tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post5272440060285068811..comments2023-10-25T03:01:37.524-05:00Comments on Author Deanndra Hall: Street team abuse - it's realAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-36734051063943406862014-12-21T17:54:32.676-06:002014-12-21T17:54:32.676-06:00Kim, while I agree that street team members can le...Kim, while I agree that street team members can leave if they want, you should remember that writers have powerful abilities to word messages so as to impart shame, guilt, and sadness, and abusing that is the literary version of a doctor violating a patient. That said, there is the necessity for rules. One of mine in my street team is that the members are expected to behave in a manner that is honorable and upstanding (that doesn't include getting wild about some buck-naked pics of guys - go for it!). Respect is one thing; loyalty is quite another. I think Seth Rogan would be out of line to ask those who love his movies to see only his movies, to talk about only his movies to their friends, and to post only about his movies if they are movie buffs. While that sounds ridiculous, that is EXACTLY what some of these authors are doing in theiir street teams. Why anyone would let an author dictate to them regarding what they can and can't do, someone who's not PAYING them, is beyond me. I'd tell said author to stick it up their poop chute and I wouldn't be back. It smacks of manipulation, which is exactly what you just did to Aden for voicing his opinion, an opinion which he has a right to just like you do. So do street team members. I'm sorry that you would think this is okay. It is not.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-80899851891939579932014-11-21T00:16:43.313-06:002014-11-21T00:16:43.313-06:00I agree with you in some aspects on not being able...I agree with you in some aspects on not being able to control their street team members, but at the same time too, no one is forcing them to stay. If an author so happens to choose what type of people he/she wants to stand behind them and their message, then so be it. In some aspects, I would prefer it. Having different regulations on certain things is needed in the real world. If your message happens to be about loyalty and respect, you wouldn't want someone on your team acting the complete opposite.Aden I just have to say, after everything that one author did for you I am ashamed for you. You're being a hypocrite.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04480937350536561859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-34310621670449262422014-11-21T00:13:08.822-06:002014-11-21T00:13:08.822-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04480937350536561859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-24775097242552720502014-11-20T19:01:03.988-06:002014-11-20T19:01:03.988-06:00Deanndra, I have to say that I haven't read yo...Deanndra, I have to say that I haven't read your books but after reading this post, I'll definitely read your work. I found this post through a blogger friend that shared it on FB.<br /><br />I've been on many street teams and have come across a few that imposed quotas on us. I've left the street team because of that. I love promoting authors and spreading the word about their books, but when an author only has one or two books, there's only so much you can say and share before you're repeating the same info. <br /><br />I've also been on street teams that were laid back until the author handed over the reins to someone else to run it, stepped out and never came back, leaving a dictator in place that then imposed quotas and required sharing of certain material. <br /><br />But thank you for this article. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-60043976712432807452014-11-18T23:35:27.533-06:002014-11-18T23:35:27.533-06:00I'd heard of that incident as well, though was...I'd heard of that incident as well, though wasn't aware of all the specifics. And I'm afraid you're right about someone getting hurt eventually. It seems some people look around, see what others are doing, and have to make their own behavior more extreme. Frightening for our society as a whole, not just authors and street teams and readers.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12245640176002259402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-10658995241037040282014-11-18T04:41:30.662-06:002014-11-18T04:41:30.662-06:00Thanks for telling it how it is. Some people I'...Thanks for telling it how it is. Some people I've told the following story to think I'm paranoid and some say it happens all the time. As an author I feel I've been harassed by a street team of an author in the same genre. It took me awhile to figure out what was going on when 1 star ratings began popping up in droves within the same few days, bad reviews were suddenly liked by 20 people and good reviews were disliked. Then I realized this happened shortly after a fans of my series began posting the books in the types of posts that say "shoutout your favorite MC romances" Around the same time I realized I had been removed from the fan group of an author who writes in my genre. I'm thinking this is all the head bitch of the group, at least I hope so. It would hurt to think a fellow author had okayed these things, especially one I liked. