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In the last few weeks, there have been scandals about so-called sock puppet reviews, when authors have paid for fake reviews or even created them under false identities. Whatever your thoughts on this type of thing, there's no doubt that having great reviews can help your book sell.
Personally I give away books and ask for reviews if people enjoy them, and I consider reviews to be critical in the sales process online, so I will continue to seek them out (ethically) for my own books. Today, guest blogger Laura Pepper Wu provides a handy guide to getting Amazon's top reviewers to review your book.
We all want more book reviews but until you have a huge readership waiting for organic reviews can be… well, a long wait!
One way to get more high quality, (usually) well-written and highly regarded reviews is to ask the ‘Amazon Top Customer Reviewers' to take a look at your book.
Why target the top Amazon reviewers?
While I've seen some reviewers with 7,000+ reviews, the Top Customer Reviewer award is not only about the number of reviews one person has churned out. At the time of writing, the #1 top customer reviewer on Amazon has only (!) 671 reviews under his belt.
As always, Amazon uses a complex algorithm to determine this ranking – this top spot is also determined by the number of “helpful” votes the reviews have received (our #1 guy has 39,414) and “percentage helpful” (97%).
Since that #1 spot is highly coveted, and quite the achievement, you can be sure that the Amazon top customer reviewers put a lot of thought and energy into their reviews. That’s good news – these are the best and most compelling kind of reviews!
As a result, aiming at the Top Customer Reviewers is a good strategy to curating well-written, meaningful and thorough reviews for your book. Here are some more pros for putting in the time and energy to solicit these:
1. These reviewers have proven themselves to be fast, consistent reviewers who read fast (often a few books a week) and will therefore most likely have a quick turn around
2. They understand what makes a good, helpful review
3. They may also have a book blog/ large social media following or other online presence that can bring you additional exposure
4. An endorsement by one of these guys looks GREAT on your Amazon page. Remember the whole third party validation/ social proof thing from your Economics class? Well this is it exactly! Validation from someone who takes reviewing seriously and is therefore 100% objective. Here's how the review listing will look on your Amazon page:
In fact, according to the results of the recent self publishing survey by Taleist.com, Authors who submitted to popular reviewers on Amazon received 25% more reviews than average and earned 32% more revenue for their latest release. Not necessarily a case of cause and effect but a good sign nonetheless.
With the positive there are some potential downsides, and it's only fair to mention those as well:
– Doing this research, and doing it well, DOES take time and energy. You’ll be led down some dead ends, and some reviewers explicitly state that they don’t like to be pitched.
(But if it was easy, everyone would be doing it right? This is the kind of stuff that gets you ahead of the game!)
and…
– They may well be more critical/ harsh. That's why it's super important to really do the research and only target those who would be interested in your book. Otherwise you're asking for trouble!
How to contact Amazon's Top Reviewers
Here are some step by step instructions on how to contact Amazon's Top Customer Reviewers to offer your book for review:
1. Head over to http://www.amazon.com/review/top-reviewers
2. Click on any name or reviewer profile that takes your fancy!
3. Look at the books she/ he has reviewed in the past (be aware that some of these reviewers will not be book reviewers at all, some may focus solely on electronics, clothes etc)
4. Look at his/her interests for relevant info (if this section is filled out):
5. Look under their profile picture to see if their contact information is public (I have blacked it out for privacy reasons here). Also look to see if there are any common interests or a location that you can mention when contacting them.
6. Send them a short, brief pitch stating:
– How you found them
– Why you think they'll enjoy your book (mention other books they loved or genre preference)
– Offer a free copy of your book
– Thank them for their time, whether they decide to take up your offer or not.
Don't forget these people are busy (as everyone is these days!), and most likely receive hundreds of requests. Keep your pitch short and sweet to make sure it’s read.
7. Aim to contact at least 3-4 times more reviewers than the actual number of reviews you are looking for since some will pass or you won’t hear back from them.
8. Wait for your replies 🙂
High quality and plentiful reviews can go a long way to driving book sales.
It does take time and effort though but the payoff is big.
Have you tried contacting Amazon’s Top Customer Reviewers? Why not share your experience by leaving a comment below.
*** UPDATE: Comments are now closed – Jan 2015 **
Laura Pepper Wu is a writer and the co-founder of 30 Day Books: a book studio and Ladies Who Critique, a critique-partner finding site. She has successfully marketed several books to become Kindle and print best-sellers.
Laura has recently released Authorlicious, a premium WordPress theme for authors including tutorials, so if you want to maximize your blog success, check it out here! (affiliate)
Laura’s latest offering is ‘Fire up Amazon & Leave it on Autopilot!’, a video tutorial course on how to tweak Amazon to it’s full potential. When she's not glued to her laptop you can find her walking her dog, practicing yoga or “testing” out coffee shops in Seattle. Connect with her on http://twitter.com/LauraPepWu and say hi!
Images: Top Bigstock Customer Survey or Review, the rest provided by Laura Pepper Wu
Jane says
Aha. But if you look under the top reviewer’s name and there is NO contact info there? Then what??
