the importance of customer reviews

ripple · Mar 10, 2012

For research, I've been doing various sorts in Smashwords. One book had over 100 customer reviews. Mostly 5 star. And most were one liners. The reviewers had reviewed one or two other books, all one line reviews, all five stars. In any case, I suspect it is some concerted effort to get reviews.

An Amanda Hocking book, one of the popular downloads, had only ten reviews.

Do you encourage people to review your books?

Thanks for any info on the overall topic.

veinglory · Mar 10, 2012

No. I see that as entirely at the reader's discretion.

Kriven · Mar 10, 2012

For everyone who reads a book, someone they know will probably hear about it. Internet reviews are not the only way to improve a book's reputation.

SBibb · Mar 10, 2012

I've wondered about that myself. I've currently got an ebook on Smashwords, and while there have been several downloads, no one has actually reviewed it yet. On the bright side, a couple people have told me they found it interesting, so that's good.

merrihiatt · Mar 10, 2012

I feel uncomfortable soliciting reviews. If someone feels compelled to write a review, that's great (and I certainly hope they will!), but it feels forced if I have to ask them to do it. I don't want anyone to feel obligated. As the writer, I'm supposed to give you words that make you feel something. If you feel strongly enough about what I've written, you may or may not write a review.

I would counter your question with another question. How many reviews have you written for books you've read? It's not the first thing a person thinks to do after finishing a book.

ripple · Mar 11, 2012

thanks for the info. I'll probably still look for a nice way to suggest that people review the book...

Yukinara · Mar 13, 2012

I know there is at least 1 author on Amazon who faked reviews to get attention and people eventually find out. Reviews are good, but only when they are honest

The Hobbit · Mar 14, 2012

When I advertise my books on my facebook I tell people that if they like what they read it'd help me out if they rated my books and write a nice review. I'm finding out, however, that people I know like to name themselves as friends or family of the author. It didn't look professional at all so I stopped mentioning it.

Norman D Gutter · Mar 15, 2012

Surely a gentle nudge to a friend to leave an honest review is a reasonable thing to do. But don't be like this guy, whose newsletter I receive. I quote:

If you have read [book name] could you go over to the Amazon page [page link] and write several sentences along with a Five Star review? The Five Stars are important because they are averaged so please make sure to do Five Stars. Or maybe you have read my [book name]. If so, I’m asking you to please go over to the Amazon page [page link] and write a couple of sentences along with a Five Star review. Even if you read the book several years ago, I would appreciate your support with the review.

I blogged about this a little while ago.

NDG

BradyBones · Mar 21, 2012

I would love to have reviews on my two short stories I have available, but I haven't gotten any yet. I think I would rather get the genuine reviews from readers who were touched by my writing rather than a bunch of fake reviews. I guess I would rather my readers be pleasantly surprised by the quality of my writing rather than disappointed for whatever reason.

Still, I can't wait to get my first review on Amazon. It seems so critical for that first review to be a good one, since it really sets how others will weigh the purchase.

J. Tanner · Mar 21, 2012

Yukinara said:
I know there is at least 1 author on Amazon who faked reviews to get attention and people eventually find out. Reviews are good, but only when they are honest

Sadly, more than one. A Kindle bestseller was outed earlier this year for at least one fake account and suspected of sockpuppetry on a massive scale. This guy wasn't the first to mistakenly blow his cover by posting in one account while thinking he was logged into another.

NewKidOldKid · Mar 22, 2012

If you go to Fiverr.com, you'll find tons of people who sell reviews. For $5, they'll review your book from 4-5 different Amazon accounts. I'm not saying everybody who has a lot of reviews is doing this, but there's a chance some people might.

Katie Elle · Mar 22, 2012

I think fake reviews are pretty transparent. The really confusing thing is I really can't see the point in doing fake reviews on Smashwords because the sales there are so meager in the first place.

Fake reviews probably change the amazon search algorithm for the better though, regardless of whether or not customers can see through them.

PortableHal · Mar 22, 2012

Some book reviewers will post positive comments on Amazon if they've liked your work. Of course, this means you have to struggle to find a book reviewer to look at your stuff in the first place....

