Does marketing influence your book purchases?

[GeoffC]

mind, free books can occasionally be a curse (Tor.com), you find an author you like in e-format, and find all their other works in paper and with no plans to make any changes ....

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by columbus

Recommendation by friends etc. was by far the most important to me.

Now however a 'freebie' is also, as I can try new authors without risking cash on work I may not like.

So I think you should have added an option for - yes free (Drm free) books do.

(have not voted yet)

I forgot all about the 'free' work examples, although I do tend to shy away from the big 'free' releases, and will gravitate toward an author who makes themselves known and gives reasons for their giveaways. I'm a hundred percent sure I'll give something a try if it's driven by the author rather than some 'marketing drive' by a company (exception being Baen, who I trust).

I suppose this all came from the gender thread and I'd never noticed any bias when I chose my reading material. When I was looking over my remaining pbooks I noticed the reviews on the back page for the first time (usually I never take any notice of them) and it got me wondering why do they put them there? I don't care if the NY Review of books said the work was good or not. Similarly I don't really care if John Cheever thought the work was 'outstanding'. But if one of my friends said "You've got to read this", then I'd be more likely to give it a try.

The subject is interesting to me because of my aversion to advertising in general. I use adblock on firefox, so I haven't seen a web ad in ages. I don't watch much TV and when I do, I turn over when the adverts come on (or I download without the adverts on there). When I buy a DVD I rip it immediately and take out all those obnoxious 'coming attractions' and 'FBI' non-skippable parts. There's nothing more annoying to me than having something 'in my face' and this spills over into book purchases as well.

I think only a mod can modify the poll. So if there's one around, could you please insert Columbus's suggestion.

[krisk]

my cousin was dating this girl that in all respects appeared to be a smart sensible young lady except when it came to her book selections. she absolutely would NOT read (even if it was given to her) a book with "raised glossy print" on the cover. didn't matter if it was a who dunnit, a thriller, sci-fi, romance.... just knocked it out of the running.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by krisk

my cousin was dating this girl that in all respects appeared to be a smart sensible young lady except when it came to her book selections. she absolutely would NOT read (even if it was given to her) a book with "raised glossy print" on the cover. didn't matter if it was a who dunnit, a thriller, sci-fi, romance.... just knocked it out of the running.

ah ! the tactile rationale

[kacir]

I was going to vote a strong NO, but I realized that I started to read Cory Doctorow after I found out about his free books. And that IS marketing. Isn't it?
Also think about Baen, and other books you wouldn't have found if there was not free e-book.

[krisk]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

ah ! the tactile rationale

this is a known issue? surprised the hell out of me! I thought it was a very "cut off your nose..." sort of gesture.

[All4Fun]

I'm influenced by recommendations and reviews of others including esp. the Amazon reviews when I'm considering buying a book.

[toomanybooks]

My favorite way to pick new people to read is to research a current author I enjoy and find out the names of authors who inspired the first author to write and read them. If I enjoy them do the same thing for the second level of authors. You can follow the thread back to the 1700s.

[Sonist]

Marketing works: for books, just like for everything else. Whether you are aware of it, or not....

I read Harry Potter because of marketing. I also read The Da Vinci Code (and felt like I had to take a shower afterwards - it was so badly written and constructed, and pandering.)

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Marketing works: for books, just like for everything else. Whether you are aware of it, or not....

I read Harry Potter because of marketing. I also read The Da Vinci Code (and felt like I had to take a shower afterwards - it was so badly written and constructed, and pandering.)

I worked for Waldenbooks when DaVinci Code came out. They had ordered 20 copies for our store (a lot for a relative unknown author). They were convinced it would be a big hit, and encouraged booksellers to take out a copy, so they could recommend it.

Ironically, it did go on the bestseller list right away, but went off after two weeks. Then it exploded.

Even though it sucked (IMO), it was still cool to be one of the first people to read it.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Marketing works: for books, just like for everything else. Whether you are aware of it, or not....

I never said "it didn't work" I asked if it swayed your book purchasing decisions. Marketing does work in that it makes you aware of a product/book, but it can also have the exact opposite effect than is intended. The marketing for Harry Potter turned me away from the book, rather than toward it, same for DaVinci. So in those cases it had the opposite effect on me. I was made aware of both but also turned away by the very same marketing.

