OK, question for you guys. What is the etiquette when someone positively reviews your book or work?online? Is it OK to say thanks? In the Comments, or in a private email (if you can find the address)? If other people say nice things or wonder about stuff in the Comments, can you respond to those with a Comment of your own?
I’ve done this both ways, and I’ve had people whose work I’ve featured contact me both ways, and I’ve never thought anything of it. But I’ve read/heard a couple of things recently that made me think perhaps it was unacceptable to say hi and thanks publicly, on the person’s blog. (Obviously, I would NOT respond to negative reviews, try to change people’s opinions,etc. Even I know better than that:>)
So, what’s your take on this? All advice, thoughts, and anecdotes welcome. Thanks!
I don’t see a problem with saying thank you in the comments section at all. It’s a public forum, and I would think the reviewer would appreciate it. I’ve done it myself many times. I would probably not do it via e-mail, as that seems too personal. And, while I would share the link to the review on twitter and FB, I would not tweet/post a public message to the reviewer thanking them, as that seems too self-serving. I am curious what the argument against it is.
Thanks for your thoughts, Iza–I THINK (though nothing I’ve seen comes right out and says it) that it’s an objection to crossing some invisible line between the reviewer and the reviewee…I guess our lines are all different places. You think email is too personal, but other people think it looks self-serving, I think, to leave a note in the Comments. I’m personally ok with any of it, but am just trying to figure out the accepted practices:>) A grey area, to be sure!
I don’t see a problem with saying thank you in the comments section at all. It’s a public forum, and I would think the reviewer would appreciate it. I’ve done it myself many times. I would probably not do it via e-mail, as that seems too personal. And, while I would share the link to the review on twitter and FB, I would not tweet/post a public message to the reviewer thanking them, as that seems too self-serving. I am curious what the argument against it is.
Thanks for your thoughts, Iza–I THINK (though nothing I’ve seen comes right out and says it) that it’s an objection to crossing some invisible line between the reviewer and the reviewee…I guess our lines are all different places. You think email is too personal, but other people think it looks self-serving, I think, to leave a note in the Comments. I’m personally ok with any of it, but am just trying to figure out the accepted practices:>) A grey area, to be sure!
I find that bizarre, Laura. I’ve had comments from authors on my blog, though I have known them and someone I didn’t know posting my blog post on their Facebook page, therefore giving them more publicity in the review and being lovely by thanking me. I’ve also had a publisher tweet a review. Maybe it makes a difference if it is an official reviewer I have no idea.
I say do what your instincts tell you in each situation 🙂
Thanks, Catherine. The official review thing is a good point–I’ve never contacted a reviewer in an official journal to thank them. I don’t know why crossing that line feels different to me, but it does somehow!
It probably wouldn’t mean as much to them if they did it for a living. Just thinking in terms of the time on your end.
I find that bizarre, Laura. I’ve had comments from authors on my blog, though I have known them and someone I didn’t know posting my blog post on their Facebook page, therefore giving them more publicity in the review and being lovely by thanking me. I’ve also had a publisher tweet a review. Maybe it makes a difference if it is an official reviewer I have no idea.
I say do what your instincts tell you in each situation 🙂
Thanks, Catherine. The official review thing is a good point–I’ve never contacted a reviewer in an official journal to thank them. I don’t know why crossing that line feels different to me, but it does somehow!
It probably wouldn’t mean as much to them if they did it for a living. Just thinking in terms of the time on your end.
I’ve wondered about this, too, Laura. I’d send an e-mail if I knew the reviewer, & I’d post a comment if someone asked a question I thought I should answer.
I like that approach, JoAnn…
I’ve wondered about this, too, Laura. I’d send an e-mail if I knew the reviewer, & I’d post a comment if someone asked a question I thought I should answer.
I like that approach, JoAnn…
I, too, am curious what you’ve heard that suggests it’s not okay to comment and say thank you. And I agree with most of what’s been said here. I don’t think an e-mail is too personal if you prefer to keep your thanks private, especially if the blogger makes his/her email addy available, which would have to be the case, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to email.
Linking to reviews sends the reviewer more traffic (your friends and fans), and that’s generally a good and desirable thing, as is joining the conversation in comments.
As long as you don’t argue with negative opinions, I think the recognition, appreciation, and thanks are thoughtful and good for everyone.
Oh, good! That’s what I’ve always thought, too! (See my reply to Iza below…)
I, too, am curious what you’ve heard that suggests it’s not okay to comment and say thank you. And I agree with most of what’s been said here. I don’t think an e-mail is too personal if you prefer to keep your thanks private, especially if the blogger makes his/her email addy available, which would have to be the case, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to email.
Linking to reviews sends the reviewer more traffic (your friends and fans), and that’s generally a good and desirable thing, as is joining the conversation in comments.
As long as you don’t argue with negative opinions, I think the recognition, appreciation, and thanks are thoughtful and good for everyone.
Oh, good! That’s what I’ve always thought, too! (See my reply to Iza below…)
Hmmm.
I ALWAYS visit blogs and leave a little “thanks for the shout-out” message. I don’t go to Amazon, or Goodreads or anywhere but a personal blog, and only if the person has made an actual review, and not regurgitated cover copy (which happens more often than you’d think. I’m not sure what people are thinking there). That being said, I’ve both had the publisher see a good review and tweet it to share with the world, and I’ve had people not approve the thank-yous I left on their reviews, or delete them. They likely think I’m either trolling for readers or in some other way trying to use their blog for PR. Meh, whatever. I decide what I’m going to do and how I act; they get to decide what goes on their blogs. Either way, whatever they do doesn’t change me.
