Do Bloggers Sell
Books?
Before we begin I want to share something with you all. Here is a post that I found a few months back, it moved me and even made me a little teary. Read it, you will not regret it. It's called "You Should Date An Illiterate Girl" Today I discovered another called "Date a girl who reads" Let me know what you guys think about both pieces. :)
So, do bloggers sell books? Is the question. I didn't plan on doing any discussion posts anytime soon, but after reading the interview over at Kristi's blog with Author X I knew I had to talk about this with you guys. You can find the Interview from Kristi's blog HERE as well as Andye from Reading Teen who also did a great post on this topic HERE. Think we don't influence sales? Well head to this post, the gal gives statistics. The post is a must read. HERE. Now on to the discussion, it's on the lengthy side as always so bear with me =)
There is no doubt in my opinion. I believe we do sell books. The comments on Kristi's blog are complete proof of that. Little fact time; did you know that I had never bought a single book before I started blogging? Books, let's be honest are not entirely cheap. As someone who gets carried away easily I knew even if I considered buying one book another would catch my eye, and then another and another. I really am not the kind of person who has great self -restraint; I seriously would have bought as many that appealed to me. I knew that, so I kept my distance. I was right; I don't know what made me buy my first book, okay so I might have an idea. Blogging. I just got tired of holding back. I mean how can a book - lover never buy a single book right?
The biggest reason was probably because I never actually considered buying a book. Even when borrowing them from a Library it could get straining, you may now know that my parents were not the biggest fans of me reading. They really didn't understand this love I had for books; it was almost quite strange to them. I was just about getting away with getting books from the Library. So buying a book didn't come into question. I assumed they would be furious if I ever did.
A lot has changed since then. I bought my first book a few months back, it felt wonderful and I have never stopped since. Recently it got to the point where I was buying books instead of clothes. No kidding. I bought around 15 books at once a month back, my parents were not happy LOL. I have the tendency to go with my gut, do it and deal with the consequences later :D
As I started reviewing, talking about books with others. I think I slightly changed. I grew more and more passionate about every book I read. A little critical but passionate. I was turning into a book-lover, it had always been there, but perhaps I held a little of myself back because up until I joined the community, this love I had for reading felt wrong. Maybe because my parents didn't approve or because I felt like the only one in the world up until then who read? Regardless I headed into the bookstore with the intention of buying one, and just like I predicted another caught my eye, then another.
I walked out instead with three books and that was just the beginning. No longer did I care what my parents would say about me buying books - about reading them, call that bad or good but it’s the truth. Blogging boosted my confidence with books and taught me that reading feels good and right to me because it should, it’s not wrong for me to enjoy this, blogging did that to me, bloggers if not more so.
When considering buying a book I head over to some of the blogs that I trust. Those I have similar taste to. If when reading a few reviews of the same book they all seem to pretty much love it then I'm sold, if I want to be a little more sure I’ll browse Amazon, maybe even Goodreads. I have bought so many books this way. So many because they have been recommended by other great bloggers. Doesn't that say something in itself?
Author X mentioned how there are some bloggers well she seemed to think "most" who are just in it for the review books, who don't talk about books at all but just hold giveaways and participate in meme's which she perceives, wrong? Although I have never held a contest on the blog to date I do feel that with saying such a thing it can be a great disservice to those who giveaway books to let other bloggers have the opportunity to read a book they loved, to create buzz for a book. Memes hold the exact same thing.
What do you think WOW and Teaser Tuesday and IMM are for? They are memes that peak interest and hold some great buzz for old and new titles. They help the author and not us in any way. We do them because it's fun to share with our readers what we are looking forward to. That is it. There is no secret - selfish intention behind it. Let me just say those who do giveaways for followers or only for review books are easy to figure out. If I ever found such a blogger I would simply unfollow them, I never have done to date but I would if it came to that.
I did not even know what review books were until a good few month’s back, and when I did start receiving the requests yes it felt good. And sure it was cool to see a surprise parcel on my doorstep, it still is. Any blogger that says it isn't is lying. Review books seem to be a sensitive subject for some reason, probably because it links into people assuming all people who receive review books are greedy which is not the case. I appreciate every review book that I get and will continue to, if anything I am on the protective side and extra careful with them because I hold them dear. But if the day comes that they stop then that is fine. I read and blog because I love books not review books.
She also mentioned how she thought it was easier for bloggers to write negative reviews, of course this got me in a bit of a sulk because I completely disagree. Let me just say that writing negative reviews is never easy and takes a lot of time to get even remotely used to. It's no good saying I loved this book! Like you can with a positive review. You have to give solid reasoning for why it didn't work for you, if you are going to write a negative review you have to be big on the why. It's not easy saying why you didn't love a book, but it comes with being a honest blogger. I owe that honesty to my readers, so do I regret writing those negative reviews? Hell no. Will I continue to? Absolutely.
