Support for Indie Authors discussion

Hey Everyone,
So I was on Barnes & Noble's website and noticed like all book sites they have a spot where you can leave a review of a book and it got me thinking. As a reader and as an author who kindly and appropriately asks their readers to leave reviews how many places should they leave a review?

I say 4, Amazon, Goodreads, B&N and a fourth being optional in the event the book was purchased through a site other than the first three.

As authors we are always told we need reviews of course what your not told is that those "reviews" you need need to be on Amazon as it's the book juggernaut so ideally whenever your told to get reviews this is where they are talking about them being.

But back to the question at hand, how many places do you think a review should be left? Also here's some sub questions I'll throw out as well..

Where do you feel they should be left besides Amazon?
Should an author write a the same review in each spot or different ones?

I say wherever they want. If they only want to leave one on GR, be it.

Personally, I only leave reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. If I read a version I took from Smashwords, I may leave a review there also, but I'm too lazy to start looking around to see if the book is on Barnes and Nobles, iTunes or other places. That means, I can't and won't ask any reviewers to do what I wouldn't.

As for your other question, I only write one review. My idea of the book won't change depending on where I post it and (as mentioned above) I am a bit too lazy to write different version.

I leave reviews on my blog, Goodreads, Amazon, Smashwords, and B & N if I can find them. Also, I let indie authors know that if they send me the link, I will post the review in other places as well.

My blog has a more in-depth review, but I take snippets from that for the other reviews. I leave the same review on all sites.

I've had authors request that I leave my reviews on outlets I don't frequent, such as Smashwords or B&N and I'll be honest, it was offputing. A reader can leave their review (or not leave their review) wherever they like. Asking them to do more can be alienating.

I let my readers decide that for themselves. If they want to leave reviews all over the Internet, great. If they just want to give a drive-by one star on Goodreads, it might sting a bit, but that's their right. If they don't want to leave any review anywhere, well, I'm just grateful they bought the book.

I have more reviews here than on Amazon, but I don't bug the reviewers about it. They left positive feedback and that's all I can ask for. That's my 2¢ on it.

Heh. I've asked certain readers if they wouldn't mind leaving reviews in other places but only if they've emailed me first of their own accord. I feel like if they've initiated a dialogue then it's okay. I mean, I'm humble and polite (I hope) and always, always tell em that it's no obligation. But...

I don't wanna put anyone off so... *ponders making a change*

Hugs,
Ann

Hmm, this is a great questions. So far, I leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, with the occasional one on my blog. Basically, Goodreads + wherever I got the book. (I also leave starred reviews on Audible.)

I think if it's a read-for-review deal, the review should be on Amazon and Goodreads, plus wherever else the reviewer wants to leave it. But if it's just a reader posting a review out of the goodness of their heart, then they can leave it in as many or as few places as they like... That's the assumption I've always had, any way :)

Great responses everyone, thank you.

Grace I totally agree. Amazon and Goodreads are the standard necessity and if they wish to leave it anywhere else that's up to them.

I only do Amazon and Goodreads. I get the book from Amazon and I'm also on Goodreads. I'm not on the other websites so I can't review them there. I think Amazon/Goodreads, since they are connected and the most popular, are necessary if you want to be a good reviewer.

As many or as few places as they want to! :)

Should? Zero.
Could? As many as he/she likes.

A review is a bonus, freely given by a reader. There are no expectations.

If you specifically talk with a reviewer, then it's a matter of agreement.

I'm of the opinion that if the reader is gracious enough to write a review, I would ask that it be posted at Amazon. From past experience, a reviewer could not post a review of my first book at Amazon as she never made a purchase there. So, I asked her to email it to me and I copy/pasted it verbatim on my web page and here at Goodreads.

As long as it's posted somewhere once, you can copy/paste it to parlay elsewhere.

Amazon.

My advice, like many here, don't bug the reviewer. They will post reviews when and where they choose,

Wherever they like. It's up to them....

I demand that they leave it in at least 12 different places. But that's just me. :)

I never expect a review, unless the purpose was giving them a book for a review. Then I hope on Amazon. The rest I don't really care about. I wouldn't care about reviews at all but once you're over 10 reviews on Amazon with a 4+ rating that opens up a number of relatively cheap and effective promotional tools like Fussy Librarian.

Great last point Dylan!

@Mr Dylan: Ooooh! I totally didn't realize that about the 10+ reviews thing and promo stuff!! Thank you!!!

Hmm. I should probably clarify that I would never even contact a reader (suicide, imo), much less ask for their review to be posted elsewhere. This is only with readers who have emailed me first and we're all chatty and shizz *shrugs*

Hugs,
Ann

I just did two reviews, one yesterday, one today, and I leave them at Goodreads, the vendor where I bought it, and the blog on my website. Then I put a mention on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ with a link to my blog and an associate link to Amazon for purchase.

Ken wrote: "I just did two reviews, one yesterday, one today, and I leave them at Goodreads, the vendor where I bought it, and the blog on my website. Then I put a mention on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ wit..."

That's one of the reasons why we like you Ken.
You can stay!

Ken wrote: "I just did two reviews, one yesterday, one today, and I leave them at Goodreads, the vendor where I bought it, and the blog on my website. Then I put a mention on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ wit..."

So basically, you're awesome. :)

I love when reviewers post in more than one place! Heck, I love when reviewers post in only one place :). Or even just a rating. I'll take it!

Marie wrote: "So basically, you're awesome. :)..."

Wait, I thought everyone knew that already...

I leave reviews here and on Amazon, which is where I buy my books.

As I stated in my opening post for this thread I think when people leave a review they do so on Amazon and Goodreads as they are the standard. Posting anywhere else is entirely up to the person and I also even state if they do post a review in a 3rd source ifs probably because they got the book from that particular place.

Ken wrote: "I just did two reviews, one yesterday, one today, and I leave them at Goodreads, the vendor where I bought it, and the blog on my website. Then I put a mention on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ wit..."

You really do a thorough job, don't you? :)

Care to review my-- *just kidding* :)

I've only recently started reviewing, and so far I post my reviews to my review journal, Amazon, and Goodreads. I didn't think of Barnes and Noble. I'll start leaving them there as well.

I can understand why an author would not want to ask a reviewer to leave their review on certain websites, but I wouldn't be offended if an author asked that of me. If I like a book, I'm all for helping it receive recognition!

Zoltán wrote: "ou really do a thorough job, don't you? :)

Care to review my-- *just kidding* :) ..."

Like a lot of folks, I think, I'm very selective with what I read, and I try to do it efficiently. That's why I could never be a beta reader. Who knows? One day I might pick one of yours, read it, and like it, and review it. For now, I have a stack of stuff I want to read. In the meantime, this group is a great place to ask questions.