand how anyone can read and post so many books at once. Please, explain. Also, is there a charge for your reviews?
Being of Portuguese descent myself, I realize Fonseca can be a Portuguese surname. Are you?

[[deleted user]]

I'm experimenting with the 99 cent price point for Murder at Blue Falls (Appalachian Adventure Mystery)Kindle edition. Any advice on promoting this one-week event? http://dld.bz/bluefallskindle

[Dr]

There are some really fast readers in this world. I don't suppose he has read any of my books, but with twenty or so books in publication, it might slow him down a little. Dr Robert E McGinnis

[Debra]

Hope this helps someone. I canvassed a couple of thousand library websites looking for ways to submit my books to them for purchase. Many have online forms and/or email addresses of their acquisitions person. I was successful in getting my books into public libraries that way. I compiled a list of over a thousand contacts and put it on Kindle for $.99. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YEMYEI