Guess what I found out?

[Desiremakesmeweak]

There are 'reader bot servers' in a couple of main culprit countries around the world (not Russia btw as it turns out) that have been bumping up the numbers for 'viewers' of music video clips on YouTube. It's basically pushed by some of the big brand music distributers who are doing what they have always done, which is to pretend there is a 'buzz' over something where there really isn't. Psy from Gangnam Style fame and Daft Punk/Pentatonix hit the billion viewer number for real and suddenly the music labels all decided this was the big 'next bridge to cross' with their typical tactics.

Frankly, you'd have to think that it is possible that the same thing either is already or will sooner or later end up happening to reader numbers hereabouts, as well as for votes.

 

[sr71plt]

What a surprise. Not so much here, though, I don't think. Where's the profit?

 

[lovecraft68]

You tube has changed the game big time especially in music. Bands used to have to pay their dues, play in sleazy clubs for barely any money, spend time on the road peddle their demos...

now one video can make you.

But yes padding goes on and has for a long time. Movie and book reviews by plants who have been paid are huge now that you have the e-book market where anyone can upload reviews on books and movies through amazon(without even a purchase mind you, making it easier)

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

I don't understand myself what the objective in terms of actual profit could or would or might be - just that it does go on at quite an organised level and for that to happen someone smarter than me must have an idea about what they are doing.

Are people intending to, as lovecraft68 somewhat suggests, use bumped up numbers and planted 'reviews' to develop a marketing profile for something? Don't know. I don't get it. But I see it in the music arena on YouTube and it is actually quite bizarre. There's been a sudden and recent swathe of performers and acts - and frankly, mostly backed by big music companies too - with absolutely no past history and look, I would say, not a lot of real talent by comparison to the obvious and real market leaders; but who suddenly appear with '600 million' views! And upwards. And then they go on to appear on Fox and cable and general television and hotel, nightclub and bar video lists.

There is no doubt in my mind, having read a lot of stories here over several years, that there is an increase in 'writers' with innumerable 'H's and very very high votes, but that are just not anywhere near of standard to what used to be represented by those indicators. They look very unrealistic to me. And much the same as in the music channels on YouTube, which has got an acknowledged problem with 'viewer bots.'

 

[49greg]

My wife has complained about reviews on kindl. Often when she sees an over-the-top glowing review of a book she has in mind, she'll check the reviewer. To find that in just a week he/she/it has done dozens of reviews of widely disparate genres, from self help to romance, sci fi, steampunk, mystery, porn etc etc etc., often with similar wording.

Reputation management.

 

[49greg]

Reputation management.

What the heck? I only sent once. I think. My fingers must have lost their feeling when I went out in the -25 degree cold to fill up the car.

 

[MatthewVett]

Are number of views even visible to non-authors? As for manipulating votes, Literotica already has defenses against that, as I understand it. I'd expect that sort of thing to appear more on Amazon. Surely it wouldn't be impossible to build a bot that searches for positive terms in other reviews and combines their sentences into a brand new 5 star review, and then does this over and over?

 

[sr71plt]

Are number of views even visible to non-authors? As for manipulating votes, Literotica already has defenses against that, as I understand it. I'd expect that sort of thing to appear more on Amazon. Surely it wouldn't be impossible to build a bot that searches for positive terms in other reviews and combines their sentences into a brand new 5 star review, and then does this over and over?

The view total shows up where anyone can read it at the bottom of each page of a posted story.

 

[lovecraft68]

Keep in mind there are internet 'jobs' that pay people to do reviews, mystery shoppers get paid to go in stores and fast food establishments to buy things and rate service and product, they get paid to walk around retail stores and report what they find.

As for book and movie reviews go its not a stretch to think people are paid by publishers and movie producers to run around the internet raving about the book they read or movie they saw.

 

[sr71plt]

My guess is that most of the reviews for independently published books to Amazon are put there by personal friends of the author. In the case of small publishers, the authors are encouraged to buy and review each other' books. Something like Publish America lives off of its "authors" buying and promoting each others' books.

 

[lovecraft68]

My guess is that most of the reviews for independently published books to Amazon are put there by personal friends of the author. In the case of small publishers, the authors are encouraged to buy and review each other' books. Something like Publish America lives off of its "authors" buying and promoting each others' books.

I'm sure you're right. But for indy's its seen as wrong, for the pros plant reviews are "business strategy"

No different than here where people comment on their friend's stories.

I had a falling out with a couple of people here because they commented on my stories and were pissed off I did not reciprocate. fact is, I did not read the story, I don't read much on here and I am not just going to rave over something I never read just to make them happy and....to be blunt, I didn't ask them to read mine, they chose to.