Jane says
I did a very poor job of reading prior comments. I see it’s just not always possible to get the contact info and that that’s been addressed. Through your blog, however, many have stepped forward and offered to read and review. Thanks, Joanna, for a wonder blog post and for attracting such wonderful comments.
Carol D. Styron says
Robert,
I am interested in reviewing your book, “The Children’s story” The story sounds very interesting. I also wrote a book and would like for you to review it. If you are interested? It is a romance story, so I don’t know if that would interest you, but if you know someone who would be interested, let me know. Please send me your story and I will give you a honest review. Just let me know how long the story is and I can give you the turn around time for a review. I have a lot on my plate, and if it’s too long I won’t be able to finish reading it quickly.
Carol
Joanna Penn says
Comment emailed to me from Robert ** Please could you negotiate this offsite? Thanks**
I review almost every genre so Ill be gland to review your novel. You can gift a kindle copy to my email address: rak27us@charter.net. Let me know the title. I would be pleased if you would review my novel. I’ll gift you a copy to your email address. Let me know the email address. Regards, Bob
Robert Krueger says
Reviewing my old emails trying to get organized (ha!). We had an exchange of emails in December in which I said I would be willing to review your novel on Amazon, but somehow there was no further contact. If still interested, you can gift a kindle copy to my email address: rak27us@charter.net. Let me know if you do. Regards Robert Krueger
PS More than 160 reviews to date.
Carol D. Styron says
Courtney,
I just published a book on Amazon. It’s called, “Marrying For Fame.” If you are willing to read it, please let me know. It’s a romance novel about two young ambitious singers, who marry to fast-track their careers. I am only seeking honest reviews from people who appreciate romance books.
Carol D. Styron
Antara Man says
This information and more precisely the comments are coming so right in time for me.
Thanks to everybody! We are living truly in amazing times.
Rolando Lemus says
Hello, I would like you to read and review my book if you are interested.
It is called “Not Reaching the Mountaintop,” about my struggle with PTSD and nihilistic feelings.
Send me your e-mail and I’ll send you a free kindle version copy. Let me know what you honestly think; I’m open to all criticism.
Here’s a free poem:
Something Missing
Hello worry, my faithful vagrant.
I was beginning to wonder,
“What is taking so long?”
I was beginning to hope,
“You wandered far enough!”
Here you are today,
A welcomed event
I wouldn’t want indifference,
To settle in.
Yet as usual your welcome …
Well, it will wear out; soon.
I don’t want medication this time,
Please, please don’t linger.
Stay the day and the evening;
Allow me the night for a calm sleep,
Soon, nothing will matter;
We’ll be one and gone forever.
Thank you for reading.
Linga Munthali says
Hello beautiful people 🙂
My name is Linga Munthali, i’m a 19 year old girl from Malawi and i would like you to read and review my book if you are interested.
It is called “WHY Lewis?” find it at
http://www.amazon.com/WHY-Lewis-thought-destroy-searching/dp/3659470619/ref
its a story about a 17 year old homeless boy who was buried alive for the suspected murder of a 35 year old woman. Its a true story.
Send me your email address and i will you a free copy of my book. Let me kniw what you honestly think of my book.
Thank you 🙂 🙂 🙂
Scott Hayden says
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for more verified reviews for my book. Find it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Why-Were-They-Built-Man-Made-ebook/dp/B00N9LM26M/ref
It’s about six famous monuments around the world. Send me your email address and I’ll send you a free copy for your Kindle device. Thanks in advance!
Robert Krueger says
I will be pleased to take a look at your book to see if I can review it. You may gift (kindle) it to my email address: rak27us@charter.net, Be sure, however, that print is large enough for me to read as I have trouble with very small print. regards, Bob
Scott Hayden says
Thanks! I’ll send it shortly.
Robert Krueger says
Added comment about my book reviewing: I have reviewed on Amazon more than 150 books to date. I accept gift kindle to my email account: rak27us@charter.net or by mail if there is not a kindle version. Like most of us, I have a book published (print and kindle) titled The Children’s Story, About Good and Evil plus two business books If interested in a review, email your request. I understand the need for reviews. Bob Krueger
Robert Krueger says
For Carol Styron,
Trying to get organized, reviewing my old emails (ha!). We had an exchange in December and I said I’d review your novel, but it all seems to have gotten lost! If you are still interested, you can gift a kindle copy to my email address. If you do please let me know. Can’t put email address in comments, but see my post Bob Sallye. Regards, Bob Krueger
Joe Balch says
Hi there, I am also looking for reviews for my kindle ebook, titled “The Art Of Pawn”. It is a beginners guide to opening and operating as a honest pawnbroker, WeBuy store, and buyer of gold and silver. My book is filled with history, suggestions, and secrets of the pawn industry ( a truly exciting job ). Extras include formulas for testing and buying gold and silver. Thanks for your time and send a request for a free copy today. Please provide email address for me to gift you ebook. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RC8SI0C