A little over a year ago, we announced the Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers program. The purpose of the program was to provide free books to bloggers in exchange for a 200-word review of the book. We don’t require positive reviews. We want bloggers to be honest in their assessment of the books they read.
This program has been a huge hit. To-date, we have over 7,500 bloggers signed up. We have received hundreds and hundreds of reviews. In fact, we now deem these as a critical part of our marketing strategy. The reason is that people tend to believe the bloggers they follow more than advertising or professional reviews.
The problem has been the name. “Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. However, in the spirit of “permanent beta,” I wanted to get something launched rather than wait for the perfect name.
One day, while re-reading Unleashing the Idea Virus by Seth Godin, I was intrigued by his description of “sneezers.” This is the term he uses to refer to those individuals who get so infected with an idea that they become contagious. They spread it to everyone they know.
Almost immediately, the name “BookSneeze.com” popped into my mind. I did a quick search on GoDaddy.com to see if the domain name was available. Surprisingly, it was.
However, we had an internal debate about the title. For starters, Gail, my wife, thought it was gross. A few others questioned it as well. But in the end, we decided to go with it. (There are some advantages to being the CEO!) I felt that it was memorable—especially with the tagline, “Great books are contagious.”
So, today we are officially launching BookSneeze.com. If you are already registered with our Book Review Bloggers program, you will be automatically registered with BookSneeze. If you are a blogger and haven’t registered with our program, let me encourage you to do so. Here are three benefits (repeated from my original post on the program):
- Free copies of our best books. We will send you a free copy of the book you are interested in reviewing. In addition, after you have requested a review copy, we will email you a PDF of the first two chapters so you can immediately get started. Meanwhile, we will drop a physical copy of the book in the mail.
- Content resources for your blog. We will provide you with free resources to use in your review. These include things like cover art, video or audio clips (when available), external links to other related items, etc.
- External links to your blog. We will provide a link back to the your actual review of the book. As you may know, external links are what drive up your blog’s ranking on Google. In general, the more links the better.
What do we require? Bloggers must agree to write a 200-word review—good, bad, or ugly—and post it on their blog and on any consumer detail page for that book (e.g., Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, BooksAMillion.com, Borders.com, ChristianBook.com, etc.). Obviously, the review can be longer, but we wanted to set the bar low in order to encourage participation. I think this is a case where if the products are WOW, they will generate enthusiasm and buzz. If not, then that will also help us create better products in the future.
We do not require you to write a positive review. If you take a quick look of the reviews on BookSneeze.com, you’ll see that there are both positive and negative reviews. We have never once censored a review or dropped a reviewer for a negative review.
To get started, click here. You must apply to join, but we review all applications promptly.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the people involved in this project:
- Lindsey Nobles, my communications director, supervised the whole project from beginning to end.
- Nick Francis and Jared McDaniel at Project 83 did the design and HTML/CSS coding.
- Joshua Paine of LetterBlock built the underlying Web application and applied Project 83’s work to create the new site.
My original goal was to recruit 10,000 active bloggers. We are now three-quarters of the way there. If you know of a blogger who would like to receive free books, please help us spread the word.
This space is currently available, but it won’t last long! Click here to find out how you can advertise in this space.
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As an avid Godin fan, the name jumped off the page for me. I like it. It requires explanation, which is so cool. The only downside, I think, is being tied to Seth. "Sneezer" is much bigger than he is now, but it still might be a bit too close. Otherwise, I love it. This is the first I've even heard of the program (I just started following you here). However, I'm seriously considering getting involved, just not sure how I want to do it yet. Thank you, though… I'm looking forward to seeing how this takes off (or not). :>)
-Marshall Jones Jr.
This is such a great idea. I signed up but waiting for books that are interesting to me.
I like the name. It's cute and it's original.
My recent post A Plea for Pat Robertson’s Context
I heard the name and didn't like it. Then I heard the explanation and really still can't buy into it. First impression are important and this one is gross. Took a chance but when you have to explain probably not a good idea.
The name is cleaver and catchy. I love it, I’m also interested in this program. I just started doing some book reviews of the books I consider essential to a man’s library, and I’m always looking for good christian books about manhood to share with my readers.
I signed up and I am looking forward to this. I think the name is very apt considering the source. Seth’s works are always great and as long as there is meaning behind it, it makes sense to me. Have you considered offering the books in a digital format when it is available. I have a Kindle DX and love it and would think that it would be just as easy to get books to the readers and a little cheaper for you as you would not have to pay shipping and the cost of the paper version.
Solid. I'm signing up.
tag line for the new site…. "It is snot what you think it is!!!!"
love your new name & think this idea is great…. i have been teaching & preaching for many, many years that we are not in the restaurant business but we are in the marketing business…. (we have to get people in their cars and drive 77 miles to a town of 77 people to eat with us and pass over 77 places to eat!)
As you guys are in the marketing business and not in the publishing business….. pretty simple but simplicity is genius. "a lot of people can tell you what to do but very few can tell you why they do what they do!!!" is also a part of the teaching and preaching.
I laughed out loud when I read your tagline. Brilliant. ;-)
The new BookSneeze.com site is fantastic. I think you captured a great new look & simple design. I like that the site has our past reviews in a little quick review area. Great Job!
My recent post Inside-Out Change
I'm not part of the program, but today I blogged about the first WestBow book. http://bookmakingblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/landma...
My recent post A "landmark day" (like 9/11/01?):WestBow Press releases its first vanity book
Mike,
Although you mentioned above of readers having to receive the first two chapters emailed in pdf format, the reality is, of the books I have received so far, I had never received any pdf of book chapters (except of course, for Lucado's Fearless) to be read first while waiting for the physical book. Thus I got to wait some time for the book to arrive before I start. I have no problem at all with the waiting, but since the pdf samplers are not available, perhaps you may want to edit and delete off that part in your post?
- Chew
My recent post Book Review: Living With Confidence In A Chaotic World
Sir,
As a blogger since 2003, I must say this book review programs for bloggers is a splendid idea. It is after all—a win win situation for your publishing company and for the bloggers who loves books. I live in a Third World country and sad to say but books here including Christian books are considered a luxury. When I heard about Book Breeze, I said to myself its too good to be true. But I did sign up and I am still awaiting for the arrival of the book I have requested. It seems some well known Christian publishers pick up the idea on how effective it is. It is about time the they recognized the value of a blogger as someone that can influence and persuade as most of us have no vested interest but blog out the truth about what we feel on a certain product or service. I prayed that more programs like this be more available especially bloggers outside the U.S or in English speaking countries like mine—The Philippines.
My recent post THE GOOD NEWS
Hi Michael;
Nasty storm yesterday for you. I know what 13 feet of snow is like, but I do not recall ever getting that much rain. In any event, I like "booksneeze.com" as a brand name. It is unique and attention getting. People notice difference before they notice similarity. The name itself should generate interest enough to get people to the site so you can capture their continuing interest.
What a fantastic concept. I like the name, but I might of gone with BookAchoo.com Hope I can get my blog up and running so I can review your books!
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