DO REVIEWS AFFECT SALES?

SOMETIMES
BUT OFTEN NOT LIKE YOU THINK



1.) A SAVAGE REVIEW CAN HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT

 Once upon a time there was a children's book that got such an unfair review 
that I not only bought it but gave it a good review -- which it deserved.
"I can understand the disappointment of not getting any text with the free sample, but it is unkind to one star a book you have never read.

I have read this delightful book, and I find it everything you would want for your child ... 
ah, in this case, just the little child in me : 
fun, zesty, light-hearted with a sense of humor to it that leaves you closing the book with a smile.
 Even the illustrations had a smile on my face.

I highly recommend this book. And I am off to order the next in the series. Thank you, Sally, for a fun, delightful read."

2.) SOMETIMES REVIEWS ARE SO OFF THE MARK THEY ARE FUNNY AND SPARK SALES

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HJ377A/


 
Don't judge me.  But after reading these reviews I just had to buy this shirt!
 ***
"I used to drive to work every day, now I can fly! Thanks Three Wolf Moon t-shirt!"
***
"The Three Wolf and Moon shirt arrived in the mail last week. 
When I got home from work I found the shirt had torn itself out of the packaging, 
destroyed my mail box, broke into my house, 
slept with my wife, kicked my dog, and mowed my yard." 
*** 
"I have to admit I wasn't convinced about the power of this shirt and bought it as a gag to get a few laughs with friends over. 
However something has changed since I put this shirt on, something has changed for the better that is!

Lets go over some of the things that have happened within just a few hours of putting this shirt on. 
Keep in mind these are facts that have been verified by others and your results will vary:

1.) I won the lottery for $3 Million Dollars
2.) I have about 10 supermodels fighting for my attention
3.) My muscles have become much larger then before
4.) I may or may not have super powers (possibly developing signs of x-ray vision)
5.) I rushed into a burning building and saved a bunch of school kids and some kittens."
 Don't neglect to read the answers to the 41 questions if you go to this shirt's Amazon page:
Q:Is there a difference between the $6 shirt and the $30 shirt?  I don't see any more wolves.
A:Yes -- Twenty-four dollars.
***
Q:Does this shirt glow in the dark?
A:Of course not!  It is much too stealthy to glow in the dark.
But if you chew Mint-O-Green Life Savers with your mouth open in the dark, you can see sparks!


3.) REVIEWS DON'T SELL BOOKS/ WORD OF MOUTH DOES
Who do you trust more, a stranger or a good friend?  
Yeah, easy answer, right?
Lightning strikes where it will.  
None of us know what group of strangers might read our book and spread the word ...
to a local book club ... to their local library ... to their close friends. 

4.) THICK SKIN IS A MUST FOR WRITERS
"I have pretty thick skin, and I think if you're going to be in this business, if you're going to be a writer, you better have a thick skin." - John Irving .
Bad reviews are just part of the tuition of being an author.  Hang in there, everyone.