Suggest Features: OBC Charging for Goodreads & Verified Amazon Reviews

[Missing Person]

Charging per quantity of Amazon + Goodreads reviews

I recently came across a website called Self Publishing Review, and I thought about the differences and similarities between its pricing scheme and OBC's pricing scheme for book reviews. Despite being a much smaller website than OBC, SPR has author book review categories that are a lot more expensive than OBC's categories. For example, for 4-5 verified Amazon customer reviews SRV charges $229, and for 25-30 verified Amazon reviews SRV charges $999. Of course, I don't know how successful such a pricing scheme is, but my point is that OBC could benefit from a more structured pricing system that gives authors a much better idea of what they're paying for. In my opinion, authors are willing to pay more if they understand what they're paying for.

For example, an explanation of what a "Featured Review" is on the page where authors pay for reviews would be very helpful and I think would improve OBC's reputation in the long run. If some authors think OBC is a fake website when they first visit the site, it's probably because of its ugly-looking interface and lack of clear explanations for what authors are paying for. I've written reviews on this site, and it wasn't immediately obvious to me what a "Featured Review" is. A few hyperlinks or pop-up on the page that lists the different Review Levels for authors would be very helpful.

I think OBC should have a similarly structured pricing system for book reviews. I'm only going to offer suggestions on how to categorize the pricing system and thereby charge more for more reviews. Let's say, in addition to having Review Levels 1-4, could have separate charges for the number of Goodreads and verified Amazon reviews that can be selected as multiple choice buttons in the same way that the 4 Review Levels are selected. Right now, if I'm not mistaken, the Goodreads and Amazon reviews are lumped in with the 4 review levels. Are Goodreads and Amazon reviews negotiated separately by the authors with OBC admins or are Amazon and Goodreads reviews lumped together with the 4 basic Review Levels?

I think it would make sense to have a separate charge for Goodreads reviews and Amazon-verified reviews. For example, 4-5 Goodreads reviews could cost $50, 4-5 unverified Amazon reviews could cost $150, and 4-5 verified Amazon reviews could cost $200. Some authors have a very large marketing budget and would be willing to spend more than $2000 for over 100 verified-Amazon reviews. As it stands, any author with a medium to large marketing budget would have to use multiple websites in addition to OBC in order to market their books. If OBC is already charging for Amazon and Goodreads reviews in some way then I would like to be informed on how that is currently being done because I cannot determine that that is the case based on how OBC's interface currently works.

I think such a pricing system would not only earn OBC a greater income but would also enable OBC to pay its top-level reviewers more money per review. I also think that some authors would be much more willing to spend that kind of money on OBC if OBC's website was far more attractive. SRV has a beautiful and sleek-looking website compared to OBC. I don't understand why OBC still looks like a website built in the late 90s.

On the topic of Goodreads reviews, I think it would make sense if reviewers could change their review settings under the Review Team Subnavigation Page and have a checkbox for Goodreads reviews. So, even if a reviewer cannot write Amazon reviews he would still be able to write Goodreads reviews. I'm currently in such a position, and I would like to be able to review a greater variety of books by gaining the ability to write Goodreads reviews without having to simultaneously write Amazon reviews. If I'm not mistaken, in the current system reviewers can either write both an Amazon and Goodreads review or write no review on either one of these sites. OBC could also have 10 extra popularity points for authors who ensure that their Goodreads and Goodreads profile match their OBC profiles in the same way that reviewers can currently popularity points for making sure their Facebook profile matches their OBC profile.

[Alice Heritage]

Charging per quantity of Amazon + Goodreads reviews

I recently came across a website called Self Publishing Review, and I thought about the differences and similarities between its pricing scheme and OBC's pricing scheme for book reviews. Despite being a much smaller website than OBC, SPR has author book review categories that are a lot more expensive than OBC's categories. For example, for 4-5 verified Amazon customer reviews SRV charges $229, and for 25-30 verified Amazon reviews SRV charges $999. Of course, I don't know how successful such a pricing scheme is, but my point is that OBC could benefit from a more structured pricing system that gives authors a much better idea of what they're paying for. In my opinion, authors are willing to pay more if they understand what they're paying for.

