Amazon Reviews, what are they good for?
Full disclosure: until I became an author, it never occurred to me to read or write a review on Amazon, and I suspect the same is true of most people. I chose my books based on recommendations from friends, articles in the printed media, randomly picking books up in bookshops and being attracted by the blurb on the back cover, or a favourite author’s new release and sometimes just because I liked the look of the cover. (Yes, I am that shallow!) When browsing, I discover books I wouldn’t expect to like and find some that really resonate and are right up there. Most times, I enjoy whatever book I read, and I can count on one hand the books I haven’t finished. These weren’t bad books, they just weren’t my thing.
All authors will tell you that they develop an unhealthy interest in their Amazon reviews. I won’t deny that whenever I get a five-star review, I punch the air and feel warm and fuzzy inside. Neither can I get away from feeling a little despondent when a bad review comes in. Somehow, they feel more personal, and when you read what they have to say, you can’t help feeling a certain amount of puzzlement at their reaction. Ultimately, reviews good and bad are subjective, which is why the same book can create such wildly different reactions. You learn to accept that your story isn’t for everyone and that the vast majority of people who read your book enjoyed it, but didn’t feel the need to tell the world about it.
A common misconception is that five-star reviews on Amazon come from an author’s immediate family and close friends. Cue the cacophony of hollow laughter from the writing community. Trust me, in general, it’s hard enough getting them to read your book, let alone review it. Make of that what you will!
So why are authors obsessed with Amazon’s stats? Algorithms! These decide whether your book will get exposure on Amazon’s website. Established authors with multiple books have their loyal following; first time authors don’t have that luxury, so if the algorithm decides to recommend or display your book on customers’ order pages, there’s a good chance that sales will result.
The takeaway from this article is that if you enjoyed reading a book, especially if it is by an indie author, please review it on Amazon – or just click the 4/5 star button. You don’t have to purchase the book from Amazon to place a review. Conversely, if you didn’t enjoy a book, before you rush to give a 1/2 star review, ask yourself was the book rubbish or was it just not to your taste?
