SPRT #114- Dude, where’s my platform? And don’t piss off Amazon

by Wade Finnegan | Oct 22, 2015 | Podcast | 116 comments

I’ve been going through withdrawals and damn those dry heaves are horrible. But I’m back this week and looking forward to more great conversation. Amazon is cracking down on fake reviews and we’re trying to figure what the hell our platform is and how to build it. We will tackle these topics and of course your questions live. Show up for the live show and we might invite you on. Thursday is SPRT day. “See” you at 7 PST/10 EST.

-Wade

116 Comments

BatmanErica on October 22, 2015 at 9:24 am

First!

Actually I won’t be here to watch it. I’ve got a deadline. I’m gonna be writing/rewriting/editing like a BAMF!
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 1:40 am

Lurk…lurk…lurk…
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 1:40 am

BatmanErica we will miss you…
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 1:41 am

more lurk…lurk…lurk…
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writerwade on October 23, 2015 at 1:41 am

CateMorgan Hello Cate
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writerwade on October 23, 2015 at 1:41 am

ChrishaunKellerHanna Hey there!
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 1:41 am

writerwade ChrishaunKellerHanna Hey you… you feeling better, yeah?
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writerwade on October 23, 2015 at 1:42 am

ChrishaunKellerHanna writerwade wasn’t actually sick. Missed the heck out of you guys.
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 1:43 am

writerwade ChrishaunKellerHanna we missed you too… and I know for sure X does…
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 1:43 am

Well, slap my prostate and call me Sally! It’s Thursday night again, already! There’s the wind up and the pitch…
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 1:43 am

writerwade Hiya!
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 1:44 am

RChazzChute
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 1:46 am

writerwade ChrishaunKellerHanna You, too…I’m not even gonna ask you about your book. 😉
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 1:48 am

RChazzChute so how are ya, Sally?
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 1:49 am

ChrishaunKellerHanna RChazzChute Don’t matter. In thirty years I’ll be dead. And in hell. It’s a lot like Newark, I’m told.
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 1:50 am

RChazzChute ChrishaunKellerHanna Yes, but WHICH LEVEL? The special level, where they put axe murderers and people who talk in the theatre? Location is everything, yanno…
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 1:51 am

CateMorgan RChazzChute ChrishaunKellerHanna just so… I have property on the fifth level myself… Newark is a little lower…
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 1:53 am

ChrishaunKellerHanna RChazzChute And my, ain’t that Virgil a nosy neighbor? I hear he won’t even return the damn lava shovel.
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 1:57 am

CateMorgan ChrishaunKellerHanna RChazzChute Ninth Circle, next to the Arby’s.
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 1:58 am

Less than two minutes. Let’s giddyup, gents. I’m taking the sleepy tea early tonight.
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 1:58 am

RChazzChute ChrishaunKellerHanna And the Winchester boys–my condolences. May as well install a revolving door for those two.
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 1:59 am

I’m BAAAAAAACK!
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:00 am

RChazzChute Don’t you mean iocane powder? Never mess with an indie author, when a PODCAST is on the line! *falls over mid-maniacal laff*
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:00 am

JamieDodge Yipe! I mean, welcome back, Jamie! *ahem*
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:02 am

RChazzChute Ayahuasca?
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matmorrisauthor on October 23, 2015 at 2:04 am

creeper-face.gif
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 2:04 am

xgranville RChazzChute I’d use that, X, but I can’t spell it. I’ll cut and paste (though it makes you throw up.)
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:06 am

matmorrisauthor You missed the general lurking.
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 2:06 am

Liam speaks!
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:06 am

JamieDodge ALL HAIL CTHULHU!
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:07 am

CateMorgan matmorrisauthor General Lurking. A truly ferocious general.
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matmorrisauthor on October 23, 2015 at 2:07 am

CateMorgan matmorrisauthor I honestly forgot about it until I got a notification.
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 2:07 am

X keeps freezing on me. Makes sense, piping in from Canada and all.
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 2:07 am

CateMorgan JamieDodge HAIL!
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matmorrisauthor on October 23, 2015 at 2:08 am

