Recently, an author who has become a new auto-buy for me announced that she will be starting a street team. My heart sank and it took everything I had not to respond with PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF BABY KITTENS, DON’T DO IT! Why the strong reaction, you ask? First, let’s take a look at what a street team is.
The street team…
Long ago, before the age of digital books, a street team was simple. They went to book stores, passed out bookmarks and front faced books on the shelves. That last part may not have been exactly kosher, depending on the store, but that’s what they did. Things are different now. Street teams mostly promo books online. They tweet, FB, blog and review the books. The purpose of a street team is to spread the word about the author’s new book. In return, most street team members get ARCs, swag, sneak peaks at future books, etc. Good idea, in theory, but then it goes a little sideways.
The problem…
Let’s say Author Sue decides she needs a street team. She puts out a blog post, tweets and Facebooks an all call. “Hey, readers! Sign up here to promo my upcoming book and I’ll give you free stuff!” Let’s say 35 readers respond and now Author Sue has her very on street team full of eager readers ready to spread the word. The problem – Author Sue has just attached her name and business to 35 strangers. She doesn’t know the details of what they do or how her name is going to be used.
I can tell you from personal experience what they are likely to do. Maybe I have 3 reading friends that are on that street team. Friend A posts on FB about Author Sue on the first morning. I click the link, I’m intrigued by the blurb. I preorder the book. Then friends B and C post, too. Then all 3 do it again around lunch time. Then once again that night. Have to make sure they reach everyone, regardless of what time they are online. That’s 9 promos on day one. But, wait. I follow these reading friends on twitter and they did they same thing there. Bump that up to 18 promos. And they repeat that pattern every day. By mid-week, I have cancelled my preorder. The promos keep coming. By the end of the week, I have seen 126 tweets and FB statuses about Author Sue’s book and have decided I never, ever want to read any of her books.
That’s not counting the RTs I see on twitter from other members of the street team, the promo emails that are forwarded to my email, or the overzealous members that add me to Author Sue’s Street Team Facebook page without my permission. In the span of one week, I’ve went from pre-ordering a book to never wanting to hear the author’s name mentioned again, all without Author Sue saying a word.
Street team members, if you are reading this, know your reach. If you have 200 friends on Facebook, those are the only people you are reaching there. Talking about the book three times a day, every day, doesn’t change that. Same for twitter. Have 500 followers? That’s all your “Buy this book!” tweets are reaching. All you are doing with the ceaseless promotion is alienating the friends and followers that used to care about what you had to say.
Authors, this is your business. Be careful when entrusting it to a bunch of strangers. And if you do, make the rules clear and know how your name is being used. Your street team won’t be the ultimate loser when it all goes sideways.
As for me, I’ll sit over here with my fingers crossed, hoping that I won’t be spammed to death with street team promo about my new auto-buy author. There are way too many books out there for me to spend money on something that annoys me.
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I don’t belong to any street teams, with my review site I would be be over swamped. I guess I’m lucky I haven’t been swamped by the street team promo.
Z
Lol, I had no idea that is wat street teams do, I thought it sounded like something fun. Go out and promo a book. And I can totally understand your irritation with too much advertising.
I belong to several street teams and I can’t help but feel mildly offended by your experience. The last thing I would want you to do is take an author off your list because of a street team. I’m sorry that you’ve had such a negative experience and I agree that there needs to be rules of conduct. I do not post multiple times a day because I agree with you – it’s annoying. Once is enough. I do however post about interviews and giveaways that are happening to give the authors press. I may only have a span of 300 friends but one of them might win one of the giveaways, love the book and then talk it up to their friends. I use the swag by giving it away on my blog. I’m not sure if I’m one of those type of street teamers that annoy you but I can say that I’m proud to be on my street teams and enjoy the opportunity to share about my favorite authors.
