Turn in those links you miscreants
So yesterday’s follow reader conversation on Twitter really had me thinking. Do you or should you turn in the links to your reviews. I do if I am specifically asked but other wise not really unless you count me using the @reply function on Twitter. Natasha from Maw Books stated in the general conversation that she also didn’t turn in her links to publishers. I wonder if it is something I should start to do?
I do have a nifty “Print This” button at the bottom of reviews that leads to a printable version of the review. So that all the graphics and other ink killing items are eliminated. So I want to ask you a few questions that may give me a better idea on making the decision on whether to turn in the links.
Do you turn in links?
Do you turn in links to publicists that sent you the books?
Do you turn in links to existing publisher contacts when you buy a book or rent it from the library?
Do you turn in links for negative reviews or only positive ones?
Do you post your reviews on other sites? (If so which ones)
Thanks a bunch in advance for your answers.
By: Catherine
1. I do turn in links to publishers.
2. Yes, I turn them in to the publicist who did the sending. They are the ones who ask for the review links (I actually added my own “print post” thing to my blog at the request of a publicist)
3. I do not turn in links to reviews for books I bought myself (this would obviously change if the publicist asked to see them)
4. I turn in all links, positive, negative or neutral (my first review for HarperCollins NZ was for Wings and, well, you know how that review turned out).
5. I post on Amazon, Goodreads, Fishpond and Mightyape. I need to do some mass postings again… I am forgetful.
By: SuziQoregon
I receive very few ARC, but for those I to get
I do send links to publicists or whoever my contact is that offered me the ARC. I do this whether or not the review is positive.
I would not send a link for a book I bought or got from the library to any publisher contact.
The only site besides my blog I’ve ever posted a review is at Bookbrowse for ARCs I’ve received from them – they request a review to be posted there when they send an ARC. They have a limit on length, so they’ve been abridged versions of the reviews posted on my blog.
I post a link to my blog post as my reviews on Goodreads.
By: Laura @ I'm Booking It
I turn in links if the person that sent me the book made it easy to do so– an e-mail address printed on an ARC or someone I specifically exchanged e-mail with, so that if I search my e-mail for book name or author name, I can see where it should go. This person could be a publicist, a blog tour organizer, an author…
If I’ve linked up with them via Twitter, I’ll @ them, but that isn’t all that frequent.
When I fill out a form via Shelf Awareness & the book appears with no contact information, I don’t inform anyone. If I buy the book or get it from the library, I don’t inform anyone.
I haven’t had to write any truly negative reviews since I started blogging. I’ve written some very meh ones, I’ve informed the relevant party about those.
I write the first draft of my review on Goodreads, then polish and expand it on my blog, so almost all of my reviews are there in some form. I occasionally copy them to Amazon, and I recently started a LibraryThing account, we’ll see if I ever get around to updating it.
By: Kay
I turn in links to publicists or authors who have sent me a book. I will certainly do this if we have had email contact.
I don’t send links for books that I borrow from the library or buy myself. I also don’t send for books I get from Shelf Awareness unless an email address is easily found on the material sent with the book.
All review, although I don’t tend to finish books that I am not enjoying, even if they are review books. Therefore, no negative reviews. I have had some reviews where I stated that I was somewhat disappointed or wished that something had been done better. I have also written to a publicist telling them that no review would be forthcoming because I didn’t finish the book. I don’t necessarily think I will do that with every book I receive, but I did with one especially because I had requested the book.
I also post reviews on Amazon.
I will say that I have often written to the author and sent a link to a review. I do this especially if I really enjoyed the book and it was a debut book. I think I have heard from every author that I have contacted. Sometimes I can’t find a way to contact them, but most of their websites have some sort of contact info.
By: heidenkind
Only if I was asked for the link by a person who sent an ARC or book specifically for review. Otherwise it seems kind of pointless–especially if the review isn’t positive.
By: Jess (The Cozy Reader)
I do send a link to my review if I was contacted directly from a publisher or author to review a book.
I do not make an effort to send out the link if I wasn’t solicited.
I post my reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.com. Sometimes I’ll post them on Glue (at least a link). I used to also do Shelfari but it’s a bit much now.
I usually wait until I have a few to post to those sites before I actually post them.
And I post the entire thing on Amazon.com because they won’t allow you to link to a website. Goodreads is cool with links so I have posted only some of my review with a link of “read more”.
By: Meghan
I don’t usually. It’s one of those things I know I should do, but I so often forget about it, especially if I’ve requested the book from Shelf Awareness or something. If a publicist has specifically emailed me and offered me the book I will usually do my best to get it their way in a few days’ time, but otherwise I forget way too easily.
I would remember better if I didn’t schedule reviews ahead of time, because I’m not going to email the link if the review isn’t there yet, and I often forget what I’m posting on any given day.
I used to post my reviews on LibraryThing and Amazon, and I will do that if I specifically cold request a book, but I haven’t done either in a really long time.
By: Wendy
As a courtesy to publishers, publicists and authors…I always send links to them for books they’ve sent to me for review. I have never had someone say they didn’t want the link, and I assume they appreciate getting it. It also lets them know I upheld my commitment to post a review for the book.
I do not send links to reviews for books I bought (I figure that is what Google alerts is for!)
I also post reviews on Library Thing…and occasionally on B&N and Powells.
By: Katy
Do you turn in links? Only in certain situations. When publicists or authors send me a book or if a publisher asks to be sent my links after I review their book, then yes. For books I’ve bought, swapped, or won, not usually. Sometimes I’ll send a link to an author if I’ve really enjoyed their book.
Do you turn in links to publicists that sent you the books? Yes.
Do you turn in links to existing publisher contacts when you buy a book or rent it from the library? No.
Do you turn in links for negative reviews or only positive ones? If I’ve been asked to send in links, I’ll send in links for all reviews, otherwise I won’t send links for negative reviews.
Do you post your reviews on other sites? (If so which ones) Yes–Goodreads. Occasionally on Amazon, if a publicist or author asks me to.
By: Nayuleska
I turn in links if the publishers sent me the book for review (whether requested/unrequested).
I turn in the links even if it is a negative review. Because it is my feelings on the book. Sadly I’m not going to love every book I receive.
I don’t turn in books on any other sites.
I don’t review on other sites. I did try reviewing on Amazon, but they never once posted my reviews, so I gave up! Good Reads = no. I review books twice a month on a different review blog, but my reviews don’t get put anywhere else.
By: Kris
Good questions! If I received the book for review, I email a link to the person who sent it. That’s the only time I do it though. I figure if a publicisist is wanting to know about other reviews of certain books, they can set up a google feed that will do that for them. Plus I’m lazy. lol!
I love the print this button though. I think I’ll add it to my blog. Even though I thought I had it how I wanted it last year, I think it’s time to at least play around with colors again. lol! So once I change it around again, I’m going to add one.
By: Susan (Bloggin' 'Bout Books)
I always send links to my reviews – whether positive or negative – to whomever sent me the book. That way, publishers/publicists/authors know that I’m reviewing the books they send me. It encourages them to send me more books. It also gives us all – author, publisher, publicist, me – wider publicity.
If it’s a book I bought or got from the library, then it depends. If I love the book and give it a good review, I always email the author. Usually, they’re ecstatic to hear from me and often post a link to my review on their website/blog. If I don’t enjoy the book, I don’t send the link to the author. If they find it on their own, that’s fine, but I don’t send it to them.
HTH