For example, an explanation of what a "Featured Review" is on the page where authors pay for reviews would be very helpful and I think would improve OBC's reputation in the long run. If some authors think OBC is a fake website when they first visit the site, it's probably because of its ugly-looking interface and lack of clear explanations for what authors are paying for. I've written reviews on this site, and it wasn't immediately obvious to me what a "Featured Review" is. A few hyperlinks or pop-up on the page that lists the different Review Levels for authors would be very helpful.

I think OBC should have a similarly structured pricing system for book reviews. I'm only going to offer suggestions on how to categorize the pricing system and thereby charge more for more reviews. Let's say, in addition to having Review Levels 1-4, could have separate charges for the number of Goodreads and verified Amazon reviews that can be selected as multiple choice buttons in the same way that the 4 Review Levels are selected. Right now, if I'm not mistaken, the Goodreads and Amazon reviews are lumped in with the 4 review levels. Are Goodreads and Amazon reviews negotiated separately by the authors with OBC admins or are Amazon and Goodreads reviews lumped together with the 4 basic Review Levels?

I think it would make sense to have a separate charge for Goodreads reviews and Amazon-verified reviews. For example, 4-5 Goodreads reviews could cost $50, 4-5 unverified Amazon reviews could cost $150, and 4-5 verified Amazon reviews could cost $200. Some authors have a very large marketing budget and would be willing to spend more than $2000 for over 100 verified-Amazon reviews. As it stands, any author with a medium to large marketing budget would have to use multiple websites in addition to OBC in order to market their books. If OBC is already charging for Amazon and Goodreads reviews in some way then I would like to be informed on how that is currently being done because I cannot determine that that is the case based on how OBC's interface currently works.

I think such a pricing system would not only earn OBC a greater income but would also enable OBC to pay its top-level reviewers more money per review. I also think that some authors would be much more willing to spend that kind of money on OBC if OBC's website was far more attractive. SRV has a beautiful and sleek-looking website compared to OBC. I don't understand why OBC still looks like a website built in the late 90s.

On the topic of Goodreads reviews, I think it would make sense if reviewers could change their review settings under the Review Team Subnavigation Page and have a checkbox for Goodreads reviews. So, even if a reviewer cannot write Amazon reviews he would still be able to write Goodreads reviews. I'm currently in such a position, and I would like to be able to review a greater variety of books by gaining the ability to write Goodreads reviews without having to simultaneously write Amazon reviews. If I'm not mistaken, in the current system reviewers can either write both an Amazon and Goodreads review or write no review on either one of these sites. OBC could also have 10 extra popularity points for authors who ensure that their Goodreads and Goodreads profile match their OBC profiles in the same way that reviewers can currently popularity points for making sure their Facebook profile matches their OBC profile.

Dear Jude,

Thanks for your suggestion. I've solicited input from management on parts of it. Authors do receive more detailed information about what they are paying for than reviewers see.

Regarding the appearance of the website, could you please provide more specific suggestions? What aspects make it look as if it was built in the late 90s? What, specifically, would look more "sleek" or "beautiful"?

Regards,

ButterscotchCherrie (Official Reviewer Representative)

[Alice Heritage]

More details below after I heard back from my manager.

Charging per quantity of Amazon + Goodreads reviews

I recently came across a website called Self Publishing Review, and I thought about the differences and similarities between its pricing scheme and OBC's pricing scheme for book reviews. Despite being a much smaller website than OBC, SPR has author book review categories that are a lot more expensive than OBC's categories. For example, for 4-5 verified Amazon customer reviews SRV charges $229, and for 25-30 verified Amazon reviews SRV charges $999. Of course, I don't know how successful such a pricing scheme is, but my point is that OBC could benefit from a more structured pricing system that gives authors a much better idea of what they're paying for. In my opinion, authors are willing to pay more if they understand what they're paying for.

