Amazon Changes for Authors
Joanna Penn, The Creative Penn, on her recent podcast and the upcoming edition explains and offers guidance for authors. Amazon appears to be following Facebook. One time, authors could post their book updates and book announcements on FB. But now FB requires authors buy ads to reach their audience. Because of Amazon’s move to a ‘pay to play’ phase for sales, Penn offers indie and other authors ways to navigate the changing market. What I know of these changes feels ominous. I know I suffer from changes on both platforms. Of course, Amazon seems to have much more sway in book sales.
What comes as the biggest irk of all?
I bristle that for over a year I receive a message relating that I do not spend enough money. Amazon customer review options, user restrictions, and rules lock my book reviews out. I consider one of these restrictions sexist.
Amazon Limits Who Can Write Book Reviews
Why? Because my spouse enjoys buying online and makes most of OUR household purchases.
I read the majority of books about classical Greek an Roman myth. I also read nonfiction books on how to write, on history, and biography. I cannot review the books I read. At night, I read books on Kindle, which we buy on Amazon. But I am prevented from discussing on Amazon. If you have a spouse who does not buy online, he or she cannot review items you purchase from joint funds. Nor can he or she review products they use. If you have a teenager you buy books and other things, he or she will not be able to evaluate or recommend their items. So, I know I am not the only person in this boat.
Anyone who does not buy books directly from Amazon does not qualify as book or product reviewer. Don’t like to buy online? Forget writing a review on the giant Amazon. Yet I know I can remedy my problem. Start buying in my Amazon account.
It is no secret I prefer buying print books from my local independent bookshop.
My novel Red Sky at Night: Dog Leader Mysteries launched at a Redwood Writers Hot Summer Nights event this July. Currently, Copperfield’s Books in Santa Rosa, CA has two copies of my novel.
Amazon’s Shift to Paid Ads
November 15, 2018, Penn gave a webinar with Mark Dawson. Discussion included Amazon Ads. Penn took pages of notes.
Whether you have one book or many, you will not want to miss her next podcast. If you have not read blogs or listened to The Creative Penn Podcasts, use this link to learn her list of topics and see her site, The Creative Penn.
Stay tuned as I go through “Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes” with Amazon
In the meantime, you can read my thirty-two book reviews on Goodreads.
I also post book reviews on this blog. Fetch Move Over Miss Marple.
Leave a Reply