How useful was it? Did it help fix problem areas in your manuscript? Did it help build release excitement? Was there a sales growth, slump, or no affect because of it? Obviously, that last one is going to be pretty assumptive. Basically... should I put my fiction up for free somewhere before I put it up for money (this doesn't include beta readers and editing, because everything that costs money should have those).
I put mine up, but to be honest, I had like one person who commented with anything that I could then take and try and help the story with. Top and bottom of it though was I got two comments less than 12 hours apart on the first 5 chapters (as I deleted the rest) One said I had to pick whose POV I wanted to write in as he hated it. (my story is from two character POV's till they meet in the middle of the story) The other person said how much they basically loved the concept and ideas..... So totally opposite comments in 12 hours.... Honestly, RRL is not for getting writer feedback. If you want serious feedback see my post. If you just think it will get you 'sales' I also think wrong again. Most on RRL are younger adults with no way of earning, they get their fix by reading underdeveloped and badly edited works. It's a fan site. Experience in the groups is it doesn't translate to you selling your book more.
That was about what I expected. I'm still not too sure why authors put work there, but I've noticed that a few apparently do. Thank you.
I believe those who started out with RRL feel loyal to them, so pulling back is hard. But they're doing more so now.
Not speaking from experience, but merely from watching a bunch of vodcasts. Posting on sites like RRL can certainly be a boon to your launch if you are one of those lucky few that become a sensation. So, if you hit the popularity jackpot, you can use that to your advantage on Amazon by asking for reviews from them and I'v seen some generously offer free EPUB copies to their loyal fanbase who've read everything online for free anyway.