I belong to quite a few Street Teams and I don’t get free stuff from all of them. I do it because I am a fan of theirs and I want to help spread the word, not to get freebies. I would still do it without that. Nothing I do is bad. I don’t spam my friends or anyone else. If you don’t want to see it, then ignore it. I’m sorry you feel what we do isn’t helpful but we feel differently. There are abusers out there who go way over board, but that comes with everything these days. Don’t put us all down because a few of your friends decided to post things over and over again please. Some of us are doing great things for these authors and I for one intend to keep on doing it. 🙂
B
hmmm…We all have different friends, follow different authors so when they say we are swamping people, I tend to not completely agree. With us all having different followers and friends I feel our street teams efforts are getting to a vast audience. Yes we may all have the same friends and authors but how many of us dont ? But then again friend one may have ten friends I dont and recommend a book, its a circle really. I dont go overboard with my tweets, or posts. I agree that to much would be annoying. But I am in several street teams, and am happy to be in it.. I feel more swamped via facebook with the animal abuse pictures being posted rather than street teams promoting books, I have met some wonderful authors and read some fantastic books, just alone from seeing a post about a book someone has recomonded. Each to there own of course. Id only ever remove an author or there book from my order or list if they offended me or I disliked there writing, not because somone has gotten overly excited and tweeted a time to many lol.
🙂 kat
I agree completely.
I am a author and have several friends who are authors, and I belong to over 20 street teams. I can honestly say for me the tweets, post and what not are a pleasing part. It means to me that their are still people out there who actually READ and not just wait for the movie. My street teams have never been over the top and every member is an intelligent adult. Maybe you need a more mature street team. I’m friends with about everyone on my street teams and I am a active member, It doesn’t take away from my writing, and we enjoy each others company. All of our authors are awesome people and friends. I love it when a book get a enthusiastic response. And it is a little offensive to have someone tell me No Don’t Click let it be our choice.
Sorry but I’m confused.
“Maybe you need a more mature street team”
I don’t need a street team, mature or otherwise. I’m not an author. I’m a reader who is drowning in unsolicited promo.
“And it is a little offensive to have someone tell me No Don’t Click”
Who said that?
I agree and disagree. Regardless of a street team you’re going to have over zealous people anyway. Those people will promote when asked and RT anything and everything an author says or asks to be done. I see it on Twitter ALL DAY LONG, shoot sometimes by the authors themselves (usually not big name authors, just authors in general). I myself am part of a street team and have been for quite some time. I personally will read or review, I may even tell other people that aren’t online that I enjoyed the book, I give book marks to my favorite used book sellers, libraries, friends, whatever but I simply don’t have the time in my day to RT or forward every time someone says something about it over on the page. Those tend to be just the readers and not the reviewers that do that. So, while I can agree with you on that aspect I’d also like to point out that for every over zealous reader out there just trying to spread the word, there are many many other reader/reviewers that are not. The age old saying for the internet comes into play here :if you don’t like it, then block it. I doubt over excited people are ever going to stop me from buying a book.
I feel a little offended by this. I belong to 4 street teams, I never post more than once a day and I dont have a twitter account.
I still go in my CAR to bookstores and libraries to handout bookmarks and request books. I didnt ask to be a part of these street teams to get “free stuff” actually I havent had anything free from them.I belong to these street teams for one reason, its because I love their books and Im hoping all my book friends will get a chance to read them and see why I love them so much.
To be honest, I cant see not buying a book because its being promoted to much. If thats the case maybe you didnt want to really read the book in the first place.
i am like Katrina and Megan. I am on many street teams (also a reviewer) I think you are right that there should be some type of posting etiquette. Authors usually tell members to be careful and ask establishments when leaving swag. They can also give some rules about posting. I have my own rules…usually two promotion posts per author a week. I don’t want my followers to get spammed, but since I am a reviewer most of them follow me because I give them the heads up about contests and releases. Word of mouth is critical for a book especially self-pub authors. If street teams didn’t work, authors wouldn’t be setting them up.
I think if you are getting spammed by a street team member then you have every right to gently let them know they are going overboard so they can reassess their strategy. Thanks for bringing this up, hopefully it will spark some positive guideline changes for the teams 🙂
“hopefully it will spark some positive guideline changes for the teams”
Thanks, Sharon. That was really the whole point of me writing this post. I get that word of mouth is important. I blog, review, and tweet about my favorite books all the time. But I know that a constant barrage of “buy this book” doesn’t work and pushes readers away. It feels like being stuck with a car salesman.
yeah, I feel that way about some authors I will forward your concerns to some people that run many street teams so they are aware 🙂
I’ve been doing the street team thing for a few years now and am slightly offended by this. It’s not necessarily your post that offends me but the need to make the post at all. We, as a street team, are there to promote the authors we love without shoving them down your throat. How do I promo? I take swag I receive to bookstores and the library where it can reach new readers. I also post promo online but it’s done only once (on each of the sites I frequent) when I get an assignment. Re-posting items over-and-over is rude and inconsiderate and goes against everything a street team member is trying to do.
