GOOD REVIEWS discussion

So far, over the years I've got ripped off by around $1,100! in two offers. Later I had to see a solicitor about something else and he told me he knew of an author who'd sunk around $10,000 trying to promote his book and getting nowhere. I am not surprised. Even legitimate sites cost a fortune. So not pointing fingers but one side had a 2/3rds discount for "Bookd of the Day" for around U$ 500. Duly paid. Duly promoted and the return was roughly 20%. That same site offers a total blanket promotion that is mega for U$ 19,500. Who has that sort of money. Amazon won't look at anything under U$ 25,000 either. Reviews I am told convince those who'se minds are made up. Even then I ignore then if I want to read the book. And if not reviews don't help. Because they're all the same. Why the need to get piles of cliches. However I must admit some reviewers are intelligent even on Amazon. But odd as that megalith appears, I have a review on Amazon in the UK but that doesn't appear in India, where most of the book is set. You'd think they'd want to help make a profit. No. They're so rich they've lost sight of how they began in promoting their products. I am going to try different avenues. I will post an update eventually at my site as well. It's going to be upgraded. However if others have the same experience I think new authors should know.

In our money-driven world, selling intellectual products like books has never been easy. Very often, books with no substance and big marketing budgets sell millions of copies, and literary gems stay unnoticed in the corner. True talented individuals create to express, not to impress.

I try to look at the independent publishing industry and see what's good. Amazon KDP allowed me to format and publish my books on their site with minimal financial outlay. Yes, they have a virtual monopoly on retailing books, but they do allow the newbies a chance to get off the ground. However, I'm now at the point that I need to get my books out of Kindle's 'dungeon stacks'. The problem is that Amazon Ads are expensive and the process is opaque as to how effective they will be. And then there is the arcane game of 'Guess the Keywords', as if their AI bot couldn't figure that out from your book on its own. That also leads to nebulous publishing data providers like 'Publisher Rocket', which promises inside knowledge of Amazon Kindle's confidential algorithm data. If Amazon provided more transparency and better ease of use of their ad program, I imagine more authors would gladly participate in it, in spite of the high cost. Just a thought...

Marin wrote: "In our money-driven world, selling intellectual products like books has never been easy. Very often, books with no substance and big marketing budgets sell millions of copies, and literary gems sta..."

Spot on. I am starting to read time wise backwards. The further from the present, the better the stories.

John wrote: "I try to look at the independent publishing industry and see what's good. Amazon KDP allowed me to format and publish my books on their site with minimal financial outlay. Yes, they have a virtual ..."
Wow. Just a thought. How about a packet of slow fuse kinetics. You've explained heaps. As for Amazon reviews. I got one in their UK site and that's where it stays. Plus I couldn't post one from here because I hadn't paid U$50 in the current year. No spend no posts.
Yes how adds there effect what one termed 'organic growth'. Interesting if a zero-brain algo-bot can't assemble a few words then what great proof that AI is all spoof. they'll get in a digital jam eventually. Like I think it's Forster who wrote almost a century ago a little book titled: When the Machine Stops. Getting there.