I guess it’s common knowledge now that most book bloggers have other book-related accounts, such as Goodreads or Shelfari or Library Thing. These accounts are really more to keep track of books or participate in online book clubs, but I know of some people who post more there than their blogs.
Ever since I started my blog, though, I’ve been cross-posting all the reviews I write to my Goodreads account. I admit that this is really just for extra hits before (and it works). However, now I realize that sometimes I go to Goodreads to look for reviews first rather than look at other blogs. It just requires less effort for me, since I just have to look for the book and immediately see reviews instead of jumping from one blog to another.
Now back during ReaderCon, I remember Mina saying that my review of one of her books was one of the most helpful reviews there. I rarely cross-post reviews on Amazon or any other book-selling site unless an author requests for me to do so. I just feel that it’s a bit tedious to do so, and I’ve been so used to Goodreads that it’s only always been the one I’ve been cross-posting to. I am thinking about doing it — it’s just that I kind of have a lot of reviews to cross-post there if I decide to do that. :P
So now here’s my question: does cross-posting on Amazon (or B&N, or any other book-selling site) make a big difference? Do you do it? How long have you been doing it? For authors (assuming there are authors who read my blog), do you prefer that reviews are posted on Amazon (or insert preferred book-selling site here) more or as well as in Goodreads/Shelfari/etc and in blogs?
*author hat on*
A cross-posted review on a retailer site like Amazon, Smashwords, B&N etc would definitely be helpful, yes. (Wait that’s an understatement — it would be oodles and oodles of help.) Especially for a relative unknown like me, any evidence that the book has been bought, and read, and/or appreciated by someone else may help a buyer make that purchase despite not knowing who I am.
It might also be a source of a new audience for you. As a buyer of books I’ve actually checked out the previous reviews of someone whose point of view I found interesting, and purchased (or decided not to purchase) a title because of them.
*blogger hat on*
Yeah, this can get tedious. The closest to cross-posting I do is post links on FB and Twitter, and even that I procrastinate on sometimes. But every site does expand your audience. I guess it’ll be up to you to decide which site is worth cross-posting to.
Thanks Mina! I think some authors would appreciate cross-posting, too, especially the new ones whose books don’t get much hype. I remember one impulse buy on Amazon that I reviewed for The POC, Gravity and the Girl by Riley Noehren. She sent me a message a few days after my review went up because apparently, her sales went up after that.
I’m still not sure if I will cross-post to Amazon because I’m just too lazy. Haha. But maybe I’ll make exceptions on whether the author is new and how much hype the book is getting online. And if I really, really like it. If I love the book, I don’t think it will be much of an effort to post my reviews on retailer sites if it means having more people buy that book. :)
All of my reviews are cross-posted in Goodreads because like you, that’s the first place that I check out whenever I’m interested in a book. Most of the bloggers I follow have accounts over there and it’s so much easier to look at a book’s page and see all of their ratings and reviews. Also, I get to add the book to my Goodreads wishlist. :)
I’ve don’t cross-post in Amazon although that site was really helpful before I discovered the blogosphere and Goodreads. I do post links of my reviews to my blog’s Facebok page and my Twitter account. I don’t post links on my Facebook profile though. Oh and I’ve cross-posted reviews in Smashwords of books that I purchased there because I get a notification to rate or review them.
I hardly check book reviews in Amazon, really, except when I’m doing some ebook shopping. Otherwise, Goodreads is all fine. And I think people are more honest in Goodreads — sometimes too honest. :P
I only cross post to GoodReads as it is one place I go to most often for reading recommendations.
I cross post *everywhere*. My website, Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Library Thing, Smashwords, links on G+, FB, and Twitter… all of it. And pretty soon I’m going to get involved with cross posting on different blogs. I think it helps not only the authors, but the book blogs. It gets your name out there, and can (hopefully) produce more readers.