Quote:
Originally Posted by FizzyWater
The downside of that is that many authors encourage regular readers to "friend" their reader pages....and having that author in your "friend" list doesn't mean you're unable to provide an honest review. It might make it harder, I admit, if you chat a lot of the author's blog or website or Facebook page. But it definitely doesn't mean a review was "bought and paid for".
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Yup. It's a problem. We work hard to stay in touch with readers, encourage them to visit and comment on our blog, friend us on every social network we can find...anything so that the readers don't forget about us!
I had one review disappear a couple of weeks ago. I don't know which review or who left it. I don't even know if it was a good or bad review. But I can say that Amazon isn't as clever as they think (with this plan or the affiliate plan).
I know how important reviews can be and I often left them on Amazon. I am now a lot less likely to leave them. I really don't want Amazon following me around and checking out my facebook page (or any other page, really). I don't particularly want the NSA doing it either. I abhor the practice because it will be misused by someone at some point.
I can leave reviews at my blog for books that I want to talk about. I'll still leave a review at Amazon if I really loved a book and the poor book has only a few reviews because I do know how hard it is to be noticed, but I'm not thrilled about the whole mess.
I understand there is a problem with 'fake' reviews, but stalking reviewers behind the scenes and 'deciding' who is friends or leaving fake reviews doesn't sit well with me.