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I thought I’d carry on from yesterday’s blog and put forward my idea for a Verified Purchase Review group on Facebook, as readers who are not authors seem to be in very short supply in the Indie book world (non-existent?). Here are the proposed rules in a nutshell:
1. If you want to take part (you can wait for the next buying thread if you want), reduce the price of your book to $0.99 /£0.99 on Amazon US and UK for 5 days and post a link to it on the new buying thread on Facebook within a 5 day deadline. You can also advertise it as a reduced price book as you normally would, so you may even get more sales!
2. Buy the (reduced price) book of the author in the post before yours in the buying thread before the same 5 day deadline is up, so I know when to end the thread and then the first person will know to review the last book. Reply to the post of the author whose book you have bought with the order number.
3. Read and post your review within a 6 week deadline on your Amazon home site and on Goodreads. Leave another reply to the Facebook post of the author whose book you have reviewed with a link to the review you’ve written.
If there are enough members, then I can have separate buying threads for different genres. Only leave a comment if you would like to join, and then I’ll know if it’s worth doing or not.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/verifiedreviews/
Sounds like a good plan? What do you think? We might then have turned ourselves into readers as well as authors!
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Esme, but this group isn’t running anymore.
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dgkaye said:
I can join the group Stevie. But I’m not ready at this point to hop into reading another book yet as I have a few I am wanting to read next and my reading time is not ample. 🙂
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Stevie Turner said:
Ok, just add your book to whichever thread is running when you’re ready.
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dgkaye said:
I will 🙂
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olganm said:
A word of warning. I’ve seen this done before, and you must remember that if you are thinking about targetting Amazon in particular if they suspect the reviews come from members of a group who are friends (and we are not clear how they know or what makes them decide who are ‘friends’) this is against their rules and I know they have removed reviews and even blocked people from leaving reviews, so it could be a bit tricky. It also could be considered breaking their rule about exchanging reviews… Just saying. Good luck.
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Stevie Turner said:
I suppose some of the reviews can be put on Goodreads instead?
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olganm said:
That’s true. I have not participated in such a group, so I don’t if the problems with the reviews were truly to do with this (as we know, Amazon doesn’t explain why it does what it does), but it’s something to keep in mind and to be cautious about. From what I’ve heard, what tends to happen is that some people are very enthusiastic but others forget or don’t have the time to purchase or review and it can cause friction. I am sure there would be ways around it but it might be worth checking with people who have tried something similar before and see how it worked for them. All the best.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Olga.
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Colleen Chesebro said:
There are groups on GoodReads that ask for reviews in exchange for reviews. I haven’t participated but know the group has been going on for a couple years. Is there any difference in what Stevie’s suggesting?
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Stevie Turner said:
Our books have been bought, rather than gifted.
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Colleen Chesebro said:
Good point. My biggest issue is that I only care for certain genres. If I have to buy a book in a genre that I don’t care for… well, you get the idea. I don’t want to be told what to buy for my reading enjoyment. Now, if we could figure out how we could choose from the books, that would be excellent. I would love to find a way to make this work. We all need reviews. I buy as many books as I can a month and review one a week. I’ve been doing this for close to four years. Yet, I can’t get people to read my books… I know you know what I’m saying. ❤
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Stevie Turner said:
I’m hoping that with enough members we will be able to have separate threads for separate genres. If you want to take part in this month’s thread, then perhaps look at which book has just been added. Check it out and see if it’s in a genre you like. If not, then wait for another book to be added before adding yours. Another book might appeal to you more?
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Stevie Turner said:
It just might be that all of us in the group have to read a book that perhaps we wouldn’t have ordinarily read. Look at it this way – it will broaden your horizons and you’ll get a review for your book!
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Colleen Chesebro said:
I suppose you’re right. I’ll give it a shot. It’s a win-win situation! ❤
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Stevie Turner said:
Absolutely.. Every 6 weeks or so you’ll get another review.
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franklparker said:
I’m happy to give it a go. https://www.facebook.com/HerefordAndIrelandHistory/
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Frank. Have added you to the group.
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robbiesinspiration said:
Hi Stevie, I would like to participate as a reviewer. I am a hybrid author so I don’t control my pricing on Amazon. I think it is a marvelous idea though.
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Stevie Turner said:
Do you have any books for 99cents though that you could add? If not, how would you like to go about this? Just pick a book to review from the thread?
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robbiesinspiration said:
Hi Stevie, apologies for only responding to you now. I will just select books to review if that is okay. I don’t currently have any books for 99 cents.
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Stevie Turner said:
As you wish, Robbie. Thank you. I assume you cannot reduce the price of your books on Amazon.com?
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Stevie Turner said:
Hi Robbie. Thanks for your offer. How do you plan to go about this?
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robbiesinspiration said:
Hi Stevie, I have Out of Time by Jaye Marie.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Robbie. I’ve put the July/August review thread up so that you can add the links to your review.
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Colleen Chesebro said:
Robbie, what’s a hybrid author? I haven’t heard that term before. ❤
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robbiesinspiration said:
An indie author with a small publisher. My South African author circular say I am a hybrid author so sort of half pregnant I suppose. I don’t have the freedom of an Indie but I don’t have the big shop support of a big publisher.
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Colleen Chesebro said:
Oh, I understand. I didn’t know you had a publisher. How cool is that? ❤
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Don Massenzio said:
Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
check out this helpful post from Stevie Turner’s blog on the topic of the verified purchase review group plan from Amazon
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for the re-blog, Don.
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Don Massenzio said:
You’re welcome
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tidalscribe said:
Yes, sounds like a good idea, I’ll have a go.
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Stevie Turner said:
Great! Thanks very much. I think we’ll need at least 8 to start with, so we’re halfway there already! Can you send me a link to your Facebook address please?
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tidalscribe said:
https://www.facebook.com/Beachwriter/
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks. Will hopefully be able to set up the group later this afternoon if a few more join today.
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jenanita01 said:
This definitely sounds like something we should all be doing, so count me in!
Both of us, come to that! You get two for the same price with us!
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Stevie Turner said:
Marvellous!
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jenanita01 said:
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for the re-blog. Hope we get lots of members!
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jenanita01 said:
You should, it’s a brilliant idea!
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Stevie Turner said:
Only you two so far…
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shalini said:
Sounds like a good plan. But again I do not know how it all works as many don’t have time to post in 6 weeks.
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Stevie Turner said:
Hi Shalini, you could join if you want and then you’ll be able to see all the information. You don’t have to add a book every time there’s a new thread.
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shalini said:
Stevie, the terms say buy the book and then review it in 6 weeks.
For me that is not possible.
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Stevie Turner said:
Okay.
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