Comments on: Buying your way to a best-seller: Legit or scam?

By: Marlena Guzowski

Marlena Guzowski — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 15:20:20 +0000

Sorry btw. I was typing on my phone and just noticed some grammar errors as my comment posted.

By: Marlena Guzowski

Marlena Guzowski — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 15:18:38 +0000

I’m not sure how this approach makes sense. If you had 50k to spend on your own books, why not just purchase them yourself rather than paying a company an additional 20k to do that simple action? As far as I’ve noticed, amazon rankings don’t care if v the book was published from the authors IP address.
Additionally for 50k you could create real interest and demand through marketing deals with high – impact social media influencers who could reach people that would actually want your book, rather than fake selling it.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 23:21:27 +0000

In reply to Barbara Saunders.

While it’s true that this is being done by individuals, many of the authors are doing this so they get hired as a speaker or consultant by “big business.” Hence the reference to whether or not “big business” cares about how the individuals became best-selling authors. So no, it’s not about big business, but there’s a link there.

Sandy

By: Barbara Saunders

Barbara Saunders — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 22:57:56 +0000

In reply to Sandra Beckwith. I wouldn't blame this one on "big business" ethics. The majority doing this aren't corporations. They're small-time and one-person operations looking to impress the sorts of people who will be dazzled by the idea of a "bestselling author" without necessarily reading the book.

By: Hodgepodge for March 2013 | KD Did It Edits

Hodgepodge for March 2013 | KD Did It Edits — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 05:37:11 +0000

[…] Beckwith at Build Book Buzz reacts to the Wall Street Journal article which Kaplan references with some excellent […]

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:16:50 +0000

In reply to Bill Nicol. Thanks for the historical perspective, Bill. It's very interesting. Sandy

By: Bill Nicol

Bill Nicol — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:49:14 +0000

This method has been used widely by well known people with money for a long time. I first heard about it in the music industry many years ago. Once-famous recording artists whose fame was flagging but with loads of money would buy a newly-released album to reboot their careers. As far as I can recall, it worked. But what mattered is that they already had a recognised name for themselves — a brand people knew even if it was fading. For newbies with no prior brand recognition to rebuild, logic tells me it’s a huge waste of money, just another vanity-publishing trick to get them to part with their money. Ethics aside, therefore, I would strongly recommend against using the method unless you are already a best seller; and, if you are, just keep writing more best sellers to keep your name in the lights. While marketing might be important, writing good quality material as the foundation for everything else is far more important.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:25:44 +0000

In reply to Larry Winebrenner.

I always appreciate your missives, Larry.

Enjoy that best-seller status.

Sandy

By: Larry Winebrenner

Larry Winebrenner — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:27:17 +0000

Thanks Sandra, my love. As a best selling author, I am greatly pleased to be here—but does it pay off the mortgage? Hardly. Yes, lots of people like my book [checkout my website], but not enough to pay off the mortgage. So is it worth being a best seller to lose your house? I don’t think so. Yet others may disagree. Their prerogative. But I work with homeless folk who wouldn’t agree.

Volunteer at the FUMC of Miami Footwashing event March 16 if you’re in the Miami FL area then and find out for yourself.

I’ll be glad to talk to you there.

I love you.

Larry Winebrenner

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 02:07:10 +0000

In reply to Mridu Khullar Relph.

Thanks, Mridu. I like your analogy. When I was doing PR, I’m sure it helped when I told potential clients that I had won 2 national publicity awards.

I understand why some authors use this approach — they see it as just another marketing expense. But it’s not a good fit for me.

Sandy