You are shopping for a book online. You see the little picture of what it would look like if you could see it. You see the description (which is often not the jackback) the author thought you should know about the book. Still, you are not sure. Where do you turn? The reviews.
WOOHOO!
Almost every book has at least one five-star review. If there are none, it should help you make your decision more easily, but what are those reviews really telling you?
First
The first reviews of a book are most often friends and family of the author. They may have been part of the beta team or in writing groups with the author. Most of them will have had intimate knowledge of the book and been eager to help get the book launched successfully.
Does this mean you should not trust them? Not necessarily. If you know what to look for in a review, you may find they are competent and accurate.
Middle
The middle reviews are usually mixed between Loved it! and Quit writing! These reviews are usually customers. Regardless of any adulation, what is important is the timing of these reviews. They will be dispersed throughout the longevity of the title. What does this tell you? People are still buying the book.
Last
The last review for a book is more significant in older titles than it is for new ones. If a title has been on the market for more than a year, the last review, especially if it is new, can be a window into how accurate and timeless the book really is.
How much?
Every day authors pay people to review their books. The most outrageous price to date is around $750. Most paid reviewers are in the $50-150 range. Although many paid reviewers give less than five stars, look over the reviews of other books before you take a paid review as gospel. Some have a cookie cutter method of not posting anything less than three stars.
One school of thought is paid reviewers have large followings, and the price is commensurate with the exposure, even if the review is less than expected. The other is paid reviews cannot be trusted because the opinions are bought. Both arguments have credence.
Independent
Getting an independent review of your book is a fabulous way to extend your marketing reach. The audience for the interview should be outside your natural social media circles, thus introducing your book to a new potential buyer pool. It does double duty of having a reviewer vouch for the book.
While readers often mistake interviews for book reviews, occasionally interviews can double as book reviews if you are creative in the way you answer the questions. You can effectively review your own book.
Longevity
Good books have a habit of continuing to garner reviews long after the launch parties are over. Even when sales are lackluster, the buyers who read the book appreciate the bargain of a good book. Readers see consistent reviews as validation your book has lasting merit.
Who cares?
Your potential readers: Book reviews can convince otherwise undecided potential buyers to become buyers.
Your current readers: Seeing someone review a book you love (and agree with you) builds community.
Your marketing audience: Having an outside opinion of your product is better than Buy my book!
You: In the end, turning potential buyers into readers puts your book in more hands.
Have you ever given a book review? Do you know where to find book reviews? Which book reviews influence you the most?
Hashtags: #AtoZChallenge #reviews #books
Thank you for sharing The M3 Blog with hashtags.
Stacy
/ April 20, 2013I do book reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, but I don’t like to post bad reviews, so for awful reads, I just keep my opinion to myself. That may not be helpful to some readers, but I prefer to help readers find good books rather than steer them away from books I didn’t enjoy. <3
Stacy recently posted..Surrounded by Brown
RLB
/ April 21, 2013You took the words right out from under my fingers. ; ) I do the same thing, though the main place I review books is on Goodreads. Think I might have done fewer than half a dozen on Amazon. I don’t finish books I don’t like, so wouldn’t feel qualified to post a review of those.
Red
/ April 23, 2013This puts you firmly in the majority.
Red
/ April 23, 2013Many readers are not likely to give a bad review. Even some reviewers will not leave anything less than three stars. On the other hand, there are a scad of reviewers who only leave three stars… and below. Great to see you today. xxx
Cha
/ April 20, 2013Interesting post, Red! 🙂 Book reviews are great. I love to read them before or after buying a book. Just to see what others think.
xxx
Cha recently posted..May The Fraz Be In You
Red
/ April 23, 2013I was surprised to find out how many people go back to see if others enjoyed the book as much as they have. Great to see you today, Cha. xxx <3
Binky
/ April 20, 2013I have done a number of book reviews, wombat themed books for my website, and others on Amazon. I agree with Stacy, if I don’t really like a book I will not post a negative review. Usually if I don’t like a book, I don’t get too far into it before abandoning it.
Binky recently posted..Hoarding Wombie Style
Red
/ April 23, 2013I rarely review books I do not finish. If it is something I cannot stomach, I occasionally leave reviews to that end.
Gail Thornton
/ April 20, 2013This is great, Red! I never thought of the different kind of reviews. I’m trying to get outside sources for reviews, but it’s hard. I’ll keep plugging!
Gail Thornton recently posted..Mantra’s Book of Shadows, Dark Poetry by Red Dwyer
Red
/ April 23, 2013It is harder than most authors expect, but it is central to keeping your book popping up in front of readers. xxx
Alexandra Heep
/ April 20, 2013No, I’ve never given a book review. I wrote a plot summary once, but for a well-known book.
Alexandra Heep recently posted..R is for Rivers Casino
Red
/ April 23, 2013I think that puts you in the minority here. What was the plot summary for?
Valentine Logar
/ April 21, 2013I do book reviews for lesser known authors, I owe a few of them right now.
I read reviews if an author is unfamiliar to me. I hate wasting me time and money. Unless a book has been recommended to me by someone who knows me and my taste, I won’t buy it without reading reviews first.
I will give bad reviews if a book warrants it. Usually not just because I didn’t enjoy a story, but if it is full of errors, poorly written and lacks quality; well, my ax comes down.
Valentine Logar recently posted..Peeking Out of My Cave, P1
Red
/ April 23, 2013I have never given a bad review merely because I did not like the story. I do give them for poor execution, mechanics and non-existent editing.
Prenin
/ April 21, 2013I must admit I haven’t read reviews of books before buying, I usually go off the Genre and the precis on the back.
So far I have not been disappointed! 🙂
Love and hugs!
Prenin.
Prenin recently posted..Saturday – The second Chechen brother is captured.
Red
/ April 23, 2013Ah, but you are more than half sold on the book by the genre alone. 😉
Bearman
/ April 21, 2013$750…man I am in the wrong business
Bearman recently posted..Love Bug
Red
/ April 23, 2013While the money sounds good, there are not many authors who are willing or able to invest that much in their books… which leads me to wonder what faith they have in them in the first place.
Connie Gruning
/ April 21, 2013WOW is right! I’m chiming in with “I’m in the wrong business”
If I love a book I will leave a review on Amazon.com
Connie
A to Z-ing to the end
Peanut Butter and Whine
Connie Gruning recently posted..New Mommy Bog ‘O Books!!
Red
/ April 23, 2013Welcome, Connie. Building a large review site with the kind of bibliophiles to support it is hard work. Unless authors have invested in PR, agents or are willing to foot the bill themselves, paid reviews are the rarest of the bunch.
MJ Logan
/ April 21, 2013750 dollars? I’d like in on that action…
Wow. Given a few reviews. I won’t say I like a book unless I do.
750 buck. Hard to get past that. Even the 50-150 numbers…
MJ Logan recently posted..R is for Rest
Derek Mansker
/ April 22, 2013That is exactly what I thought too. I will read your book for $750 and write a nice review.
Derek Mansker recently posted..Love Always Wins
Red
/ April 23, 2013I think it is why readers are picky about paid reviews. I always look at them with a fish eye wondering how many of the stars were bought.
Red
/ April 23, 2013Those who pay for reviews understand how a good review will perpetually help a book. See my comment above about author’s blase investments in their books.