RChazzChute YT just froze up hard for me. Or maybe it was G+… When in doubt, blame G+….
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:08 am

RChazzChute I lowered my bandwidth to accommodate Liam’s connection. I’ll give er a boost.
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ReneeKelley on October 23, 2015 at 2:08 am

I’m backkkkkk!!!
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:08 am

matmorrisauthor Aw. There’s little better than a good pre-show lurk among one’s tribe.
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 2:08 am

Personality? What’s that?
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 2:09 am

Horror. Not whore.
~ This message brought to you by Mr. Enunciation.
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:09 am

matmorrisauthor RChazzChute Or, in this case, G-minus.
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:10 am

xgranville RChazzChute Oh, you Canadians. Congratz on your new PM, btw.
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ReneeKelley on October 23, 2015 at 2:11 am

Not much.
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:12 am

RChazzChute Or, Mister Diction. Cuz therein lies the better joke. It’s all about the comedy ’round here, folks.
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:13 am

I have seven people on my list. Worship me, fools! Worship me!
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 2:13 am

how much is a handful, really?
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 2:13 am

PatrickSzabo not until 15 like me…
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 2:14 am

PatrickSzabo http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md2enf0HEL1qcga5ro1_500.jpg
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:14 am

ChrishaunKellerHanna Like for how many fingers I have haha.
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:14 am

ChrishaunKellerHanna PatrickSzabo But my seven are Spielberg, Lucas, Stephen King, Stan Lee, Harrison Ford, and the ghost of tom Clancy.
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:14 am

ChrishaunKellerHanna PatrickSzabo KAH…..oh wait…..
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matmorrisauthor on October 23, 2015 at 2:15 am

I need a drink.
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:15 am

ChrishaunKellerHanna PatrickSzabo *sigh* that was a lie
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:15 am

matmorrisauthor Find it. Seek and destroy.
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 2:15 am

matmorrisauthor me, too. Sleepy tea is insufficient.
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:15 am

matmorrisauthor Sorry. I drank it. It was tasty.

Just kidding. I’m totally not sorry.
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 2:16 am

xgranville Dino porn!
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:17 am

I have a YA-ish COA series set in the 80s. Very difficult to move copies. My answer to that? I’m about to start a Space Opera series under a pen name (and in Q1 2016 I’m launching an Urban Fantasy series under a DIFFERENT pen name).
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:18 am

And nothing I write is going over 70K going forward.
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 2:21 am

xgranville Damn good description X.
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 2:24 am

writerwade All the money goes to me. I have decided.
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:24 am

JamieDodge xgranville I would totally call something like that Deus Ex Machina. Because meta.
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:24 am

JamieDodge writerwade
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 2:25 am

CateMorgan JamieDodge writerwade It did. It’s mine dang it.
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 2:25 am

CateMorgan JamieDodge xgranville It’s an interesting concept we came up with. Confusing at times.
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:26 am

JamieDodge CateMorgan xgranville There is verily much Awesome in dat particular Sauce.
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 2:28 am

CateMorgan JamieDodge xgranville It makes my head explode at times.
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:29 am

JamieDodge xgranville Please no!
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:29 am

Art? Bah! To quote Mimi “I choose adjectives and money!”

😉
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 2:30 am

I think if a book “defines” you, you are in trouble.
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:31 am

Daniel Radcliffe did a smart thing…he wasn’t going to be Harry Potter for the rest of his life, so he started cutting his teeth in theatre and indie movies to establish himself beyond one role.
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:33 am

Liam is the terror that flaps in the night!
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:34 am

PatrickSzabo 90% of art is CRAFT, don’tcha know. 🙂
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:34 am

PatrickSzabo Had to turn my camera off. Too funny.
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:35 am

CateMorgan PatrickSzabo Rumors, lies, and propaganda! 😉
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:36 am

xgranville PatrickSzabo Yes! I finally impacted the show!
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matmorrisauthor on October 23, 2015 at 2:37 am

Some people need handlers.
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matmorrisauthor on October 23, 2015 at 2:37 am

And help.
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 2:37 am

X should get that looked at..
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:38 am

matmorrisauthor fluffers?
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:38 am

