Reviews all at once or spread out?
I’m curious if readers prefer instant gratification or if too much at once is a bad thing. Currently our schedule for reviews is one per day, which usually works out to 0-2 reviews per reviewer a week. This keeps the stress on us pretty low (2 books a week at most? For us? Easy.) But also doesn’t overwhelm visitors with too many long reviews to read at any one time. Seems like a good idea that’s been working for us.
The downside to this is that we have had so many review requests that the scheduled reviews are pretty far out. This isn’t bad in a way – we LOVE all the review requests we’ve gotten, especially from repeat authors – but we also don’t want anyone to have to wait too long. Currently I’ve read almost all the books in my review pile – almost – and anything new won’t see a live review until April. Is one month really too long to wait for a thorough review?
On the one hand, I don’t think it’s that bad. This could easily be the wait on some review sites that just publish one paragraph.
On the other, I tend to want to get the reviews out as soon as I’ve written them so no one has to wait.
So I’m asking you, readers and authors, what you prefer.
Would you rather a plethora of reviews all at once in small or large clumps, or spread out bit by bit in a steady stream?
What’s an appropriate wait time for readers and authors?
Posted in Ramblings
I’m pretty easy going. I don’t mind clumps of reviews if it happens that way. I’m a fast reader and depending on if a book interests me or is in the genre I read I can even skim them over to get a feel. You guys do lesbian, bi and transgender which are not really my thing so I just skip those. I’d say do what works for you. If you read three books in three day and want to post three reviews in a day, that’s fine with me. I wouldn’t pass them over because it’s too many. Either I’m interested enough to take the time and read them or not.
How far is too far? Do you mean after a release? Never. I haven’t read m/m for very long so there are lots of books that are 2, 3 or 4 years old that I’d be happy to read the reviews of. I mostly read newer stuff now but I’m always happy to read a review of a book that is older. It can help newbies find good books or I just like to share my “I loved/hated it too.” comments.
So there is no perfect timing or amount for me. I do the one paragraph reviews (which really comes down to 3 or 4 sentences about my feelings) and I can do one or maybe 5 or 6 depending on my reading. So I think you go with what works for you and people figure it out.
What Tam said. I agree that with the variety you are offering beyond m/m there’s plenty for everyone. I think I’d rather have the reviews if they are ready sooner than later. While I sometimes enjoy comparing my response to a book with a reviewer’s, I prefer to get their take before I buy (there are some occasions when a review does sway me – usually when I’m sitting on the fence). I tend to buy books in clumps, so I have no problem with seeing reviews in clumps.
But in the end, it’s really about what works best for you!
Hi, Kassa. I think most readers are flexible and will come read on whatever schedule or amount you serve up. It’s the writers who will be concerned about getting the most publicity possible around their release date. Then there is the gnarly feeling for you reviewers of having this huge To-Review list building up to insurmountable levels. I think I’d probably advise reviewing books as fast as you comfortably can and just socking away that content on your site. It may look overwhelming to daily subscribers on the RSS feed, but I think most readers are like me and tend to treat review sites like databases and we surf by often and look up authors and titles in the reviews archives. Just my two-cents. Big congrats on this site taking off like it has!
I agree wholeheartedly with the first three comments. While I appreciate your desire to cater to your readers, you perform the service. Please do what works best for you. I personally can’t imagine too much content, and there’s always the next day to catch up if that actually happens.
I’d rather the reviews go up as and when they’re ready – but your site, your schedule!
You’re doing a wide range of books and not everyone will be interested in all of it anyway, so if it’s easier to post a batch of reviews all at once–hey, you’re doing readers and authors a favor, here. Do what gives you the fewest headaches.
As far as keeping folks informed–have you considered setting up a Yahoo group (or livejournal or Dreamwidth journal) where you can post new reviews as you set them up? I admit I’m not good at checking the sites, and that sort of arrangement would let us all follow what’s up so we can check out the books we’re curious about.
Oh, and thanks for the review of I Do Two–you’re the first one in and I think we’re all breathing a sigh of relief!