change the algorithm, change the future
This love note is about the book algorithm, particularly on that giant retail site. Don't worry about me rambling on about algorithms and such, as I'm not techy at all.
And though the algorithm isn't even the most important thing in this missive, it's a good starting point.
For the last few months, I've been researching what professionals say about how the algorithm works. Then following with various experiments for the sake of seeing those patterns with actual books.
(Mostly using private browser windows, for those who like to dig into this kind of research.)
I'll spare you the dull details of looking for patterns in dozens of Amazon searches. But the gist is what you can easily guess:
The more reviews my book has on Amazon, the more the algorithm understands that as validation, and according rewards the book with more visibility.
Meaning that Still Moving will be higher in search results. From what I can tell, I think the book appears in searches for memoirs about Long Covid. But not necessarily very high in the results. More reviews will nudge it higher in the results.
Same with searches for memoirs about chronic illness. Still Moving might be on some of those search results, but from what I can tell the book isn't very high. Again, more reviews will nudge it higher.
Your reviews move the algorithm. And that affects me very directly.
If you've already written a review, THANK YOU SO MUCH. Seriously.
If you're up for writing a review, I would really, deeply appreciate it. Reviews can be anonymous, if you want some privacy.
And you can write a review on Amazon even if you don't purchase the book on Amazon. I did that recently, for another book.
So, if you've read or in the process of reading Still Moving, I hope you'll consider writing a review, which changes the algorithm and changes my future.
Meanwhile, something that's not in the algorithm results is the most common things that readers have told me directly. It's very simple, but it means a lot.
People have thanked me.
I really didn't expect this at all, and I've been reluctant to share. But I talk a lot about honesty and transparency, so this is a moment for me to honor both.
Part of my surprise has been because most of these readers are not long-haulers. My expectation was that long-haulers would appreciate the book, and everyone else would be sympathetic.
It's really something special for me that my book has been more personal, for more people, than I imagined.
So, if you've thought that Still Moving isn't the book for you, it might be the book for you.
(There's no heavy sales pitch to follow—check out the description and see if it tugs anything. If not, no worries.)
Last couple pieces of book news:
~ Still Moving will be for sale all weekend at Mystic South! I'll be signing at the author table on Saturday. Mystic South is the last weekend of this month and tickets are still available.
~ And in September, I'll be at the Georgia Indie Book Fair! More details coming soon.
From the pages,
S.
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she / they
