I just want to start this weeks’ blog on a personal note. I am usually a very understanding and forgiving person. But yesterday someone ‘unliked’ my fan page – www.facebook.com/arthurcrandonauthor . Whoever you are, I just want you to know that I will hunt you down like the dog that you are, imprison you for many days of excruciating torture, then set packs of wolves on you to tear you limb from limb. I mean that, of course, in a very loving way.
Now down to business. – Amazon/Goodreads.
I think everything worth saying about the acquisition of Goodreads by Amazon has already been said, but that is not going to stop me!
It is sad, and maybe a little worrying that the behemoth that controls most of our careers is now getting bigger and depriving us of a somewhat independent avenue through which to promote our wares. I think of myself as a free spirit. Self-employed (and probably unemployable), I struggle with marketing/writing/marketing/editing/marketing/formatting/marketing – and then maybe a little more marketing. But, in reality, I am (for a large part) an unpaid agent for Amazon.
I know there are other ways to sell books, but most of us direct our marketing activities to Amazon, because of the well-tried systems and the trust. Amazon control (in a very haphazard way) our pricing, our merchandising, and, therefore, to a very large extent our success.
On the good side, I do not see many signs of flagrant abuse of this monopoly – their profit share is fair, and they do try to ‘police’ reviews etc. to keep a level playing field. I suppose having a ‘benevolent dictator’ is better than some alternatives.
Where will they go next, I wonder? They are already directly into publishing, e-readers, and many other associated ventures. Perhaps what they need is to start buying up writers blogs, to more secure their share of the market. Maybe they need a regular flippant, but humorous mouthpiece to promote themselves. Something, say, written by a very new and inexperienced writer trying to make his way in the world.
Maybe just a start up blog, with weekly postings, book reviews and film critiques (just to keep things interesting) but with a growing following of well over 1,000 visitors a per day.
Oh, wait a minute, that sounds a bit like my blog, doesn’t it. Well let me tell you now. I would NEVER sell out to such a dictatorial, faceless monolith, unless, of course, they asked. And just in case they are interested – my email is – youmustbejoking@gstring.com. – don’t worry, I check my mail regularly.
I would be grateful if you could PLEASE make up for the one, misguided individual mentioned above who ‘unliked’ me and please go and like my page – www.facebook.com/arthurcrandonauthor .
Here are more furry funnies – I know it’s the only reason you visit my blog! All the best till next week – yours, very insecurely, Arthur.
Now down to business. – Amazon/Goodreads.
I think everything worth saying about the acquisition of Goodreads by Amazon has already been said, but that is not going to stop me!
It is sad, and maybe a little worrying that the behemoth that controls most of our careers is now getting bigger and depriving us of a somewhat independent avenue through which to promote our wares. I think of myself as a free spirit. Self-employed (and probably unemployable), I struggle with marketing/writing/marketing/editing/marketing/formatting/marketing – and then maybe a little more marketing. But, in reality, I am (for a large part) an unpaid agent for Amazon.
I know there are other ways to sell books, but most of us direct our marketing activities to Amazon, because of the well-tried systems and the trust. Amazon control (in a very haphazard way) our pricing, our merchandising, and, therefore, to a very large extent our success.
On the good side, I do not see many signs of flagrant abuse of this monopoly – their profit share is fair, and they do try to ‘police’ reviews etc. to keep a level playing field. I suppose having a ‘benevolent dictator’ is better than some alternatives.
Where will they go next, I wonder? They are already directly into publishing, e-readers, and many other associated ventures. Perhaps what they need is to start buying up writers blogs, to more secure their share of the market. Maybe they need a regular flippant, but humorous mouthpiece to promote themselves. Something, say, written by a very new and inexperienced writer trying to make his way in the world.
Maybe just a start up blog, with weekly postings, book reviews and film critiques (just to keep things interesting) but with a growing following of well over 1,000 visitors a per day.
Oh, wait a minute, that sounds a bit like my blog, doesn’t it. Well let me tell you now. I would NEVER sell out to such a dictatorial, faceless monolith, unless, of course, they asked. And just in case they are interested – my email is – youmustbejoking@gstring.com. – don’t worry, I check my mail regularly.
I would be grateful if you could PLEASE make up for the one, misguided individual mentioned above who ‘unliked’ me and please go and like my page – www.facebook.com/arthurcrandonauthor .
Here are more furry funnies – I know it’s the only reason you visit my blog! All the best till next week – yours, very insecurely, Arthur.
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