18 Mar How to post a book review on Amazon: It’s the best gift you can give an Indie author!
Indie Authors Depend on Reviews
Chances are, you’ve been barraged on Twitter and Facebook with requests from one or more indie authors to post a book review on Amazon. Requests range from subtle suggestions, like this one:
to more pleading requests like this one:
The fact is: indie authors depend on reviews so that other readers will see their books. It’s the main tool they have to promote sales.
Most People May Not Know How to Write A Review
But the problem is that many people are put off by the idea of writing a review because they either don’t know how to write one, or if they do, they dread how much time it will take. Plus, lots of people I talk to simply don’t know specifically what actions to take to get a book review onto Amazon.
Let me assure you that the process of leaving a review on Amazon is easy and will take no more than a few minutes! It’s not at all necessary to write a full-fledged literary critique like English teachers and journalists do. You just need to write a paragraph or two about what you liked most and least about the book, and say what type of reader you’d recommend it to.
Easy Steps to Write a Review
if you’d like to thank an author, follow these easy steps to post a book review:
(1) On your web browser, enter http://www.Amazon.com. To locate the book, type the name of the author or the title of the book into the Amazon search window.
(2) Click on the title of the book. Scroll down and down and down. Finally, you’ll come to the heading, Customer Reviews, and you’ll see a box with the words write a customer review. Click on the box and you’ll see the cover of the book with five stars beside it.
(3) Click on the stars to rate the book according to how well-written it is and how much you think readers of the genre will like it. Obviously, if you’re a sci-fi fan reading a historical novel, your interest level will be lower than someone who loves the genre of historical fiction, and vice versa. The lower you rate the book, the more detail you need to give, especially if it’s below three stars. The author deserves to know the rationale behind a lower rating. Saying something like “This is an okay book,” or “I didn’t care for this book,” is really damning. Be honest, but if you offer criticism, make it constructive by saying how the weakness can be improved.
(4) After you rate the book, a box will appear below for post a review. You can write as many words as you want to, but if your time is limited, answer two or three of the following questions and submit your review. Amazon will confirm that it’s from an authorized purchase, that it complies with their regulations, and then publish it shortly, usually within 12-24 hours.The questions below relate to works of fiction, but most could easily be adapted to non-fiction as well.
Questions to Consider When Writing a Review
- What did you like most about the book? (Was it a page turner? Descriptive? Well-researched? Had believable characters?)
- Did the book have an imaginative or compelling plot? Or was it mostly character-driven? In which case:
- Which character(s) did you find most engaging and why? How did the main character change over the course of the novel? With which traits of the character did you identify?
- How did the setting enhance the plot?
- Was there a dominant theme to the book? If so, how did the author reveal it? (If non-fiction, what was the purpose and how did the author achieve it?)
- What was your favorite scene/chapter in the book? Your favorite quote?
- Did the book have a realistic/satisfactory ending for you? Why or why not. (If non-fiction, did the book accomplish its purpose?)
- What did you learn from the book?
- To what type of reader will this book appeal? To whom would you recommend it and why?
Wasn’t That Easy?
Writing a review for Amazon is really not as much of a pain as you thought it would be. So, get busy and thank your favorite author. Post a book review today! And then get in the habit of writing a quick review every time you finish a book. It’s a free and easy way to demonstrate your support.
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