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-3462981711552932462014-11-17T23:04:49.559-06:002014-11-17T23:04:49.559-06:00Wow - required you to buy all of the author's ...Wow - required you to buy all of the author's books. That's, well, gee, I don't even know what to say about that one. I give my ST members my books (ebook format). If they wanted paperbacks, I'd give them to them, and I do a lot of the time as birthday gifts or whatnot. And "The Boss Lady?" I feel like I work for my team, not the other way around. Some people need to get over themselves. Glad you liked the post and thanks for weighing in!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-106210423350694292014-11-17T23:00:20.549-06:002014-11-17T23:00:20.549-06:00Back atcha, dearie! I'm glad you enjoyed it. S...Back atcha, dearie! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Stick around. There's no telling what I might say next. Seriously - no telling.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-85013205367870919302014-11-17T22:57:53.816-06:002014-11-17T22:57:53.816-06:00I'm so sorry that happened to you, Sara. Just ...I'm so sorry that happened to you, Sara. Just like any other area in life, there are authors out there who are reprehensible human beings, and others who do things like that because they somehow think they're supposed to. Maybe they were told that's the way it works by other authors, or maybe they're lacking in the self-confidence department. Whatever their reason, it's unfortunate that people like you who want to participate out of the goodness of your heart get treated that way. I don't know these authors, but perhaps you should send them the link to this post . . . Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-64727503413838687562014-11-17T21:03:02.684-06:002014-11-17T21:03:02.684-06:00OMG..Thank you for your post. I was on a street t...OMG..Thank you for your post. I was on a street team that required members to buy all authors books in hard cover Why? I read her books, wrote my reviews ..pimped her..did everything required..then was dropped when I voiced my opinion by the admins. My guess was 'The Boss Lady'' as they called her had no idea what was going in the group. Their team was all about control and support. Their are lots of great authors out there to read and support who appreciate their readers. Thanks again for expressing what needed to be said Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13055811633183988218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-54920937927342269932014-11-17T10:00:13.856-06:002014-11-17T10:00:13.856-06:00Love this. And I kind of love you too now.Love this. And I kind of love you too now.Midnyte Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10411332857885069319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-30749256021789723562014-11-17T09:42:13.689-06:002014-11-17T09:42:13.689-06:00I love this post! It's nice to see an author w...I love this post! It's nice to see an author who gets it. I experienced this first hand a few times this summer for not meeting the "requirements" and it left me never wanting to be part of a street team again or read that author's books if we are being honest.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05445609265574563517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-5534323666545113692014-11-16T21:45:09.350-06:002014-11-16T21:45:09.350-06:00Dawn, it is hard to find authors who truly care ab...Dawn, it is hard to find authors who truly care about their fans. Oh, there are lots of us out there, but a great many of us aren't well known, popular, or bestselling authors, and no one really knows what we're doing or even cares. But for the readers who do love us and work so hard to help promote us, the least we can do is be appreciative.<br /><br />And speaking of releases, I recently released a book. My promo specialist, Drue, set up a cover reveal and a review tour that was AWESOME! As always, after the cover reveal, I took the list of participants and sent a personal note to each of them, thanking them for participating and telling them I not only appreciated it but hoped they'd join in again some time for a tour. Most of them are bloggers, and let me tell you, bloggers for the most part have a thankless job. Anyway, you would not believe how many of them sent me back lovely emails and told me that I WAS THE ONLY AUTHOR WHO'D EVER BOTHERED TO THANK THEM. That, to me, was appalling. I couldn't believe it. What's wrong with these people? Yes, it took some time, but not that much, and, in the end, I made friends with some lovely people who are generous and kind. That happened simply because I was willing to say "thank you." I feel the same way about readers and street team members. I have everything to gain and nothing to lose by simply being a decent human being, including a good night's sleep.