A meaty topic today – and I’m asking your opinion, so please comment.
I was talking to one of my editors last week, and she told me how the sales team really like to see hotlinks to the online bookstores on an author’s website. I can appreciate that many people are impulse buyers, and such links facilitate that.
Of course, there are sales reps assigned to all the big accounts, so an Amazon link only makes one rep happy. She was saying that it was good to have a link for Borders and for Barnes and Noble as well. Then we talked about Books-A-Million and Powell, and Canadian online booksellers like Amazon.ca and Chapters/Indigo. What about the Aussies? Rosemary’s Romance and Ever After have both been very supportive of me and my books…on and on, the list grows ever longer.
I started to think about clutter! I love webpages that are sleek and simple, elegant and clean. I can’t see getting away with less than a dozen hotlinks on each book’s page and that makes me cringe. Even then, I’m sure someone would be left out.
What do you think of this? Do you follow hotlinks to buy books online?
The thing is that I never do. That’s part of the reason why I don’t currently have hotlinks on my websites. Even if I intend to buy a book online, I’ll open a new browser window and go to my vendor of choice, then search for the book. Chances are good that I already have one or two things in my shopping basket, and maybe I can score free shipping.
I do prefer to support local bricks and mortar bookstores, whether they are independents or chain stores. Lots of bookstores have gone away in recent years, and I do love to wander through real bookstores. That browsing-for-something-surprising on a Sunday afternoon is something that online bookstores will never be able to replicate. I would miss it terribly if it were impossible – and have found some of the most amazing books that way.
Another reason I haven’t done this to date is that independent booksellers – both bricks and mortar stores and online vendors – are often my most vehement supporters. They’re handselling my books and I don’t want to cut them out of the loop by having readers – potentially their customers – follow the easy link and buy from one of the big online vendors. People in the bricks and mortar stores of big chains also hand-sell me, and there’s no way I want any of them to feel unappreciated.
So, what do you think? How do you shop? Do you expect to see hotlinks on an author’s website? If you’re a bookseller, do you find it annoying when an author provides those hotlinks to the big online booksellers?
Deborah Cooke: Author 
8 responses to “Bookstore Links”
I don’t know if they still do it, but Amazon and B&N online used to have affiliate programs. You signed up and when people clicked through your hotlink to their store, you got credit of some type.
Nowadays I assume these things still happen and, to be honest, I don’t want to give a particular website any more of my money than I already do (even if that’s none).
So, like you, I’m more likely to go search online for it from my favorite vendor without clicking through a hotlink on an author’s website.
However, if one goes caves to the pressure of their editors and peers, I think the links can be done tastefully. Something simple like a list of sellers hyperlinked to your book:
Get it here….
Amazon.com (US)
Amazon.ca (Canada)
Barnes and Noble.com (US)
Barnes and Noble.ca (Canada)
Rosemary’s Books (Australia)
Ever After (Australia)
and so on.
This actually is not a bad marketing tool – it let’s people know you have a world-wide audience.
Or, leave out the hyperlink altogether. Decisions, decisions.
LikeLike
The only time I ever click a hotlink is when I am specifically looking for a book, and it is from a small publisher (this only really applies to e-books for me). Other than that, I just go to Chapters (or Amazon.ca) and search.
I could see having a link to your favourite seller, as I know not all bookstores carry all of an authors works. If a link was included for a store that was a guaranteed seller of your works, then I would be happy.
Hope my rambling makes sense….lol
LikeLike
I agree with the previous that if it is tasteful then it would not be too bad. I subscribe to your blog using Bloglines so unless I wish to comment, I don’t often click on the actual blog page. I don’t think I have ever clicked thorough on a book link. I have memberships at Barnes & Nobles and Books a Million. They are they only two bookstores in my area except for university bookstores which do not stock much fiction unless it is for a literature class. Not sure this is much help.
LikeLike
I buy most of books online at various places, with a few favorites. Usually I’m looking for upcoming book info at an author site and don’t normally click to buy from there. When I’m ready to buy, I go to my usual buying places and work from my own book wishlist I’m always adding to when I find out about upcoming releases.
Mainly, I’ll click buy link if the book is from a smaller independent publisher to check out any deals at their site, or for a book not readily available from the usual places, or if I’m looking to see if an ebook format is available and where.
Hard to say what’s best for you to do, as I’m sure others may click on impulse and buy while browsing, and many do keep wishlists at some of the vendor sites, so may click to do just that. I know there are many overseas readers online who may be looking where they can buy. Maybe you can have a separate where to buy page so you can list everyone, including overseas and independent sellers.
LikeLike
There is a little advantage in a direct link for you… something interests a reader and they buy your book. Depending on a lot of items, it can be easy to bop over to Amazon, or Borders and change your mind as you find other interesting looking reads.
But, in the end, I enjoy the simplicity of a sleek design page and tend to wander to those sites more than others. I also enjoy that it becomes my decision to go buy…. not an advertising scheme.
Absolutely no help at all!
LikeLike
I know it’s a convenience to have, but I prefer a site that doesn’t have all those links. When I go looking for books, I prefer to be in a bookstore wandering from shelf to shelf.
Don’t change a thing!!! 🙂
PS: Love the cover for Winter Kiss 🙂
LikeLike
I think you are absolutely right in your convictions to support the individual (local) booksellers, the magic of wandering through your favorite store and finding that perfect read (just finished “Kiss of Fate”), and your desire for order versus clutter….
write on!
LikeLike
I dislike cluttered websites.
I would make one “You can buy this book here” button on the book’s page, leading to an entirely different page where the hotlinks to booksellers reside.
LikeLike