It's one of the reasons I used to love buying from Second-hand and charity shops. The books were quite often jumbled up together and there was an element of discovery in the process - reading a few pages, the blurb, being attracted to the cover. Sadly, my favorite second-hand bookshop closed down (I also miss sitting down with the owner for a chat and a cup of tea).

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I never said "it didn't work" I asked if it swayed your book purchasing decisions. Marketing does work in that it makes you aware of a product/book, but it can also have the exact opposite effect than is intended. The marketing for Harry Potter turned me away from the book, rather than toward it, same for DaVinci....

Oh, I didn't intend to jump on a specific comment - it was a general observation.

And yes, marketing can be counter-productive for some. But it's really a numbers game, so if it captures the greatest segment of potential purchasers, it works for the advertiser.

BTW, after noticing all the glowing Da Vinci Code reviews on Amazon, I posted a non-offensive, by negative review. It was the only review of mine to be ever killed by their staff. My faith in Amazon's truthfulness started crumbling then.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I think only a mod can modify the poll. So if there's one around, could you please insert Columbus's suggestion.

added.

Originally Posted by Sonist

Marketing works: for books, just like for everything else. Whether you are aware of it, or not....

I read Harry Potter because of marketing. I also read The Da Vinci Code (and felt like I had to take a shower afterwards - it was so badly written and constructed, and pandering.)

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I never said "it didn't work" I asked if it swayed your book purchasing decisions. Marketing does work in that it makes you aware of a product/book, but it can also have the exact opposite effect than is intended. The marketing for Harry Potter turned me away from the book, rather than toward it, same for DaVinci. So in those cases it had the opposite effect on me. I was made aware of both but also turned away by the very same marketing.

It's one of the reasons I used to love buying from Second-hand and charity shops. The books were quite often jumbled up together and there was an element of discovery in the process - reading a few pages, the blurb, being attracted to the cover. Sadly, my favorite second-hand bookshop closed down (I also miss sitting down with the owner for a chat and a cup of tea).

i tend not to pay attention to marketing in general. i've seen very few "blockbuster" films and i don't follow the best-seller lists at all or read the reviews. i find new authors via recommendations from friends, following the chain of authors who inspired other authors i already like (someone else mentioned that), and pure chance ; i like to browse the stacks in the library / bookshop and read the back covers to get an idea for what the book is about and if it looks good i'll try it out (although i'm less likely to buy a totally unknown author ; i'd rather try them from the library first, in case i don't like them, unless it's a used book and really cheap). i've discovered a lot of authors i love by accident ; either in the library (no risk !) or checking out a friend's books.

of course, part of this is because a large portion of what i like to read is really old stuff, so there aren't any reviews being published and they're not on any best-seller lists.

but hype usually puts me off something. i haven't read the da vinci code (nor do i intend to), and although i did read the harry potter series, i was totally uninterested in it for years despite hearing about it from countless people (and in the media). i finally did read it the year of the big heat wave in paris, when it was so bleeding hot that you couldn't move, or turn on any appliances, or expect any neurones to work properly. a friend of mine's daughter lent me her books (there were several of them already by that time) and they turned out to be just the ticket to get through the blistering, mind-numbing heat. i'm not sure i would have read them at all, otherwise.

[columbus]

Originally Posted by Moejoe;

It's one of the reasons I used to love buying from Second-hand and charity shops. The books were quite often jumbled up together and there was an element of discovery in the process - reading a few pages, the blurb, being attracted to the cover. Sadly, my favorite second-hand bookshop closed down (I also miss sitting down with the owner for a chat and a cup of tea).

Also my favourite source before ebooks, one large second-hand English bookshop here in the area of Spain I lived then. Not cheap but where there is no alternative - .

For a while Play were a good source with free delivery to EU on a £5.49 paperback as against £4.99 p&p for a £5.49 paperback from Amazon. (They really are out of touch IMHO). Play are still cheaper though they hide the delivery charge in a Euro price.

[toomanybooks]

There used to be 9 used bookstores in my immediate area and now there are only two. I don't now what I will do when the last two go under. I have found some of my best books by buying a random paperback with an interesting cover.