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-84620574611051846302014-11-16T21:38:08.129-06:002014-11-16T21:38:08.129-06:00Debbie, I'm so glad you get it when so many do...Debbie, I'm so glad you get it when so many don't. If we can't appreciate the people who love us and support us, we won't last long in this business. You'll be around when a lot of the bigwigs are gone because you understand that, above and beyond everything else, writing is about people. If there were no people, there'd be no one to read the books we love to write. And there'd be no point. So thank, Debbie, for being an author who understands what it's all about.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-37645314745515231432014-11-16T19:55:39.713-06:002014-11-16T19:55:39.713-06:00I can't even tell you how badly I was treated ...I can't even tell you how badly I was treated by 2 specific authors. I work 2 jobs but still came home at night and made sure I admin their street teams. I worked so hard for them and I did it for FREE. At first I loved helping out. I believed in them and their books but that all changed. All I would hear is I'm not selling any books... I contacted over 200 blogs for one author giving them a new release so they could get reviews and promotions. Did I get appreciated? No.. Did I get a thank you? No. <br />I did all that while I had to put down my fur baby. I took a few days off to come back to a new admin who i didn't know telling me I dropped the ball... Uhh hello?? Well I unfriended her after that. I thought they cared about me. It hurt so bad because I put so much time and my own money into these teams. I had keychains specially made which I paid $180 for... I bought their fan swag which was crazy expensive. I went to my local libraries and book stores to drop off their swag. I even mailed swag to fellow book friends with my own money... After all that I still was unappreciated. <br />I stopped reading and going on facebook for a while. <br />I am on 1 team right now and it's because this author is different from the other authors she appreciates everything even if I'm not always around. She gives to her team and takes time out of her day to stop by to say hi. <br /><br />At one point I was on 12 teams some of my favorite all time authors. 3 of them I was admin. <br />Not anymore though. It's hard finding authors who truly care about their fans... Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283449466957140215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-87004662610775828362014-11-16T17:13:42.697-06:002014-11-16T17:13:42.697-06:00I'm an author with a very small, but dedicated...I'm an author with a very small, but dedicated street team. Would I like a few more, sure, but the couple I have are so faithful and hardworking that I'm blessed to have them. They post and share for me, they vote on my goodread lists and they make the most beautiful teasers for my books. And all they ask for in return is friendship. And that's the truth. So, I'm sorry to hear that some authors are using and abusing their street team. That's a shame. I couldn't be more happier with mine. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04094816899305144190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-43385238225127808522014-11-16T10:55:51.698-06:002014-11-16T10:55:51.698-06:00Thanks, Aden. And you're correct: I've wit...Thanks, Aden. And you're correct: I've witnessed this firsthand. It's like they bend over backwards to please the male authors. We've also had a problem lately with one who has done some pretty nasty things. He's taken pictures of his own junk and posted them, and asked his team members to not only photograph theirs, but to photograph or video themselves performing sex acts and post them. He also went to a takeover several weeks ago and gave away cybersex phone calls as prizes for contests during the takeover. At least one male author was appalled and told his street team that if they wanted to be associated with that, he didn't want them on his team - a move I endorse wholeheartedly. But yes, for the male authors, it's a completely different plane of existence than it is for us. No wonder so many female authors have decided to use initials so people don't know their gender. And thanks for pointing this out. For a while I thought I was imagining it, but as time went on, I knew I was seeing a true representation. And someone, somewhere, is going to be terribly, horribly hurt.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-64209134628354268512014-11-16T10:52:08.793-06:002014-11-16T10:52:08.793-06:00Yep, Patti, I know what you mean. I decided to jus...Yep, Patti, I know what you mean. I decided to just keep that moniker because it's what people know, but my Construction Crew is exactly as you describe. I want them to feel free to come and go, do what they can, and never feel pressured. And it's a drama-free zone. Had some a while back and I squashed it like a bug. I just won't tolerate it. Life is too short to spend it as a drama queen. That's not to say they're not welcome to share the trials of daily life, though. That's really what it's all about, after all. And we're there to share.