JoyceH · Mar 23, 2012

I don't think hundreds of reviews are necessary, but I do think there's a threshold, five or ten or so reviews, to get a book included in a search by rating. And that would help you get found, assuming your rating is good, if you're in a crowded category. My ebook has one review on Smashwords and two on Amazon - I'd sure like a few more, but don't know how many other ways I can ask for them.

JustJas · Mar 23, 2012

I know i think less of a book if it has no reviews, which is ironic considering one of mine has no reviews! I am keen to get reviews not just for the sake of publicity but for the honest feedback. I want to know what people out there really think of my writing, good or bad, but many of the reviews on Amazon are clearly solicited from family & friends (which I have also been guilty of, but mine just aren't very obliging).

I've also suspected that there are people who do it for money, because if you look at the history of some reviewers they have only ever given 5 star reviews, and every book they read is like, the best book ever written. The best way to judge a book is to read the first few pages because it gives you a good idea of the quality of writing. The percentage of people who write real reviews is very small, as most people, even if they really love a book won't bother to write about it, they'll just buy the author's next book.

nkkingston · Mar 25, 2012

Professional reviews are the most important, but if you're submitting your book yourself to reviewers you need to do thorough research - don't waste your time subbing to reviewers in the wrong genre, for example. Amazon allows you to add the reviews to the book, and of course if the reviewer has a decent audience you'll probably get sales through their site too.

Of course, you can't guarentee they'll like this...

woodtop255 · Mar 27, 2012

I don't like the pay for review websites either, seems too sketchy. Plus, do they even read your book or just plug in some sort of general statement? When I release my book I'm sort of wary too about asking my friends and family members to review it. I can just imagine my mom, "I'm Heather's mom and you need to buy this book because it's really good."

quicklime · Mar 27, 2012

ripple said:
thanks for the info. I'll probably still look for a nice way to suggest that people review the book...

know that any that are blatantly obvious "friend plugs" can work against you, and also that you can get a surprise, like a person you thought was a friend making some honest, or even dishonest, critiques you never saw coming....

soliciting reviews from friends is one more variation of the addage "don't shit where you eat," or something similarly messy--it just isn't worth the risks, imho

ripple · Mar 27, 2012

I just released my ebook and so now I have started to focus on the next mountain to climb.

At the point I'd be happy with any friend/family member reviewing the book on Amazon.

The other story is review blogs. A good percentage focus only on traditionally published books. A few handle eBooks. All are overwhelmed, it seems.

If anyone started a book review blog, I'd think they'd find instant success...at least in terms of people approaching them for reviews.

quicklime · Mar 27, 2012

ripple said:
At the point I'd be happy with any friend/family member reviewing the book on Amazon.

.

would you be happy with a review that goes "My Timmy writes SO well!!!!" (possibly followed by a snickering comment or three from other posters)

What about "The author is a close friend, and he's worked really hard. You can see that his grasp of dialogue tags and head hopping need work, I feel, but at the same time, he writes with enthusiasm..."

it is all good and well to be excited, and to want to sell big--just make sure you're considering all the angles. check out the promotion forum here for ideas....

EngineerTiger · Mar 27, 2012

My two reviews are from people I don't know. I assure you, Ripple, it is far more exciting to read a review from someone who purchased and read your book than from someone close to you. There is an honesty there too since they can't base their reading and review of your book on good or bad experiences with you as a person. Writers need all kinds of support but family and friends are better for the hand-holding side of things.

I know it is in anxious time but, now that your book is up, it's all about patience while you work on the next one. Self-publishers are very much at the mercy of word of mouth and it can take awhile for that to start to build for you.

merrihiatt · Mar 27, 2012

Almost none of my friends or family have read my books. I'm a legend in my own mind! ** giggling madly **

Nick Russell · Mar 27, 2012

I leave reviews for books I have read, and if somebody writes to tell me that they enjoyed one of my books, or makes a comment about one on Facebook, I will ask if they would consider leaving a short review. I have 117 reviews for Big Lake (of which 52 are 5 star and 18 are one star) and 30 for Big Lake Lynching. I believe they have had an impact on my sales.

MysteryRiter · Mar 27, 2012

I have a question:

If I have a mini-giveaway, is it bad form to mention that, in the giveaway guidelines (i.e. how to enter it), "I'd appreciate a short review if you find the time"?

I've done this before.

I haven't persisted any further than the small mention in the guidelines, but is even this seen as negative?

Thanks!

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