All that being said, do I agree with your decision to not read a book because of a bad experience? No! An author shouldn’t be punished because you have “friends” who are obviously new to the street team world and are overzealous or just don’t understand the meaning of the word courteous. My suggestion? Instead of complaining about all street teams, block the feed of the ones who are spamming you or tell them they are being asshats. It’s pretty simple really.
It offends me that I’m being thrown in with a group of people who are being rude and inconsiderate to their followers. I’m sorry that you’ve had such a bad experience but there are some of us who are good at what we do and are trying our best to help out the authors we love.
I’ve been doing the street team thing for a few years now and am slightly offended by this. It’s not necessarily your post that offends me but the need to make the post at all. We, as a street team, are there to promote the authors we love without shoving them down your throat. How do I promo? I take swag I receive to bookstores and the library where it can reach new readers. I also post promo online but it\’s done only once (on each of the sites I frequent) when I get an assignment. Re-posting items over-and-over is rude and inconsiderate and goes against everything a street team member is trying to do.
All that being said, do I agree with your decision to not read a book because of a bad experience? No! An author shouldn’t be punished because you have ”friends” who are obviously new to the street team world and are overzealous or just don’t understand the meaning of the word courteous. My suggestion? Instead of complaining about all street teams, block the feed of the ones who are spamming you or tell them they are being asshats. It’s pretty simple really.
It offends me that I’m being thrown in with a group of people who are being rude and inconsiderate to their followers. I’m sorry that you’ve had such a bad experience but there are some of us who are good at what we do and are trying our best to help out the authors we love.
I am sorry you are swamped with all those “spams” Lilliehammer…
At least I try to space out the posts..
you know what Street teams are not for everyone. I don’t think that all of us over Promo. Perhaps what we need to do is look at who we are reaching are we over lapping on line and are we posting things to many times in one day? Not a bad thing to look at. Most of what I do is off line giving out book marks, and info at local college, bookstores, and libraries.
I don’t think this post is offensive in any way. When most of your online friends are part of the book world the amount of “This book is fantastic – pre-order it now!” gets to be overwhelming. In my opinion, some of the overzealous street team members actually do more harm than good.
Yes this is the day and age of computers, but still there are people that still do not use them. Word of mouth is the best seller ever!
I belong to 3 street teams of authors that I truly enjoy. And to be honest I promoted them long before I was part of their team. I do post and tweet and at times a lot. Never more than 1 or 2 times a week.
But if you look at it this way, if an author promotes a giveaway that requires a tweet or a post, you are going to see that post pop up over and over like spam as well.
The teams that I am on were given rather strict guide lines to follow and that includes spamming.
As the co-head of a couple street teams, is there a specific “rule change” that would help with your discomfort? For example, would asking for a “one post a day” type rule help? Do you have any suggestions?
We certainly don’t want people to feel overwhelmed. Considering you posted this, I’m positive you are not the only one who feels this way. I’d love to get your input, if you’d like to.
Karin
AquarianDancer at gmail dot com
I think it would help if the street teams take their cues from the author. Does the author post a buy link every day? If that is her promo style, go for it. It won’t sell me personally the book but it is at least sticking to what the author does. If I see the same stuff on FB or twitter every day, it just becomes white noise. I tune it out.
Reader groups can be formed on Goodreads to discuss the books. There’s exposure for the book there. Honest reviews have helped me make the decision to buy so many books. Seeing someone talk about the plot, the tropes, the hero’s quirks, whatever details, have sold books to me. Truly talking about the book and the things enjoyed, not just a canned promo repeated over and over.
lillie80 is not some random stranger that just happened to come across a couple of street teams, she is a lover of books, one that reads an array of authors, and has knowledge of the book world. Let us use this post as a positive example, respect the views, learn from it. Sadly it points to realistic facets that many street teams utilize when getting our messages out there. lillie80 is a fan, she is the audience the street team is trying to attract, she will be the next potential buyer. Her thoughts are essential to learning what book buyers like to see and not see, especially if those book buyers are active on the social media sites. In my opinion lillie80 has done a service to street teams that want to make a difference for the authors they volunteer for. She has posted what many think but will never say. Those of us that belong to street teams will have to roll with the punches and understand that not all teams are alike, and that many book buyers would rather do without our input, or more accurately the amount of our input. Thanks lillie80 and hugs to all the street teams out there.
