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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1428
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 05:12 pm: | 
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I hope the subject of this post sounds like a statement of the obvious.
I find if very interesting, an intellectual challenge, trying to understand why some people do not think of AALBC.com as a book vendor, or rather why folks refer people to other web sites to purchase books -- particularly here on these discussion boards
Keep in mind buying a book through AALBC.com is the same as making the purchase from Amazon.com, The only difference is that, and it is significant, is that AALBC.com earns a commission from that book sale.
The most basic example is when someone post a book recommendation here then proceeds to say you can buy the book at B&N, Borders or, Wal-Mart -- any other website but AALBC.com
The people who do this are well intentioned and are usually trying to share information they find valuable, but for some reason fail to refer AALBC.com.
This is effectively the same as going into a store, owned by a friend, then telling all the customers to leave and buy products from another store.
I recall filming a well known author in my home: It is common for authors wrap up by listing the places where their book may be purchased -- after listing about 5 or 6 brick and mortar and web based stores being run down. I leaned over whispering loudly into the publicist ear and said in a joking but manner. "you think [they] could at least mention AALBC.com?!"
The author had no ill intent it just did not occur to them to shout out AALBC.com.
Of course this is not everyone, many visitors and authors are quite good about referring AALBC.com, but there is meaningful percentage or folk that seem oblivious to the issue.
Of course I only take issue with this on AALBC.com home turf. If I'm in another physical bookstore or web site I fully expect the author to promote that store not mine.
Thinking about this more deeply. I was having dinner with another author recently who said they always tell people to go to a Black independent book store (no mention of AALBC.com). 5 minutes earlier they were praising what I do and the fact that I've been doing it so long. I did not inquire why they would not mention AALBC.com also.
Historically I never make that inquiry. I still have vivid memories of people claiming that the web, and even AALBC.com specifically, was responsible for the fact that independent bookstores are struggling.
The fascinating thing about that perception is that I never viewed AALBC.com as being any different than any other independent book seller.
People used to exclaim, "...well you are just selling books for Amazon". The implication is that I'm selling book for a white entity, therefore I'm not independent. Most independent booksellers are selling for a white entity if they are not buying their books from a white distributor, they are buying them from a white publisher.
I also know that the web is a powerful tool for getting information about books to people and allowing them to purchase them. Many of us do not live near an independent Black bookstore. So I know web based bookstores like AALBC.com help, not hurt, the cause.
Speaking of the cause; I always viewed AALBC.com as an entity that works to support other like minded entities. So if you are an independent bookstore, physical or web based, I make sure their is something on AALBC.com to promote that fact -- with no expectation that the courtesy would be reciprocated. I provide a list of black owned bookstores (http://writers.aalbc.com/aabook.htm) and a list of popular web sites that support Black books (http://aalbc.com/otherwebsites.htm).
And I do much more to promote other bookstores throughout the site and in my newsletter. I do this because I believe we need to help each other succeed and I also know visitors appreciate the information about other businesses.
And while I get books in the mail everyday; I too buy books from independent retailers -- and not just at authors signings.
I definitely did not intend to write all of this when I started this post, but if you take anything from this post: when it makes sense please use AALBC.com to buy your books and tell your friends to do so too!
You can find any book by clicking the Buy Any Book (advanced book seach) link found at the bottom of all of the pages on this discussion board. Or just use the Google search box here on AALBC.com; that will help you find reviews author profiles and videos that we may have published as well.
If you managed to read any of this I'm open to feedback or suggestions. |
Crystal
Veteran Poster
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 426
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 06:02 pm: |
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Well . . . while I have [usually even] purchased books from amazon through an aalbc link I’ve never thought of it as buying FROM aalbc. I mean I knew the site received a commission but I didn’t think it was much. Yes, yes, every little bit helps but it’s the amazon site I see and the credit card bill says amazon so I just didn’t make the connection that it was that much of a big deal I guess.
Am I right in assuming that when I go through the aalbc link you will get commissions on all the books in that order – I don’t have to keep linking back and forth do I?
I will make sure to do this in the future Troy. |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 604
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 11:26 pm: |
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Troy,
Of course you know I link to AALBC most of the time I post book recommendations on this site. That's just good netiquette. But many authors who post info on their books are just doing drive-by commercials because they know your site gets lots of traffic but they don't get involved in discussions and they don't understand the netiquette.
However, because AALBC doesn't physically store and ship books, I don't think authors view the site as a bookstore. I understand it's an affiliate link, and I know each little bit helps. There was a time when I had my own affiliate account for Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com but it takes so many doggone sales to earn something worthwhile that I just gave it up. I'm sure since you have such high traffic sites, it's more worthwhile for you.
I think if you're promoting businesses and authors at no cost, they should reciprocate by promoting AALBC and the services it offers, including the AALBC bookstore. Still, I think people may figure AALBC bookstore=Amazon.com and so they don't make a big deal of it. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 333
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 11:41 pm: |
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Troy,
Thanks for this, because I had not noticed the "buy any book" link before. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1431
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 11:31 am: |
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Crystal, yes, all the books on the order are included. In fact, many of the books on my bestsellers list are not books highlighted on the web site.
I'm glad I mentioned the link in my post. It had not occured to me the link went unnoticed by regular visitors. I'll see what I can do to make it more prominent.
Yeah I understand that after clicking the AALBC.com link it is an Amazon experience which does not reinforce the AALBC.com sale. I actually could make it a complete AALBC.com experience (Amazon provides a feed -- they are so smart). In fact the Buy Any Book link at the bottom of the page does this, albiet not very well.
AALBC.com 2.0 will attempt to improve and fully utilize the Amazon data and create a complete AALBC.com experience straigh through to the sale.
The links on my books page, which also utilize the Amazon feed, are cool too because one can see what book are coming over the course of the next year: http://www.aalbc.com/books
Emanuel, you been on line for a long time. So you understand proper "netiquette". Fortunately the drive by commericals are infrequent here otherwise I'd have to spend time removing them.
I think the best thing an author can do here is meaningfuly contribute to a conversation and include the signature in the form of "Your name author of ...." or "Your Name followed by their web site"
I have no problem with authors who refer visitors to their OWN web sites to buy books. It is simply poor form to send them to another book seller (even one I support).
Of course authors get extra credit when they refer AALBC.com to folks to purchase their books online. :-)
In fact the link to do this is of the form: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898152437/ref=nosim/aalbccom-20
Where the boldface number is your 10 digit ISBN.
Troy Johnson,
President AALBC.com, LLC |
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