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-63917372194599258652014-11-16T10:50:09.360-06:002014-11-16T10:50:09.360-06:00Thanks! I try hard. If ever I don't do what I&...Thanks! I try hard. If ever I don't do what I'm supposed to, pull me up short and call me out on it. And it's true - sometimes I'm AWOL, but it's usually because I don't have a choice. But you're right - eventually I turn up! (Just like a bad penny ... LOL).<br /><br />Wait - you had to PAY for her book? Oh for god's sake. That's ridiculous. Wow. You paid her for the privilege of reviewing her book. She's got a lot of nerve. A lot of nerve.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-29440527712493296612014-11-16T10:47:49.756-06:002014-11-16T10:47:49.756-06:00Thanks, Adaline! I think maybe the authors in ques...Thanks, Adaline! I think maybe the authors in question have been around a while, before there were so many teams, and people were clamoring to get in. Or they've just sold a lot of books and think everyone owes them something. Not cool - not cool at all.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-38933643251574637122014-11-16T07:26:27.280-06:002014-11-16T07:26:27.280-06:00As a male romance author, I find that some of the ...As a male romance author, I find that some of the book enthusiasts treat me a little differently than they might female authors. For some reason, some will put up with more bullshit from a guy, and that worries me. I know one male author specifically who does nearly everything on your list, and more. When an author tries to dictate to his street team, and often does it successfully, I get worried. The alarming part of this? Many of these ladies comply with his wishes WILLINGLY, encouraging him to make further incursions on their lives. <br /><br />So, Deanndra, I find your post incredibly refreshing. Thank you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12245640176002259402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-45513606994539186302014-11-15T21:26:14.408-06:002014-11-15T21:26:14.408-06:00This attitude toward street teams is why I chose n...This attitude toward street teams is why I chose not to call mine by that title. I really wanted a place to interact with fans, and I reward them for being enthusiastic. But actual promotion is 100% voluntary. To me, it's icing on the cookies. I love my Minions. They are my tribe. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02208502989088235744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-7510178685535313702014-11-15T20:01:44.433-06:002014-11-15T20:01:44.433-06:00Amen to that Deanndra! Way to go. I agree with ev...Amen to that Deanndra! Way to go. I agree with everything you said. I had one contact me to review her book and I had to pay for it $4.99! I can't believe it.<br />The Construction crew is the most friendliest team I have been on! They make me laugh so much. Sometimes sad when we hear other team members problems. You feel like family! Also Deanndra is always available to answer any questions we have. It might not be in ten minutes but she does respond. Most of the time I can catch her on Facebook I know at certain times.<br />So authors, take a look how Deanndra does her team and learn how to treat your reviewers the right way!! Litlepistolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14634149964479195183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-2312506983807682712014-11-15T19:47:14.088-06:002014-11-15T19:47:14.088-06:00I can't believe this is happening. I mean, I b...I can't believe this is happening. I mean, I believe it because you wrote it and have heard about it but I'm just in shock. I'm shocked that the authors who do this still have anyone on their team. Wow. When I finally get a street team my only rule will be there are no rules cause I'd be happy to have someone on my team. Thanks for posting!!! No one should take that! Adaline Rainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13466581313147777703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8475922178213708715.post-82101866053904174522014-11-15T18:45:38.999-06:002014-11-15T18:45:38.999-06:00Exactly, Elizabeth! You get it! So many others do ...Exactly, Elizabeth! You get it! So many others do not. Like I said, if I could afford to hire them, I'd hire every one of them, or at least pay them, but I can't. So I make sure they're appreciated, and I enjoy doing things for them when I can and can afford it. With so many people out there publishing, the deck is stacked against us from the very beginning. I'm sure I speak for most of us when I say I can certainly use all the help I can get. :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484498230266045571noreply@blogger.com