Welcome to the Australasian Christian Writers Tuesday Book Chat. This is where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week.
Today’s question is:
Do you read book endorsements? Do they influence your book buying decisions?
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation by commenting on this post or on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group.
Let’s chat!
This is a yes and no answer. Yes I do read some book endorsements. As to do they influence me to buy a book I would say no. Occasionally if its someone I trust and not just another author it may influence me. I am more likely to be influence by another reader or reviewer rather than an author from the same publisher.
Your turn.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation in a comment on this post or in a comment on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group.
[bctt tweet=”Do you read book endorsements? Do they influence your book buying decisions?” username=”acwriters”]
And don’t forget: if you’d like to participate in our weekly Book Chat by posting the question and your answer on your blog, drop us an email via our Contact page and we’ll send you the list of questions for 2020.
I read the endorsements after I’ve bought the book! So they don’t influence my buying decisions. Also, I’m more interested in who endorsed the book, rather than what they actually say.
I agree. I often think that endorsements are from people published by the same publisher which means they will not say anything negative. As mentioned I am more interested in endorsements from neutral parties like readers. As you said I often read after I buy the book.
I guess I think of them as influencers who there to sell a book. I am much more interested in honest reviews. (In saying that I have actually endorsed a book before)
Less and less because I’m discovering that most of the popular books and prize winners I don’t like.
However, if I know a particular endorser likes my kind of books and I trust their endorsements, yes, I take notice.
I am very careful of which books I endorse because I want my endorsements to count.
I can understand that Christine. Some publishers just use award winning authors to endorse all their books and not just authors who write in the same genre. Its this that makes me wonder.
But like you if I know a reviewer (who isn’t associated with the author) and trust their reviews then I will be more likely to trust it.
That’s so true, Jenny. I think there’s an expectation from some publishers to promote other authors from their house, and I tend to read them with a grain of salt, knowing so many are based on relationships 🙂 I like to read endorsements, but only read them as an incentive to purchase if it’s a new-to-me author.
One house in particular was doing it (don’t ask me which one) but it had a lot authors I know endorsing other authors but it wasn’t just in there genre it was in all genres. I know authors read other genres to what they write but I would expect them more to endorse there own genre. Thanks for stopping by (despite the late post. for some reason it didn’t post this morning)
Not really. I’ve usually already bought the book and see them on the front page, but they are generally for the previous book in the series or another book by the author rather than the one I’m about to read.
Thanks for commenting Beth. I think I think of them just like a sportsman or woman endorsing a product. Yes I buy weet-bix but its not cos cricketers endorse it. I think its the same with books.
Mostly no, but if I see a book that intrigues me, and it’s buy an author I don’t know, then I may read them.
I think most people feel the same way. I wonder if there are statistics about if endorsements sells books.