♦ Why do some category romance authors not bother to update their websites? It is seriously annoying. I looked up one author’s site recently and her “new” release was three books out of date! With Harlequin releasing all their books digitally, it’s more important than ever for their authors to update their websites regularly. Back in the days when category romances were only on the shelves for a month, it might not have been necessary, but now readers have access to the books for longer via online stores such as Amazon and the Harlequin ebook store.
♦ Why don’t ebooks have blurbs? I know everyone talks about covers being essential for ebooks as well as for print – and I agree with this point – but blurbs are even more important to me. I’ve had to resort to creating my own database of blurbs for the ebooks I buy.
♦ Why do people on Twitter ask for more followers? Isn’t that like an open invitation to the spam bots? I figure at least half of my followers are spammers. I used to go through my list regularly and block spammers, but it’s an exercise in futility. As soon as I get rid of a few, more follow me.
♦ Why do some authors restrict their Twitter contests to people who follow them? What’s to stop someone following them briefly in order to qualify for the contest, than unfollowing them?
♦ Why do some authors restrict excerpts of their upcoming books to people who become a member of their site? I get the whole newsletter thing, but these ‘Members Only’ sections are stupid.
♦ Why are Karen Rose’s ebooks not available for purchase by customers outside the US and the UK? I can’t even buy them from W.H. Smiths because they are restricted to residents of the United Kingdom. FFS! I can get them in print in my local bookstore!
Any Whys or WTFs you’d like to share?
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Re: GeoRestrictions… Hulu. Pandora. Rhapsody.
And this whole “We’re giving away free stuff. Maybe. If you follow/sign up/like/become a fan…” thing. It’s like the Matrix all over. Harvesting humans, only this time we’re doing it digitally.
However, my biggest double-you tea eff at the moment is net neutrality. I want it, we need it. FCC, google, Verizon, and all the others really should get that. Or go away. Thankyouverymuch
Oh hell yeah on #1 and #2. I think it was actually more imperative back in the day for category romance authors to have a decent web site – because hello? Your books are available in retail outlets for, like, a nanosecond. Making sure your web site is up-to-date is no-brainer, relatively painless promo IMHO. But either way – web sites left to die on the vine (I saw one in recent memory where the author was promoting an “upcoming” booksigning….uh, that was like 2 years ago!) is just sooooo not good.
Yes, yes, yes on blurbs! I do think covers are important, but as a reader I rely a lot on blurbs. Especially when I’m deciding what to buy, what to read next – I base a lot of these decisions on blurbs. To not have them gives me another sad
I am completely with you on the first two. When I read a book I love, I often go to the author’s site dying to see: (1) COMPLETE backlist and (2) what they’re doing next. And for ebooks, it’s scrolling around and seeing intriguing blurbs from places like Carina that has been turning me into a bit of an ebook slut. Now I have both paper and online TBRs. *sigh*
My own WTF lately – the Dorchester saga. I can’t look away, but it’s just so awful. I love that this publisher puts out some truly unique books and it breaks my heart to see their business crashing and burning like this.
#1 is my biggest pet peeve. In the same category are web book pages with covers, titles, and excerpts — no other information. When was it released, by whom, ISBN, etc. are all important for me to be able to head off and buy book right away. Make it easy to part me from my money.
Regarding membership-only sections of websites: I really like Eloisa James and what she’s done not only with the open parts of her site as well as her membership-only sections. It allows fans to get a feeling of being part of a club and feel treated in a special manner. She follows this up with postcard announcements of her upcoming books for those members. Juxtapose this with her board and her Facebook fans and suddenly, you’ve got a guaranteed large set of readers who’ll always buy what she publishes. Her promo efforts are smart and incredibly successful.
Why can’t I use gift certificates on eBook purchases?
My day to be a curmudgeon I suspect! Wearing my work hat, it’s often easier to give away prizes if there’s a fast way to fairly sort out who’s entered in a twitter contest — like who follows. Seriously though, all those contests get really old … doesn’t it seem that way to you? And the frequent retweets to enter, well it’s just not very fresh, imo.
Websites: It truly floors me that this is still being brought up. What is the problem with keeping a website up-to-date? I know an author who changes hers maybe 2 – 3 times max a year and it’s always full of all the info needed.
Membership/non-membership points of entry into an author’s website. Can’t say I have much of an issue … altho I’m far more likely, like Sarah said, to walk away if reading an excerpt is that much trouble. Again, one author I respect (Jo Beverley) often offers one excerpt and then a 2nd closer to publication date.
I have received a couple postcards from Eloisa James and seriously thought WTF … what a waste of trees and postage … I rely on reviews and past enjoyable readings of books to bring me to purchase the next book in a series from an author I enjoy, have enjoyed and that kind of marketing turns me from a fan to an overly marketed-to fan. To be fair, it’s probably what I signed up for way back in the day and I should let the fine folks who do this for Ms. James know so they can save the cost of a stamp. That does sound rude but that’s how I feel. What works for me: authors that visit my part of the country more … there’s nothing like a book signing or even a visit to a book blog site to entice this reader into buying/trying a book.
@Christian: I’m with you on net neutrality. I’m curious to see what happens in the future.
@Wendy: I love blurbs. I can’t understand why publishers think it’s unnecessary to include them in ebooks.
@Lynn Spencer: The Dorchester situation is bad. I can’t believe their editorial staff now consists of one person! IMO they’re just delaying the inevitable: bankruptcy.
@Keira Soleore: You’re right re: Eloisa James’ ‘Members Only’ section, but it’s the exception rather than the rule. I’ve seen a few author websites lately where I’d have to register with them in order to read an excerpt of their upcoming book. At least EJ makes her excerpts available to everyone who visits her site.
@KristieJ: I don’t get that, either. Why can’t I give a friend an ebook as a gift?
@Janet W: I don’t want snail mail from authors. Whatever authors choose to do in terms of social networking and connecting with their fans, I see an up-to-date website as essential.