08-18-2010, 08:42 AM | #1 | |
Pulps and dime novels...
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Author Self-Promotions: a suggestion for your consideration...
This idea sprang from the ongoing Can self-promotion go to far? thread in the General Discussion area...
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- M. |
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08-18-2010, 11:09 AM | #2 |
aka coco jinlo
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I'm not advocating a position for or against this proposal. If it's put into service, I will probably utilize it. I do, however, wish to point out the potential future conflicts with such a promotional tool.
What are you going to do when a certain book cover creates complaints from any of the members of this forum? Are you going to institute standards for content? I certainly appreciate the opportunity to be able to turn off such a tool if it becomes obnoxious, but I don't think that's going to be enough when more and more authors discover it and begin to submit their covers to gain attention. Eventually, there's going to be one that creates debate. In case you're forgetting, removal of a cover from a post already caused a certain amount of controversy. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74302 If you're going to move forward with a project like this, you should be prepared to deal with these kind of issues. |
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08-18-2010, 12:11 PM | #3 |
Pulps and dime novels...
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Interesting point. Perhaps this could be addressed with something along the lines of Smashwords' "Prude Filter" to determine what content each set of users (opt-in versus opt-out) see, and have it activated by default?
- M. |
08-21-2010, 03:27 PM | #4 |
Zealot
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The idea of the "random rotation" is a good one, I think. They use a similar concept on the PatronQuo website, except they're using snippets that rotate on the first page, regardless of popularity, thereby giving everyone an equal shot of being seen. Yeah, I'm sure a lot of people would jump on it immediately, and too many might make it useless, but it's definitely an idea worth considering.
--Maria |
08-22-2010, 03:13 AM | #5 |
neilmarr
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Hya Jinlo. I think the 'prude factor' is one of those bridges mods and members could cross if and when we meet it. Some covers are embarrasssingly poor, but few are in what might be considered bad taste or otherwise shocking. Cheers. Neil
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08-22-2010, 10:21 PM | #6 |
Wizard
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I like the concept but fear its future implications. If it's a scroller atop the forum, it would have to be specific to that one in particular.
But, if implemented will probably create even more gypsies than we already have now. And that could even lead to Alex implementing some sort of paid advertising by authors. |
08-22-2010, 11:19 PM | #7 | ||
Pulps and dime novels...
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Quote:
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- M. |
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08-23-2010, 05:14 AM | #8 |
Chocolate Grasshopper ...
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One thought strikes me, prospective readers would be judging the book by cover alone. Whilst some, I'm sure do, is it enough I wonder?
I accept your concern about paid advertising, but it may reduce the fly-by-nighters who join as members only to get a free advert - but I'm sure at this time it's likely a non-starter. It's a shame the thread hasn't interested comments from the forum administrators, though it's been a while since I noted Alex and Zelda around.... |
08-23-2010, 05:29 AM | #9 |
neilmarr
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Aye, I agree, Geoff. The other side of the coin, though, is that an amateurish cover (in terms of presentation rather than subject matter) is a fair hint as to the quality of what's inside the package.
From a purely author-centric sales POV, better no cover at all than some of the embarrassing nonsense I've seen. Awful cover work is too vivid a red flag to me to want to look any further. My loss? Maybe at times. But why risk precious recreational reading time with so much else on offer with covers that suggest care and a reasonable professionalism inside? Cheers. Neil |
08-23-2010, 05:46 AM | #10 | |
It's about the umbrella
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Quote:
It is under team discussion, and we'll let you know as soon as we come to a decision. dreams Moderating Team |
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08-23-2010, 06:08 AM | #11 |
Chocolate Grasshopper ...
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I never doubted for one minute that the thread was totally ignored .... but at least my comment brought you out of the woodwork !!!
Is it not bed time for you yet !!!! |
09-02-2010, 12:51 PM | #12 |
Curmudgeon
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I think the book/cover connection is fairly tenuous. I've seen (and bought) some very good books with dubious covers at best, and there are some wonderful covers out there, some of them on bookstore shelves, enclosing books I'd be ashamed to put my name on. But that's for the reader to decide. I'm more concerned about additional load on MR, as the user population and presumably the author population both grow.
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