To link or not to link?

[Chotti]

Howdy!

Do you think that if you post a review, you should post a link to amazon, goodreads, or whatnot, to make it easier for the reader? Or does this not matter?

[Melissa H]

I don't have it on the posts themselves, but I do have a link on my blog to buy the books mentioned in it and it is a separate page; then the books are linked through my amazon affiliate account.

[Elizabeth]

I always post to Goodreads, Shelfari, LibraryThing, BookArmy, BookBrowse, and Bookbundlz.

I like to share my thoughts so others can make a decision about whether they would enjoy the book or not.

http://silversolara.blogspot.com

[Stormi Johnson]

The only sort of linking I do is I use the Amazon.com associates cover art so that if the person wants to go and look at it on Amazon they just click the picture, so it doesn't have a lot of extra word links just a cover picture and I always put a cover picture up so I just do it that way.


Here is what drives me crazy about some reviews: Its when they don't provide cover art so I can see what the book looks like. It might be a great review but I don't really pay it much attention because the first thing I look for is cover art.

[Heather Manning]

I like to my affiliate link for the book (or any other product I review, it's how I make quite a bit of the income I do bring in on my blog), the author's website, plus their Twitter and Facebook accounts if they have them. I know when I read posts, I like it when that info is included, so I always include it in mine. Oh, I also always link to any giveaway the author might have going on. A lot of the romance authors have a monthly giveaway on their sites, and it's fun to include it for my readers to go enter.

(Linking to Amazon let's me see how many books are bought too through my review, I like having that info, and I have been able to go back to the author and say, this many bought through my website. Not all want that info, but some have been tickled pink to get it.)

[Elizabeth]

Definitely post links. I always let readers know I have reviews at certain places.

Makes it easier for all.

[Michael Araujo]

I'll usually link back to Barnes and Noble. Say I'm talking about a book, I'll make the title the link to the book page in case anyone wants to buy it. It could be with any other site but I just prefer this particular store. =D

As for checking out the reviews, whether they go on there to check them out or not is up to them. I still think you can include links by making it classy.

[Elizabeth]

I always put a link to Goodreads...I use Goodreads because it seems to be the easiest page to get the photo from and the link to reviews.

http://silversolara.blogspot.com

[cheryl sherrard]

I think it would also depend on what other obligaitons you already have. For me personally it was already enough to promote your blog on Facebook,Twitter,etc....without the additional obligation of posting on Goodreads or Amazon. Ultimately it's up to you and what your goal is. www.bookaddict4real.com

[Natasha Musa]

It depends on how you write a review I suppose. If you include a synopsis then I wouldn't bother. I don't do a detailed synopsis before I provide my review so therefore I linked the post to amazon or goodreads so that its easier for readers to research. Additionally, I suppose it also depends on whether you want to include amazon for sales purposes cause I know some blogs want to try and make some money by linking their post to amazon.

[ManOfLaBook.com]

The Internet is about openess. I have several hyperlinks in each article linking to the book on Amazon (I'm an Amazon Associate), the author's website, related articles, etc. I even link to other blogs review of the same book in the comments.

All open a new windown when clicked.

Personally I think if you don't link outside your blog you are doing yourself a disservice. Not only will people not link back to you, you'll go down in search engine rankings. I also see my blog not only as a way to share my thoughts and views, but as a way for authors & publishers to promote books and literacy. G-d knows we need it in this country.

I feel that linking to post related articles make my entry better as well as a service to my readers

Incidently, I asked Goodreader yesterday to supply a button which the user can press and add a book to their "to read" list from my blog.

http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

[Barb D.]

Well, said! The Internet is about openess....couldn't have said it better myself! We all blog for orselves to a certain extent, but we are also providing a service. If we feel strongly about how good a book is, we WANT people to take our advice - to believe us. Why not make it easy for them to find somewhere to buy the book??

[Maria Hesh]

I link, but only sometimes. And I don't necessarily link to amazon at all. Lots of times I like to find the writer's site; if someone wants to buy the book or (as I do) get it from the library they know how to get to amazon already, or another bookseller, or his/her library site.