Yet More Marketing Idiocy.

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  lsayde11/06/07 Report as spam
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  People in Glass Houses...

  Dear Reviewer, Just wanted you to know that I read your article and agree, we need to make changes to our webpage. In fact, you should know that we are in the process of creating a brand new, user-friendly website for journalists like yourself and I know you'll approve. Just wanted to point out some things missing from your story. We get more than 100 book requests a day and publish thousands of books, journals and e-product a year in three divisions with offices around the world. We have a full and global publicity staff who regularly meet and speak to reporters, send them books and set up countless author interviews in all types of media. Back to the website. When we researched the requests that came in over the web last year, we found that more than 75% were folks looking for free books to review on their own websites or to sell on Ebay. Review copies are not handouts and we need to make sure our "not for resale" galleys do not continue to be sold online. We are not the only publisher cracking down on the procedures for comp copies. It's become a necessary evil as more folks continue to misrepresent themselves online. BTW, in order to post this I had to register, wait for an email confirmation and agree to have my name and contact info available to everyone on the web, so I guess business journalists won't have any trouble finding me now!

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  Geoffrey James, Sales Machine11/07/07 Reported as spam
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  Message has been deleted.

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  Geoffrey James, Sales Machine11/07/07 Report as spam
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  Wrong URL above....

  Try this one:
  
  http://blogs.bnet.com/salesmachine/?p=167

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  rgrayling11/07/07 Report as spam
  4

  RE: Yet More Marketing Idiocy.

  Hi,
  
  I'm not in the business book sector but I try to create a similar 'buzz' around debut novels by previously unpublished writers. I interview the author and also run a competition to win a signed copy of their book. This works well if you can actually get hold of the author.
  
  I have done exactly the same as you when met with a 'please submit your requests in writing to...' and moved on to the next name on the list.
  
  We are offering free publicity for new authors and yet we meet with door slamming and Dickensian practices!!!
  
  Wake up everyone - we're trying to do your authors a favour here.
  
  Richard
  http://strugglingauthors.org

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  kmw811/07/07 Report as spam
  5

  Two Sides to One Story

  I think both the writer and the publisher have valid points. I feel that they are both victims of the same problem - dishonest people who misrepresent themselves. Because of this, a simple process has become overly complex and what used to be an act of good will - an interivew - has become a policing game for the publisher due to the high cost of shipping free copies of books to everyone. I feel empathy for both parties. It is hard to choose sides on this topic.
  
  That being said - I think if someone wants to be able to interview someone the publisher should have an application process that occurs once and then the reviewer is on an "approved" list. This alone should cut down on the time it takes to process the requests. Anyone who is not honest and is requesting a book just to sell on ebay may not want to supply valid information that is checked (electronically and automatically of course)be they freelancers or not.
  
  Protectionism is a part of the game now on the internet. As we individuals fight to protect our identity online, corporations are fighting to not get "taken" online too. As I said - I emphathize with both parties and feel they are probably not looking at the big picture. They have a common enemy (dishonest reviewers) and maybe if the publisher solicited the advise of trusted reviewers the resulting process migth be a balance both parties can live with.

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  Geoffrey James, Sales Machine11/07/07 Report as spam
  6

  Fraudulent Book Requests

  I don't doubt that it probably happens, although I doubt whether the practice justifies stiffing real journalists.
  
  In any case, the solution to the bogus request problem is the same as the solution to "help the reporters" problem, which is hire somebody with an Internet connection to handle the 100 requests that come in each day.
  
  That person could do a simple Google search to would winnow out the frauds and forward reasonable requests to the right author. And it would take place in 10 minutes rather than 14 days.
  
  And while I'm at it: 14 days? 14 days? Crap -- the way the media moves today, 14 days might as well be fifty years.
  
  But then, we're talking about an industry where most companies still hold royalties for up to six months after they've been received, even though the publisher knows within 10 minutes that a particular title has been purchased and paid for. It's a practice that goes back to the 19th century (when it took time to settle the books) but the publishers keep it up because they earn interest on the float. Money that comes out of the pocket of the poor author who's waiting to get paid.
  
  Similarly, book publishers regularly cheat authors out of royalties by adding contract provisions that provide for half-royalties if a book sells for more than a 56% discount. Since the big book stores all demand a 60% knockdown, and book prices have been adjusted upwards to accommodate the discounts that the big stores offer, this amounts to cutting royalty payments in half. Money that comes out of the pocket of the author.
  
  Book publishing is an ugly business. And ugly businesses (like tobacco, for instance) are well advised to get really, really good at PR. Wiley isn't -- and that's why I'm giving them some heat.