Sunday
Nov232008
Who Can Readers Trust?
Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 9:07PM 
Tonight on Twitter, a wonderfully spontaneous and dynamic discussion broke out amongst some book-minded sorts. The topic: where does branding enter into the publishing and marketing of books? Who do, or should, readers trust to endorse a book? Is it about the author? Is it about the acquiring editor? What of the publisher? Or reviewers? Or booksellers?
Do readers trust word-of-mouth? Do they take their book-buying cues from Facebook Friends? Or do they follow mainstream media recommendations?
When it comes to book recommendations - who do YOU listen to? Really -- please let me (us) know!
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (2)
OMGZZZ!! I can haz Comment?
The one time I encountered a publisher imprint I wanted to read *everything* from was a UK brand: The DoNotPress. They do nothing but crime fiction. I discovered Ken Bruen through them.
I also look for blurbs by writers whose works I like.
I definitely trust a personal recommendation over pretty much anything else. Of course, I have lots of interests and I like trying new things, so I don't rely exclusively on my friends. Next on my list: What average people say—book bloggers who aren't charged with selling the book they're raving about, book industry people who aren't charged with selling the book, book industry people who *are* charged with selling the book but do it in an authentic way I feel I can trust. Real people's opinions trump formal reviews and ad copy for me every time.