BOTD Limit

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Jude Austin
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BOTD Limit

Post by Jude Austin »

I'd like to see a limit to the number of times a book gets to be BOTD. Right now it's The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid...again. This book was BOTM, it's been BOTD more than once before now, and I'm starting to feel like I'm being spammed with it!

I have no problems with the book or author - this isn't the only book this has happened to - but I would like there to be a minimum time period (say, 6 months, or 1 year if the book is also chosen as BOTM) before the same book becomes eligible again. This would keep the selection fresh and interesting.

(From a Daily Giveaway point of view, it would also make it easier; it's hard to keep coming up with new variations on "Great book, congrats on BOTD," especially when the first thought to enter my mind is, "Oh man, this one AGAIN?") :D
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Post by kfwilson6 »

I brought up this same topic as I've been around about the same amount of time as you have. I thought it was odd that I kept seeing reviews for a vast number of books, but within 2 months saw the same BOTD. It has to do with the authors and if they are willing to offer free copies of their books or discounted copies if I remember the explanation correctly.

I still agree with you though that there should be an eligibility period.
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Post by Yssimnar »

Even if there is a BOTD repeat, there is still a fresh chance at the $20 raffle as touted on the Twitter post, right?
:wink:
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Post by gali »

Yssimnar wrote: 03 Aug 2018, 20:27 Even if there is a BOTD repeat, there is still a fresh chance at the $20 raffle as touted on the Twitter post, right?
Yes. :tiphat:
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Post by DorcasToo »

Very true even today's BOTD was BOTD a few weeks ago.
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Post by Jude Austin »

DorcasToo wrote: 20 Aug 2018, 14:21 Very true even today's BOTD was BOTD a few weeks ago.
Which brings up another interesting point. As I understand it, we can only download ONE free copy per book. This means that our receipt for that book could be 3-4 weeks old and we may have deleted it. If we win the BOTD sweepstakes with the same book from ages ago and no longer have the receipt to forward for proof, what happens then? Would the team accept a screenshot?
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Post by bookowlie »

What's the difference if there are some repeats? Overall the BOTD program provides the opportunity to get books for free or at a very low price. Since new members are constantly joining, repeat books are new to them. The BOTD program is completely voluntary although participants get the chance to win a gift card each day. I just don't see how it's a big deal for there to be repeats if participation is voluntary.
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

bookowlie wrote: 24 Aug 2018, 06:57 What's the difference if there are some repeats? Overall the BOTD program provides the opportunity to get books for free or at a very low price. Since new members are constantly joining, repeat books are new to them. The BOTD program is completely voluntary although participants get the chance to win a gift card each day. I just don't see how it's a big deal for there to be repeats if participation is voluntary.
:ditto: My thoughts exactly. The BOTD is just one small part of the OBC. I rarely participate, but I know that if I want to once in a while, I can.
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Post by CommMayo »

Stop me if I'm wrong, but being the BOTD has nothing to do with the quality or popularity of a book; it has to do with the author paying to have the book featured at the BOTD. It is really just a marketing tool and a nice money maker for the website.

Personally, I think the majority of these authors need to throw their money at editors prior to marketing...
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Post by bookowlie »

Agree, agree, agree!
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Post by AmySmiles »

CommMayo wrote: 24 Aug 2018, 13:59 Stop me if I'm wrong, but being the BOTD has nothing to do with the quality or popularity of a book; it has to do with the author paying to have the book featured at the BOTD. It is really just a marketing tool and a nice money maker for the website.

Personally, I think the majority of these authors need to throw their money at editors prior to marketing...
Absolutely!!!!
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Post by kfwilson6 »

bookowlie wrote: 24 Aug 2018, 06:57 What's the difference if there are some repeats? Overall the BOTD program provides the opportunity to get books for free or at a very low price. Since new members are constantly joining, repeat books are new to them. The BOTD program is completely voluntary although participants get the chance to win a gift card each day. I just don't see how it's a big deal for there to be repeats if participation is voluntary.
Some reviewers participate in the BOTD because it is helping them maintain their points on their popularity scores. Given that you can earn up to 16 points toward your reviewer score just for doing BOTD, it can have a huge impact. For those people who are participating each day, it can be a bit frustrating to have the same books pop up because you are commenting on them multiple times just the first time you see it.

This is just a suggestion forum and people have different preferences. Also, not everyone knows the hows and whys of what goes on behind the scenes of OBC. I don't see why you needed to be so critical and rude about it.

JudasFm was simply suggesting a time frame in which a book doesn't become BOTD twice. So new reviewers could see it after that time frame, but older reviewers would get info about books they hadn't seen before. From the authors' standpoint, it is beneficial to more of them if each day for x amount of weeks or months a book must not be repeated (I'm saying this not knowing exactly how BOTD is determined, so it's kind of an assumption). You get what you pay for I guess.
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Post by bookowlie »

I apologize if my comment came across as rude, as it wasn't meant to be. I guess I just look at the BOTD program as something extra. When I joined, there were no bonus points for anything - no social media points, no gift cards for the BOTM discussion, no BOTD program or any other bonuses. I can see your point about it being a chore to post additional comments for the same book. I guess I see it as easier because I've previously read the sample and OBC review.
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

bookowlie wrote: 25 Aug 2018, 17:47 I apologize if my comment came across as rude, as it wasn't meant to be. I guess I just look at the BOTD program as something extra. When I joined, there were no bonus points for anything - no social media points, no gift cards for the BOTM discussion, no BOTD program or any other bonuses. I can see your point about it being a chore to post additional comments for the same book. I guess I see it as easier because I've previously read the sample and OBC review.
I completely understand. I've never used the BOTD to get my points, even in the beginning.
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Post by Mary WhiteFace »

I think I can understand a little of the frustration when books are BOTD and BOTM multiple times, close together.

When you're at a lower level, trying to work your way up, the 8 points you can earn for your Facebook and LinkedIn comments might be the difference to moving up a level, if your overall score is borderline.

Sometimes it is a little difficult to come up with six different, unique comments about the same book within a couple of weeks. Especially if it's just an okay book that didn't really leave a lasting impression with the sample. At least if the time was spread out over a longer period your mind might look at it with a fresher viewpoint. Not a complaint, simply an observation.

I've decided to just add the extra comments if I have them, if not then I don't comment. I've stressed myself over it before. It's not worth it.

Most importantly, I'm going to spend my time raising the quality of my reviews, and becoming more active in the forums, adding the social media comments only if and when they come easily. I've realized that forced comments don't have the same authenticity, and then they don't help anyone.
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