Thanks, Tanita–It’s really helpful to hear everyone’s varied experiences and thoughts. Reassuring that there isn’t some hard and fast unwritten code I was breaking. I’ve…um…had my knuckles rapped for breaking code before, and wanted to avoid it if at all possible:>)
Hmmm.
I ALWAYS visit blogs and leave a little “thanks for the shout-out” message. I don’t go to Amazon, or Goodreads or anywhere but a personal blog, and only if the person has made an actual review, and not regurgitated cover copy (which happens more often than you’d think. I’m not sure what people are thinking there). That being said, I’ve both had the publisher see a good review and tweet it to share with the world, and I’ve had people not approve the thank-yous I left on their reviews, or delete them. They likely think I’m either trolling for readers or in some other way trying to use their blog for PR. Meh, whatever. I decide what I’m going to do and how I act; they get to decide what goes on their blogs. Either way, whatever they do doesn’t change me.
Thanks, Tanita–It’s really helpful to hear everyone’s varied experiences and thoughts. Reassuring that there isn’t some hard and fast unwritten code I was breaking. I’ve…um…had my knuckles rapped for breaking code before, and wanted to avoid it if at all possible:>)
I often review books on my blog, and twice now I’ve had authors thank me. I thought that was nice of them, and appreciated it.
I haven’t yet been in the position of having my work reviewed, but I know that if I saw positive words about something I’d written, I would want to thank the reviewer. I, too, am curious about what the argument is against doing that.
Thanks for weighing in, Janelle (and see my reply to Iza beloe)!
I often review books on my blog, and twice now I’ve had authors thank me. I thought that was nice of them, and appreciated it.
I haven’t yet been in the position of having my work reviewed, but I know that if I saw positive words about something I’d written, I would want to thank the reviewer. I, too, am curious about what the argument is against doing that.
Thanks for weighing in, Janelle (and see my reply to Iza beloe)!
Interesting question since I often review people’s books. I actually really like it if an author or illustrator sees I’ve mentioned them or their book and comes by to say hi, participate in the conversation, etc. As an author myself, I usually try to find a private way to thanks someone if they mention me or my book in case they mind, but if there’s no “contact me” button, I’ll leave a comment thanking them because I would like it if someone did that for me. (As you say, only positive!) But I don’t know how that measures on the etiquette-o-meter.
Seems like that’s perfectly acceptable–yay! There are different comfort levels with whether to say thanks by email vs in the comments, etc., but everyone agrees that it’s a good thing, a nice thing!
Interesting question since I often review people’s books. I actually really like it if an author or illustrator sees I’ve mentioned them or their book and comes by to say hi, participate in the conversation, etc. As an author myself, I usually try to find a private way to thanks someone if they mention me or my book in case they mind, but if there’s no “contact me” button, I’ll leave a comment thanking them because I would like it if someone did that for me. (As you say, only positive!) But I don’t know how that measures on the etiquette-o-meter.
Seems like that’s perfectly acceptable–yay! There are different comfort levels with whether to say thanks by email vs in the comments, etc., but everyone agrees that it’s a good thing, a nice thing!
LAura, In MHO in this busy world any response sent the recipient should be thankful for. I think leaving comments on a blog are fine or personal emails are great if you can find the URL.
Sent from my iPhone Joy Acey http://www.poetryforkidsjoy.blogspot.com
Thank you, Joy, for weighing in! I’m feeling very reassured by all this:>)
LAura, In MHO in this busy world any response sent the recipient should be thankful for. I think leaving comments on a blog are fine or personal emails are great if you can find the URL.
Sent from my iPhone Joy Acey http://www.poetryforkidsjoy.blogspot.com
Thank you, Joy, for weighing in! I’m feeling very reassured by all this:>)
I just received a lovely thank you for my review/recommendation of BookSpeak from you this morning, and it made my day! I’m a writer, not a reviewer per se, but I take great care (and a ton of time!) researching the resources I share with my readers, so I appreciate positive feedback. Besides, isn’t a thank you always a good thing when it’s sincere? Thank you for your excellent book, btw. It speaks to my book nerd soul, lol, and makes a great teaching tool, as well!
I’m so happy to hear that–thank you for sharing! I agree–sincere thanks are always a good thing, so I’m just going to keep on doing what I’m doing. I hope bloggers and reviewers will take the thanks in the spirit they’re intended. I’m glad you love BookSpeak–when a book-lover says that, I feel so connected and satisfied!
I just received a lovely thank you for my review/recommendation of BookSpeak from you this morning, and it made my day! I’m a writer, not a reviewer per se, but I take great care (and a ton of time!) researching the resources I share with my readers, so I appreciate positive feedback. Besides, isn’t a thank you always a good thing when it’s sincere? Thank you for your excellent book, btw. It speaks to my book nerd soul, lol, and makes a great teaching tool, as well!
I’m so happy to hear that–thank you for sharing! I agree–sincere thanks are always a good thing, so I’m just going to keep on doing what I’m doing. I hope bloggers and reviewers will take the thanks in the spirit they’re intended. I’m glad you love BookSpeak–when a book-lover says that, I feel so connected and satisfied!
I really have no idea what the etiquette is, Laura! I just tried to see if Google could help, and all I found was this: http://www.lindapoitevin.com/a-writers-guide-to-book-blogger-etiquette, which just said that opinions vary.
Well, it’s good to know I’m not the only one who’s unsure! Thanks for finding that, though!
I really have no idea what the etiquette is, Laura! I just tried to see if Google could help, and all I found was this: http://www.lindapoitevin.com/a-writers-guide-to-book-blogger-etiquette, which just said that opinions vary.
Well, it’s good to know I’m not the only one who’s unsure! Thanks for finding that, though!