Whether I am speaking to novice writers or veteran authors, I cannot say this enough: Reviews Matter.
Perhaps as an author, you are okay with simply self-publishing your book and putting it online, but realistically, you want people to read it. You want people to love it! You want them to tell their friends all about it!
One way that you can get more people to read your work, is if the people who have already read your work review it.
On Amazon we’ve all seen those sections underneath books that say, “Customers who viewed this item also viewed. . .” or “Sponsored products related to this item.”
Do you know that the only way to get your book to pop up on those suggested reading links is if your book gets at least 50 reviews. Here’s the cool thing though, it does not have to be 50 good reviews; it can be a mix of good, neutral, and even bad! Yes, of course, we all want the five star review, but even a one star review is helpful in gaining visibility.
Reviews = Visibility
That is why, starting Wednesday, I will begin hosting “Book Review Lotteries” as regularly as I can. During these posts, authors can post their books for consideration. I will choose one book each lottery to read, review, and post on each of my social media sites! Make sure to stop by on Wednesday!
If you have the time and money to do this, I encourage you to host your own Book Lotteries to support your writing community!
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I used to think that writing a book was my only goal in life. Then it was sending it to a publisher. Then it was getting accepted. Now that it seems I’m almost over this step, I feel like the next one is to get good reviews, which I doubt I’ll actually get. This journey never ends, does it? And it’s so nerve-wracking to think about it. Thanks for doing this to support the authors out there!
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I’ve learned that as well; the journey is never over as an author BUT there are a TON of accomplishments met along the way! Just because we want good reviews doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate publishing, or finishing a book, or even starting a book! What are you working on?
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Great idea, Kayla 😊.
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Thank you, K.M. Allan!
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Sounds wonderful! Don’t know if you know this, but Amazon now allows you to rate a book without reviewing it, except that you can’t see who rated it or what their rating, like Goodreads. But it does increase the total number.
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Oh really? Hmmm seems interesting to rate something without reviewing it?
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I see people to it all the time on Goodreads. They’ve done it with my book, and I can tell it’s happened on Amazon with it too.
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What a great idea, Kayla Ann. I do know that writing a review is the best way to compliment an author. I will swing by on Wednesday, for sure. Thanks for your generous offer!
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Hope to see you then! I already know it’s going to be so hard to choose just ONE book this month!
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Reblogged this on Writer-Reader-Teacher and commented:
A great idea to support fellow authors,poets,illustrators.
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Great idea, Kayla Ann!
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Thank you, Eugenia! I need new reading material and I want to support the community!
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Btw, I started reading your book! 👍❤️
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Oh how exciting! 🤩
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You did an amazing job putting this together!
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