Soliciting Online Reviews for Your Book

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Your book is published—that’s great! Now you actually want to SELL it, right?

These days, Amazon is THE ubiquitous bookseller. Your book is up against stiff competition, just by the sheer number of books published daily. You need to make your book stand out as the one to order in your genre.

One way to do this is by having plenty of favorable online reviews. When consumers make decisions about their purchases on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and elsewhere, this is one of the ways they determine which item to pick over another: the reviews.

Your job, in this case, as an author, is to cultivate as many 5-star reviews as you can from your fan base. At the beginning of your publishing launch, this might include your family, friends, and colleagues—and anyone you know who has purchased your book. As time goes on, you can occasionally spread the word on social media, encouraging your (hopefully) growing fan base to post their online reviews of your book:

PLEASE WRITE A 5-STAR REVIEW ON AMAZON
(and Barnes and Noble and Good Reads) FOR MY BOOK!

How to Write an Online Book Review

Writing a review can be done quickly and easily. Its impact goes a long way, and is a great way for your supporters to help drive the sales of your book.  Here are the simple steps you can pass along to them:

  1. Go to the product detail page for the item. (Note: you must have placed orders on Amazon totaling $50 or more in the last 12 months to be eligible to leave reviews.)

  2. If you've placed an order for the item, you can also go to “Your Orders” to locate it.

  3. Select “Write a product review” in the “Customer Reviews” section.

  4. Select a Star Rating. A green check mark shows for successfully submitted ratings.

  5. Optionally, add your comments and select “Submit.”

 What Should Be Included in a Book Review?
The important thing about a book review is that it should be helpful to a potential buyer in deciding whether or not this book is a good pick for them. A review will probably be around 5 or 6 sentences or more and should include the following:

  • A title (required by Amazon). Pick a short title that gives potential buyers an idea of how the book benefitted you and can benefit them, like “Changed my life” or “Hilarious read.”

  • Why you bought the book

  • How the book helped you, encouraged you, challenged you, entertained you, etc.

  • What kind of reader to whom you would recommend the book

  • Whether or not the book accomplished what it promised

  • Any expertise or credentials you have in this area that can contribute extra credibility to your review

Here is a sample template you can use to write a book review for a non-fiction book:

I purchased this book because (your felt need or problem you needed to solve) and was not disappointed. It was so helpful! I appreciated the author’s insight and perspective on (something that impacted or stood out to you). It really opened my eyes about (some things you learned in the book). From now on, I will be able to (changes you will make, how your life will be different because you read this book). I highly recommend this book to anyone who (the kind of person who would benefit from this book).

And here is a sample template you can use for a book review for a fiction book:

This novel was a great read! I bought it because (the reason you chose this particular novel), and I was not disappointed. It kept me engaged, cover to cover. My favorite part was (briefly mention what you liked, whether plot, character, setting, etc.). This is a great book for anyone who (the kind of person who would enjoy this book). I highly recommend it!

Reviews can be creative; they do not necessarily have to use this format. These are simply suggestions. The most important thing is that a review is genuine and provides value for potential readers.

If you are a reader, you can support your favorite authors by leaving 5-star reviews about their books on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Good Reads. If you are an author, feel free to pass along this newsletter/post to your friends, family, and fan base and ask them to write reviews for your book(s) on these platforms. It’s a great way to promote your book, make your book stand out from the rest, and get the sales you desire!