Today’s blog post is from guest blogger, Author CEO Naomi Blackburn, and first appeared at www.Terrilong.com.
Last week, while posting new reviews and following up on a few I’d previously placed on Amazon, I noticed that three authors I’d worked with had received reviews from a disreputable Amazon reviewer. Colleagues have criticized this reviewer for posting an absurdly high number of reviews, giving inflated ratings, and writing reviews that seem to have been lifted directly from book jackets.
All three authors had received 5-star reviews (as do nearly all the books this reviewer rates); the “reviews” consisted of multiple-paragraph synopses, with little space devoted to the reviewer’s own feelings about the book.
Unfortunately, it is not only the disrespected reviewer who’s been slammed by fellow reviewers: the authors—and their books—have also been targeted. Authors who reach out to a particular reviewer, knowing ahead of time that the review will be positive, cheat the system.
Based on this assumption, books reviewed by the reviewer in question have also been targeted for critique—with reviewers, in some cases, going so far as to recommend boycotting the book as well as other books by that author.
Here is a sampling of responses to those questionable 5-star reviews (identifying details removed):
“I love Author B’s books and would buy this one regardless of the reviews. If I was unfamiliar with this author, however, I would disregard Reviewer A’s review and wait for one from someone who had actually read the book and used phrases such as ‘I liked…’, ‘I did not like…’, ‘This book made me feel…’ (you get the picture).”
“Somebody, anybody, if you read this book please write a real review for it!
Thanks. Sounds like it might be a good one but this review (the only one so far) doesn’t help.”
It is never a good thing when comments focus on a review rather than on your book! When this happens, your book becomes irrelevant—before it has even had the opportunity to take off.
Before submitting your book for review, it is imperative to look at the reputation of the reviewer.
The review process is very important to sales and should not be taken lightly. A review by someone who is not respected in the market can hurt your book instead of helping. Established authors can survive this, but for newbie or less established authors, this can be a kiss of death or, at minimum, a wound…
So, how do you vet a reviewer?
- Identify where they review. Do they have a book blog? Or do they review only on a vendor site, such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble?
- Look at their reviews, particularly on vendor sites. How are they received? Is the reviewer and/or his or her reviews respected or attacked by fellow reviewers?
- Do their reviews give concrete reasons for why they liked or disliked the book? Or are the reviews just expanded jacket information with little attention to their impressions of the book?
- Do all or a majority of books they review receive 4 or 5 stars? How many reviews has the reviewer done? Do they limit reviewing opportunities to only books of interest to them? If so, they might have only 4 or 5 star reviews, but they only review books that are of interest to that potential reviewer. This is normally pretty evident in assessing their reviewing history. On a final note, remember: 1, 2, and 3 stars are fine, as long as the reviews are written in a constructive manner.
- Ask fellow authors what their experience has been in working with reviewers. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. This is yet another reason not to “burn bridges” with fellow authors!
- Ask the opinion of established book bloggers you have worked with. Most book bloggers talk to one another. Believe it or not, like authors, we have a good idea of the reputation of certain book reviewers, as we talk about it too!
It might take extra time to vet reviewers, but it will save you a serious headache. And think of the money you’ll save by not sending ARCs to reviewers whose review might cost you instead of benefiting you!
Naomi Blackburn is owner of The Author CEO, a consultation firm dedicated to helping independent authors navigate the development of strategic business plans and the marketing world, holds an MBA and has worked in the field of business development, sales and consulting for 12 years. An avid reader and top Goodreads reviewer, she comes to the world of books from a reader/reviewer’s perspective. Visit her at http://abookandareview.blogspot.com/
Having just written my first YA mystery/crime novel at the age of 64, I’m looking forward to reading some reviews on it (once it’s published that is.) Of course good reviews would be wonderful, but even a bad review can be a good thing if it’s constructive and helps you improve your writing for the future.
I really like looking through a post that can make people
think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
Thanks for the comment, Lorene. On Terri’s blog, bi-weekly, I write a post which really encourages and helps authors to think of their books as small businesses and develop well thought out and WRITTEN plans, rather than doing it off the cuff or disorganized.
Had not thought of this… there are so many reviewers out there and I think the knee jerk reaction has been…”Yaay! You want to review MY book?”
This is good information.
Thanks for the comment, Jaqueline. I think it is also changing the opinion of of asking for reviews. You’re right….there are many reviewers out there, so an author can be a bit picky about who they want to review their book. It just takes a bit of time to research who you want to review your book. I always refer to Christine Nolfi’s site when talking to authors re: developing a database on reviewers. She has a WONDERFUL article on her blog about it!
Hey, Naomi. Love your last name! We are no relation if anyone is wondering. I am in the process of getting some reviewers for my cozy mystery and have concentrated on folks who have book blogs about cozies. I get the impression that’s a good idea? If they have a blog, that helps their credibility?
Thanks!
Thanks for the comment, Cindy. With a last name of Blackburn, you MUST be a great author. If you have ANY relatives in the Joliet, IL area…9 chances out of 10, you are related to my husband! He comes from a VERY large family.
Yes, most def. you would want to focus on cozy reviewers or even mystery reviewers, just make sure to ask them their opinions on cozies. You might even be able to work with chick lit reviewers.
One other thing you might want to look at is to join any “cozy” focused groups on Goodreads. I used to belong to one called WOMEN OF MYSTERY which is dedicated to female mystery writers. The moderator is Marilyn K. and she is wonderful to work with. Many of the members have their own blogs, so they might be able to help you.
On Goodreads, I’ve seen one- and two-star ratings that say something like, “I received this book as a gift but I don’t like mysteries.” Don’t give a free book to someone who won’t like it.
Great advice. Know your reviewers! Again, one or two stars are not bad things if their are examples of why someone didn’t like the book. I can give many examples of when I have given and the reasons on why I didn’t like the book, but have had comments made as that is why other people have chosen to read the book. Also, I have worked with an author who received a two star review and the person who reviewed the book stated that she had changed one of the characters names halfway through the book. She didn’t catch it nor did any of her beta readers.