For example, an explanation of what a "Featured Review" is on the page where authors pay for reviews would be very helpful and I think would improve OBC's reputation in the long run. If some authors think OBC is a fake website when they first visit the site, it's probably because of its ugly-looking interface and lack of clear explanations for what authors are paying for. I've written reviews on this site, and it wasn't immediately obvious to me what a "Featured Review" is. A few hyperlinks or pop-up on the page that lists the different Review Levels for authors would be very helpful.

I think OBC should have a similarly structured pricing system for book reviews. I'm only going to offer suggestions on how to categorize the pricing system and thereby charge more for more reviews. Let's say, in addition to having Review Levels 1-4, could have separate charges for the number of Goodreads and verified Amazon reviews that can be selected as multiple choice buttons in the same way that the 4 Review Levels are selected. Right now, if I'm not mistaken, the Goodreads and Amazon reviews are lumped in with the 4 review levels. Are Goodreads and Amazon reviews negotiated separately by the authors with OBC admins or are Amazon and Goodreads reviews lumped together with the 4 basic Review Levels?

I think it would make sense to have a separate charge for Goodreads reviews and Amazon-verified reviews. For example, 4-5 Goodreads reviews could cost $50, 4-5 unverified Amazon reviews could cost $150, and 4-5 verified Amazon reviews could cost $200. Some authors have a very large marketing budget and would be willing to spend more than $2000 for over 100 verified-Amazon reviews. As it stands, any author with a medium to large marketing budget would have to use multiple websites in addition to OBC in order to market their books. If OBC is already charging for Amazon and Goodreads reviews in some way then I would like to be informed on how that is currently being done because I cannot determine that that is the case based on how OBC's interface currently works.

I think such a pricing system would not only earn OBC a greater income but would also enable OBC to pay its top-level reviewers more money per review. I also think that some authors would be much more willing to spend that kind of money on OBC if OBC's website was far more attractive. SRV has a beautiful and sleek-looking website compared to OBC. I don't understand why OBC still looks like a website built in the late 90s.

On the topic of Goodreads reviews, I think it would make sense if reviewers could change their review settings under the Review Team Subnavigation Page and have a checkbox for Goodreads reviews. So, even if a reviewer cannot write Amazon reviews he would still be able to write Goodreads reviews. I'm currently in such a position, and I would like to be able to review a greater variety of books by gaining the ability to write Goodreads reviews without having to simultaneously write Amazon reviews. If I'm not mistaken, in the current system reviewers can either write both an Amazon and Goodreads review or write no review on either one of these sites. OBC could also have 10 extra popularity points for authors who ensure that their Goodreads and Goodreads profile match their OBC profiles in the same way that reviewers can currently popularity points for making sure their Facebook profile matches their OBC profile.

- OBC does have various price structures and different packages available to authors. Reviewers and the public don't see this, but once they've signed up as an author, they will see all this.

- Featured reviews are displayed on the homepage for a certain amount of time; those that are not featured are listed only in the genre sections. I've always assumed authors opt for one or the other.

- As already mentioned, it's against Amazon policy to publish reviews that have been paid for. That's why reviewers can specify in their preferences whether they can leave Amazon reviews, or not - in that sense, they are leaving the reviews voluntarily. That's also the case if an OBC reviewer does end up posting a review on any third party website - it's voluntary and it should be. Otherwise authors could pay for favourable reviews, something Amazon has been trying to eliminate with some success I believe.

- In that connection, you are totally free to write Goodreads reviews if you wish! Just make sure what you write on Goodreads is different from what's on here (see under "Other Terms and Policies", point 6: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/revie ... elines.php). You can leave a link to your OBC review on Goodreads.

I hope this explains why it is not desirable for authors to pay more for reviews on Amazon or Goodreads and why reviewers should not be paid extra for this. I already addressed your points about the appearance of the site in my other post.

Regards,

ButterscotchCherrie