Thanks, Dana. I appreciate that.
I have to say that I am also a bit offended by this post. You are categorizing all Street Teams and that’s not right. I manage over 30+ Street Teams and have NEVER added anyone to any of my teams that did not ask to be on it. I also do not ask my team members to post anything multiple times a day. I post weekly assignments and ask them to share to their pages ONCE A WEEK. I also have a very strict code of ruled that I ask the members to follow. So for you to have made this post and categorize Street Teams as being spammers is completely wrong. Obviously the people that you are having an experience with have no idea what they are doing if they are just adding random people to the groups. Street Teams are supposed to be a group of the authors fans that would like to help spread the word about her books. Just like bloggers do, but without the blog. Pretty much everyone that posted here knows who I am and most are even on my teams. Street Teams are also very beneficial to authors but you didn’t list any of that. I understand everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but if you’re going to make a post about something like this then you should get all of the facts straight first and not categorize ALL Street Teams. IF it bothers you so much, then maybe you should remove these people from your news feed or unfriend them instead of badmouthing them.
There is nothing “completely wrong” about my post. Did you miss the part where I said this was my personal experience? If so, let me state it again.
This has been my personal experience with street teams.
I never said all of them. That was put there by you and your group. Do you find it a little strange that the ones here saying how wonderful street teams are all came from your groups? Not one reader has commented that they love street teams and they have bought books based on that promo. I haven’t seen an author say that their sales increased based on their ST. All I’ve seen is mostly one group of team members coming over to pack themselves on the back.
Want me to “get the facts straight”? Then how about some facts? Give me statistics. Show me the hard numbers. Until then, I’ll post on the blog that I’m a member of about MY personal experience.
Btw, I do delete and block street teams spammers from my social media. Think that helps the authors? Back when I thought it might help, I even let them know that the constant promo was getting to be a little much. Every response started with “I’m offended!” Sound familiar?
That’s because the Street Teams that I run ARE wonderful! We promote the authors the way they are supposed to be promoted.
If you can’t take people commenting on your posts and telling you that they feel offended and giving you OUR opinion back, the don’t post it!
I welcome comments. I was simply clarifying your misconceptions and asking about the facts that you wanted me to get straight.
Woah, woah. She posted her thoughts about her personal experience. I think this is going to be a post where we’re going to have to agree to disagree. We have those who understand what Lillie is saying, she meant no offense in posting this but I have to wonder about all these new names commenting. We’ve been with this blog for several years and of the comments? I recognize about 6/7 names. All the rest are new names to me/this blog. As you felt the need to tell Lillie not to post on her own blog, I feel the need to tell you that you didn’t have to come here and leave your comment. We’re all adults and can discuss/debate without being rude about it and your comment was just that. Rude.
Her post is rude too being that she’s stating that we are spamming people. And the reason you are getting so many posts by new people is because this post has now spread like wildfire on FB and everyone is sharing it because they are really upset. That’s how I found it. And what I stated were not misconceptions. What author runs around on FB posting that they had great sales for the day?? I work for these authors. They email me to thank me and tell me they had great sales or there was an increase on a certain day. Do you really think I’m going to post my author’s statistics on here?? Get real!
All right. How about another example. Author A wants to get the word out on her book. Her new BFF reader is all “sure, I’ll share for you!” She’ll post on FB that the book is the most amazing thing she’s ever read, we should all go buy it. Author A “shares” what BFF reader said on her own page. Reader will then post the same thing on Twitter, Author will first RT it, realize she’s made a mistake and then RT it AGAIN with a comment of “OMG, thank you so much for saying that!” Other readers will then RT her comment and again, Author A keeps RT’ing with “thanks!”, “so glad to enjoyed!” blah blah blah. Reader will then hit any place she can with news that we must all not miss this book. The cynical part of me will then wonder if any of the readers have actually read the book being promoted. I will see link after link posted/tweeted/shared that it just gets to a point of overload and I unfollow/unfriend/block/whatever to stop seeing the same thing over and over again. We’re not saying you, personally, do it but some readers do and it just gets old very fast. On Facebook and especially on Twitter, I want to be able to talk and discuss books or anything else that comes up. What I don’t want is to only see promo posts about the same book by certain authors, over and over again. That’s just the quickest way to get me to lose interest.
