Self-Published or Independent (Indie) authors are constantly asking this question: How do I get more reviews, for my book on Amazon?
The first thing to note is that your book is a product, and Amazon has designed their algorithm to put products in front of their customers, that they are most likely to want to buy.
Product reviews are a factor in the algorithms calculation but also a psychological factor in customer purchasing.
A majority of humans prefer not to be the first to try something, if they see that a product has no reviews, they perceive that they are one of the first customers and so they are less likely to buy it.
It’s a Numbers Game
Whatever process or strategy you adopt, to get more reviews for your book, it is a numbers game.
Results will vary but from my own experience and those of fellow authors (I communicate with), the average number of book buyers that leave a review, is somewhere between 0.5% to 2.5%
Personally, I’d say that the 2.5% may be a bit on the high side, so whatever you can do to increase the conversion rate from reader to reviewer should be considered.
Why wouldn’t you want to improve the odds of readers leaving you a review?
Make it Easy to Post Reviews
As an indie author myself, I know the importance of reviews but even I don’t review every book I read.
With our ever-diminishing attention span, statistics show that where someone has to click twice to make a purchase or navigate elsewhere online (that second click is enough that), they are more likely to abandon the journey.
Basically, humans are getting lazier!
One of the benefits that a Kindle book has over a physical product, is that you can actually ask nicely for a review within the book (product) and create a link directly to your books review page.
Remember that the purpose of this link is to make it easier for readers to leave a review.
Getting readers to login to Amazon and find their order and then place a review can seem like too much trouble, for even the most ardent fan. Doesn’t it make sense to have a link that they can click on, while they’re reading your book, taking them straight to that books review page?
Here’s an example Link for one of my books “Gratitude For Happiness” – Gratitude review link
Your Link Needs to Be Universal
Your Kindle book is sold on multiple Amazon sites such as Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.co.au, as well as Amazon.com. You need to ensure that the link in your Kindle book, takes the reader to the Amazon platform where they purchased it.
Lots of Authors create international links to direct buyers to the book on their local Amazon site. Free tools, on sites such as booklinker.net make it simple for even technologically challenged authors. There are other free tools out there that will allow you to create a universal link to your books actual review page.
There are various tools out there to create a link, but one of the easiest ways is to copy and paste your books ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) into a Free tool provided on Russel Phillips UK Site Click Here
Create Your Listing then Upload an Updated Manuscript
You need your book to be live on Amazon before you can create your link, which means that once the book has passed through the review process, you will have to upload an updated version of your manuscript with the link included.
Rather than have to worry about lots of reformatting of your book content, I’ve found the easiest way to add your link is by already having the text in the initial upload.
Basically, include the words “Please Click Here to Review this book” (or something similar and once you have created the review link you can turn the same text into a hyperlink.
For Pre-orders, your book listing will be live but the review page won’t be active until the book is live. Remember to upload the updated manuscript ASAP after it’s live.
Increase Your Odds of Book Reviews, With a Review Link Share on XDon’t Break Amazons Terms of Service
With all the stories out authors having reviews stripped from their book listing and worries about Amazon stopping your book listing, authors can become paranoid about asking for reviews.
It can be quite confusing trying not to break the rules, rather than try to list all of the terms here, here’s a link to a video (provided by Dave Chesson) which provides some important guidance. Amazons Terms of Service Link
The Key Points
- Once your book is live, create a link to its Amazon Review Page.
- Ensure the link is universal and add it to the text in your manuscript as a hyperlink.
- Upload your updated manuscript as soon as possible.