By Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2
When an author friend asks you to write a review, what should you write? What shouldn’t you write?
In last month’s post, I shared how to Maximize Your Amazon Reviews with These Eight Book Launch Tips. Today I’d like to flip the perspective and share ten tips when you’re the one writing Amazon reviews.
How to Write Amazon Book Reviews
Step 1: Buy the book.
Amazon doesn’t require reviewers to purchase a book before they review it, but it helps. “Verified Purchase” reviews go to the top of the page and carry greater weight with Amazon. The company is also less likely to suppress a review if you bought the book from them.
Step 2: Read the book.
This seems obvious, but please at least read enough of the book to form an accurate opinion. Just because you love the author doesn’t mean you’ll love the book, so don’t assume. Do your due diligence.
Step 3: Choose a star rating.
The Amazon star rating goes from 1 (Poor) to 5 (Stellar). Be honest. Integrity calls you to accurately reflect your opinion, keeping in mind that it’s your opinion. Opinions vary based on preference, background, and previous experience with the genre, but they should always be honest and fair.
Step 4: Share what you liked.
Think carefully and spotlight one or two aspects of the book you especially enjoyed. Maybe you fell in love with the characters or identified with the heroine. Or the action kept you turning the pages long into the night. For a non-fiction book, perhaps you bought it in response to a need, and the book really helped meet this need. Say this.
Step 5: Share what you didn’t like.
You don’t have to give a negative review to share something you didn’t appreciate or wish were different about the book. Perhaps the book’s organization made it a little hard to follow, or a character was annoying. It’s okay to say this. A balanced review is credible, because it shows the reviewer read the book. One of my favorite reviewers wrote, “I do have one negative about the book: It wasn’t long enough!” God bless her. Thank you, Jesus.
Step 6: Refrain from saying you know the author personally.
Amazon often rejects reviews from those with personal connections to the author. To give your review the best chance of being accepted, refrain from saying, “She’s my daughter-in-law, BFF, Sunday school teacher, or fellow writer.” If you’ve followed the author professionally, it’s certainly fine to say, “I’ve read every book he’s written,” “I subscribe to her blog,” or “I’ve heard him speak multiple times and love his ministry.”
Step 7: Include a picture.
Reviews with pictures also tend to rise to the top of the list, so take 30 extra seconds to snap a picture and add it to the bottom of your review. (Scroll down. You’ll see the spot to upload it from your phone or computer.) If you’re not feeling photogenic, take a picture of the book beside a vase of flowers or your coffee cup. One of the cleverest photos a reviewer posted for one of my books shows her holding the book up to her face as if reading. All you can see is the book cover and her eyes peeking over the top. It’s makes me smile every time.
Step 8: Post a video.
If you really love your author (and the book), post a video. Use your phone to record a quick blurb about why you love the book and who would benefit from it. Don’t overthink it and don’t expect it to be perfect. Just share your thoughts. Save the video, then click on the plus box on the review page that says, Add a Photo or Video to upload it from your computer or phone.
Step 9: Disclose if you received the book for free.
If you received an advanced copy (ARC) from the author or publisher, you must disclose this in your review. Add a line at the bottom that says something like, I received an advanced copy from the publisher. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Step 10: Share your review on other platforms.
Don’t limit your review to Amazon. Share it on Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book, and the publisher’s website. Then share it on social media with a picture of the book. Show your author friends some love and make the most out of the time you spent composing the review. Writing is the hard part. Once it’s done, copy and paste it everywhere you can.
Authors love reviews better than chocolate—and that’s a lot! If you follow these ten tips, you can bless your author friends and their readers by leaving amazing Amazon reviews.
TWEETABLE
Now it’s your turn. What’s your best tip for writing Amazon reviews? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Featured Image: Photo by Alexandra Fuller on Unsplash
Lori,
ReplyDeleteI love your insights and wisdom about writing a book review in this article. I've written many reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Thank you,
Terry
author of Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success (Revised Edition)
This is great, Lori. Reviews are so important to Amazon exposure and potential buyers. I try to review every book I read.
ReplyDeleteLori, this is great information to pass onto our launch teams! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWould you be able to share a review on Barnes N Nobel, if, say, you bought it on Amazon?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips. I always post a picture of the cover on my Pinterest board, but will have to think about how to post pics on Amazon too.
ReplyDelete