3 ms·

isn't the point to support indie bookstores? what are "affiliates" in this case? there aren't any bookstore chains in the US other than B&N and Amazon of cours

isn't the point to support indie bookstores? what are "affiliates" in this case? there aren't any bookstore chains in the US other than B&N and Amazon of course

smcin 2y ago
I think "affiliates" means "any person/org promoting it in a social media campaign". (similar to "Amazon affiliate link")
- beanjuiceII 2y ago
  so like skimmers?
  - smcin 2y ago
    Affilate link fraud? No idea. Maybe they should be flattered if scammers think they have enough affiliate revenue to even make affiliate fraud worthwhile.
bwb 2y ago
Affiliates = websites/apps trying to help readers/authors in different ways while trying to make enough to pay for infrastructure / time-to-build. For example, I run Shepherd.com, and I try to help readers find books they don't know about in fun ways while helping new authors get their first readers. Or book websites that try to create questions for book clubs to use when discussing books. Fun fact: The real affiliate rate is only half what they publish, as the sales get scrubbed due to the chaotic nature of cookies/affiliate tracking. So Amazon pays around 2% for book sales, and bookshop.org pays 5% (if not less at Amazon since they only compensate you if the sale happens in the first 24 hours). This is why it is impossible for any book websites to fund themselves without direct funding from readers/authors at this point.
- jeffgreco 2y ago
  Thank you for Shepherd, it’s a tremendous resource for finding something to read.
  - bwb 2y ago
    Thanks, it has been fun to build, and got some really cool stuff coming this year :)! We are working now on a massive upgrade for the bookshelves so we can better highlight the best books of all-time (plus by decade so you can dig into 1950s or 1990s sci-fi etc), new books, trending books, and some other cool stuff!

3 ms·

isn't the point to support indie bookstores? what are "affiliates" in this case? there aren't any bookstore chains in the US other than B&N and Amazon of cours

by insane_dreamer 2y ago

isn't the point to support indie bookstores? what are "affiliates" in this case? there aren't any bookstore chains in the US other than B&N and Amazon of course

smcin 2y ago
I think "affiliates" means "any person/org promoting it in a social media campaign". (similar to "Amazon affiliate link")
- beanjuiceII 2y ago
  so like skimmers?
  - smcin 2y ago
    Affilate link fraud? No idea. Maybe they should be flattered if scammers think they have enough affiliate revenue to even make affiliate fraud worthwhile.
bwb 2y ago
Affiliates = websites/apps trying to help readers/authors in different ways while trying to make enough to pay for infrastructure / time-to-build. For example, I run Shepherd.com, and I try to help readers find books they don't know about in fun ways while helping new authors get their first readers. Or book websites that try to create questions for book clubs to use when discussing books. Fun fact: The real affiliate rate is only half what they publish, as the sales get scrubbed due to the chaotic nature of cookies/affiliate tracking. So Amazon pays around 2% for book sales, and bookshop.org pays 5% (if not less at Amazon since they only compensate you if the sale happens in the first 24 hours). This is why it is impossible for any book websites to fund themselves without direct funding from readers/authors at this point.
- jeffgreco 2y ago
  Thank you for Shepherd, it’s a tremendous resource for finding something to read.
  - bwb 2y ago
    Thanks, it has been fun to build, and got some really cool stuff coming this year :)! We are working now on a massive upgrade for the bookshelves so we can better highlight the best books of all-time (plus by decade so you can dig into 1950s or 1990s sci-fi etc), new books, trending books, and some other cool stuff!