Don’t feel bad, xgranville–hybrid authors are savvy authors. 😉
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:39 am

Zombie Space Opera
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:39 am

ChrishaunKellerHanna What’s that? That thing?
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 2:40 am

PatrickSzabo Zombie Space Opera Romance.
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:41 am

JamieDodge PatrickSzabo We’ll sell trillions.
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 2:41 am

Ha! Cuz people on Fiverr have tons of money.
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:42 am

RChazzChute Yeah haha. There was one guy who owned like 11 sites or something.
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JamieDodge on October 23, 2015 at 2:43 am

Incentivising to get reviews is gross to me.
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 2:43 am

xgranville RChazzChute If they’re going to do it, it would be better to go after Fiverr itself.
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 2:44 am

Wade just took my question…Traditional publishers pay companies to offer books for free for people to read and review… where exactly is that line?
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matmorrisauthor on October 23, 2015 at 2:44 am

Just so you’re all aware… you have to disclose in an endorsement if you’ve been provided compensation for the endorsement.
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matmorrisauthor on October 23, 2015 at 2:45 am

At least in the U.S. Canada is full of wacky cats…
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:46 am

ChrishaunKellerHanna My publisher gives away ARCs to reviews…I don’t think they actually pay people to review books.
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:47 am

RChazzChute xgranville That’s Amazon for you.
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 2:47 am

CateMorgan ChrishaunKellerHanna Unless it’s Kirkus Reviews.
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:47 am

matmorrisauthor One wacky cat to another
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PatrickSzabo on October 23, 2015 at 2:47 am

I have to hit the sheets. Good show. Night y’all.
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 2:48 am

CateMorgan ChrishaunKellerHanna no, no… they hire a company to do that because they have a list of reviewers that will read and review… I have been on a few of those lists.
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:48 am

PatrickSzabo Hit em in face! In the FREAKIN FACE!
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CateMorgan on October 23, 2015 at 2:48 am

RChazzChute CateMorgan ChrishaunKellerHanna So is the difference in honest reviews versus bot/cloned reviews?

And oh, look–Robert’s still awake! I lost my bet again.
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matmorrisauthor on October 23, 2015 at 2:49 am

They’re breaking the law and they’re harming Amazon’s business… Since when did it become villainous to stick up for yourself?
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 2:50 am

CateMorgan ChrishaunKellerHanna think BookBub, but to reviewers, not buyers…
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ReneeKelley on October 23, 2015 at 2:53 am

Yep. I heard about it yesterday too
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ReneeKelley on October 23, 2015 at 2:54 am

Haha!
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matmorrisauthor on October 23, 2015 at 2:54 am

They hound people every few months about these forbidden keywords. Not new, not old.
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 2:55 am

Can’t use free? Substitute: ‘Murica.
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 2:55 am

RChazzChute FUCKYEAH.
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matmorrisauthor on October 23, 2015 at 2:58 am

Paid reviews already is an actual problem. This isn’t a new thing and isn’t exclusive to Amazon… it’s an issue that runs rampant across a number of industries.
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 2:59 am

matmorrisauthor I wonder how big the problem actually is. Are there any stats on this anywhere? Or was J Locke the only one who really made a career off it early on?
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ReneeKelley on October 23, 2015 at 3:00 am

X is on it!!!!
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RChazzChute on October 23, 2015 at 3:01 am

ReneeKelley Adderol? He does seem to be spittin’ it out fast this week.
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ChrishaunKellerHanna on October 23, 2015 at 3:02 am

night all!
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 3:02 am

RChazzChute ReneeKelley I didn’t drink as much haha
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writerwade on October 23, 2015 at 3:02 am

https://hangouts.google.com/call/ubimalbyh24dujzxzamdd57eiya
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xgranville on October 23, 2015 at 3:02 am

writerwade AFTER PARTY!!!
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mikeycampling on November 5, 2015 at 1:22 pm

The author is the brand. The platform is the means of delivering content. They are related – if your branding meshes with your audience then your platform will be effective.
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SPRT #114- Dude, where’s my platform? And don’t piss off Amazon

116 Comments

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