Author X seemed to think that authors suck up to bloggers. Am I aware of this? Yes. I have seen it here and there and it can be argued that it goes both ways. In fact, I would say bloggers being the fans suck up more. I notice and shrug a little and what not. But so what? If a fan met Tom Cruise (back when he was fit) would they not suck up to him? If Tom Cruise knew a certain person could potentially help him create buzz for his new movie, do you not think he would give that person extra special attention? Do you think he would let strangers take a picture with him if he didn't think they would benefit him in some way? It's a bit selfish on both sides. But it works.
You then have Author X saying that there are those bloggers who blog to get their foot into the publishing world or to have a better chance at being published as a writer. How writing a negative review could result in agents being wary of you. Speaking as someone who has no interest in being a writer this has never been a concern for me. I'm not sure if I entirely believe it, I think it might be this nasty scare tactic which is obviously, sadly working. I don't think you should have to sacrifice any part of you because of what some person says. Some bloggers whose blog I love have stopped writing negative reviews because of this. That makes me sad maybe even a little disappointed if I'm to be honest.
There are those who do not write negative reviews because they are afraid of exactly what Author X said. I don't know what to make of that, I do believe as a blogger you shouldn't limit yourself, that in limiting yourself like that you are limiting your readers, that in doing that how can you even enjoy being a blogger when always having to hold back? Having to watch every word you say, what is the point of you even blogging then? BUT I also believe you should go with your gut instinct. I hate the thought of having to limit myself because of what it might do to my chances of being a writer if I wanted to be one. It's fine I suppose, I mean I don't have to like it but it's their choice.
Let me put it this way. Do you really think that publishers and authors would send bloggers books if they didn't believe we sold books, or influenced sales, seriously? Of course not. Do you really think they are going to spend time and money sending us books for absolutely no reason? They send them because they think that we "DO" sell books. The proof is right there.
So what have we learnt on this eventful day my lovelies?
- I have been naive. Authors it would seem may not like us as much as we originally thought. In fact, after reading Author X thoughts I imagine quite a few of them forming a secret society to annihilate us. I also imagine them wearing fake noses and witch hats. *nods head thoughtfully*
- Author X represents many authors out there who obviously seem to feel the same way. Other authors may have voiced similar thoughts in the past. Author X just happens to be the first who made any sense, and didn't come across as a bit of a loony.
- Author X sounds a little bitter, but overall nice if she wasn't on the insensitive side. In fact, if I didn't know better we might just get along.
- I can be quite anti-social when it comes to interacting with authors unlike others. This might be due to the fact that I don't know them. #mybad
- I write negative reviews, that doesn't make me a bad person. If you don't like me because of it then to bad love.
- Dude who the hell is Author X, and why in the world am I convinced they they are female? *shrugs*
- Some people can be quite rude when requesting things from authors and publishers. I didn't really realise the extent of it until I read Author X post.
- I can also see why we might not be entirely liked. We have too much power when it comes to influencing others. Our reviews can actually make a person decide if they want to buy your book or not. Although that is pretty awesome and in favour of the author and publisher it goes both ways remember. So, where one author may be happy with a review the other might resent us, and honestly? It's understandable.
- We do for definite generate buzz, the whole thing is a little fickle really - think an author would talk to you if they didn't believe you would benefit them and their book in some way? You could be the best of friends now and completely genuine in your feelings towards each other, but do you think the blogger would have struck up a conversation with you in the first place if they were not a fan of your work? Probably not, harsh but true.
- Like mentioned by a blogger. Review books will run out sometime. I think that will be a very interesting day for sure.
- I don't see what the fuss is about, we generate buzz and benefit you without asking for anything in return. How many people out there get things without asking for anything in return in today’s society, not many. Consider yourself lucky. We have spoilt them haven't we? It feels like that almost. *Take into account that this does not apply to all authors just those that moan about how suckish we are etc*
- I am a little annoyed right now. I don't know why, but I feel we do all of this without expecting anything in return. You are making money from us, so what they hell are you moaning about?
- Andye holds a great point, we like to belong, to talk to others that share our love for reading, and no review book can ever outdo that feeling. Review books are nice yes, even great, but they are not essential. For me being able to talk about books with other bloggers and staying in touch with those who I now consider great friends through blogging however, are.
- It's okay if bloggers and authors don't always get along, I would like to think deep inside we respect and hold a sort of fondness for each other. Because I do for some, even for those whose books I didn't enjoy. I know because I feel a sense of joy and pride every time I see the book of an author I am familiar with with up on that shelf in a bookstore. I think well done. Just because we didn't enjoy your book doesn't mean we are not rooting for you, we will still buy the next in the series hoping for the best, if anything we are loyal.
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