I totally agree with you on that part. Readers should not say how great a book is if they have not read it yet. That’s one thing I do not ask people to do on my teams. I only ask them to Share the link of the book and to state the sale price if there is one or that it’s a new release. The ONLY time when I might post something daily on my page is during release week of one of my authors books since that is the most critical time for them.
Thank for the thoughtful post, Lillie–I do think it’s helpful to remind us all what the point of sharing about the books we love is 🙂 Thanks for being a pusher, in the very best way!
Im on several street teams and buy books in all forms . Whether it be paperback or e format and even if an author offers me a free book for review I quiet often do a giveaway at my expense. I do love my street team , they are a friendly bunch, always willing to help. But not all of us are in it for the free reads, or freebies. I have and will continue to buy the authors books, especially if they are sent to me in e format I buy the paperback to pay back the love to the authors 😉
Im sure we shall all keep in mind about to many posts, and what not else.
I pop onto your blog every now and then and have followed your for years. We all do have an opinon 😉 Thanks for the post Im sure that it will be redirected to street teams to ensure that this doesnt happen (( aka the influx of posts )) 😉
kat
I am a member of several street teams and, first, I have to say that I’m sorry you have had bad experiences. Second, that is not the purpose of a street team. We promo the book and let people know when it’s coming out – I do that once, maybe twice, within the week it’s being released. The main thing that I do, which I believe strongly in, is reviewing the book on as many sites (eg. Amazon, Goodreads, publishers) as possible.
I don’t do this in expectation of swag. I do this because I’m a true fan of the authors work and believe in sharing the joy that this author brings to me. Once again, I am sorry for your experience but not all street teams are the same. I am proud to belong to the ones that I do.
I couldn’t agree more about reviewing being the best way to spread the word. Seeing a post that says “I like *this*, *this* and *this* about the book” will go a lot farther in getting me to check out a new book than just tweets with the book title and a link.
Kind of a pointless complaint. No one can add you to an fb page without your permission unless your settings allow it, so change your settings. And stop following those who irritate you. What’s so hard about that?
Hi Lillie. I just wanted to let you know that something positive has come out of your negative experiance. As you’ve probably noticed, news of this post has spread and many street teams are now reminding their members of the rules and how too much over-enthusium can be harmful. Hopefully you’ll start to have better experiances.
Goodness! That last massage went in the wrong spot LOL! My bad!
Thanks for letting me know, Megan!
That’s incorrect, Maggie. Anyone on your friends list can add you to a group without permission. The following is FB’s faq about this.
https://www.facebook.com/help/?faq=147058305366686
I think the message you are trying to get out is getting lost. Kudos to lillie for commenting on a problem she experiences. Just like authors, street team members and coordinators have to be able to accept negative and positive feedback from readers and use it constructively. We have seen what happens when authors and their fans go after a reviewer because they didn’t like a book.
This is the same…a reader doesn’t like a street team tactic, as a member of multiple streets teams I say ‘thanks for posting this has been an issue for you”. I am not defensive, I am putting more thought into how often and aggressive I promote…maybe I won’t change a thing, because only one person has disagreed, but what if more readers start speaking up about this now? then it is time for me to make some changes…:)
I think your experience has become a common one with this current wave of street teams and social media. As a reader, I love getting information on upcoming releases. But I really do get turned off by a constant barrage of postings and RTs…so far not enough to turn me off the author but at that point I’m ready to block the poster forever. As a street team member, I am constantly trying to be target specific with the promo I’m doing on behalf of the authors and really try to match my posting to friends/people with interests that will have them possibly picking up that book. I end up doing most of the promo in person…I find that I enjoy the face to face. And I’m sure my fb friends appreciate my restraint. 😉
Thanks for sharing an experience that unfortunately I’m sure won’t be a one-off.
[…] On the potential dangers of Street Teams to an author’s reputation: RR@H Novel Thoughts and Book Talk, “Street Teams and Why THey Make Me Want to Scream,” http://rrahnovelthoughts.com/2012/08/12/street-teams-and-why-they-make-me-want-to-scream/ […]