Introduction and Seeking reviews.

[C.J.]

Hello, I found you here on Goodreads and I'm very glad I did. You see, I'm an author of fiction and I am working on a Trilogy of novellas. Why novellas one may ask. Well, for me novellas in series form, I feel, allow an author to reach an audience that would otherwise not pick a book up due to the commitment and, I feeling that reading is essential to soul so novellas are my way to offer shorts bursts of reading enjoyment for those who would typically not read and through novellas I hope to share and spead the Joy of reading with others. I would love to personally send you a PDF copy of my current work so, if any would be interested please, let me know.

[Rakesh]

Congrats! I would love to review your book. I have reviewed various other books too!

[C.J.]

I thank you for your willingness. Where shall I send you a PDF copy of the book for your review?
Awakened Dreams: Astronimacy Trilogy Book One

[C.J.]

Small update for potential reviewers. I don't expect you to buy the book simply submit an email and I will send you a clean PDF copy of the book complete with cover for you to keep.

[Jesmion]

C.J. wrote: "Hello, I found you here on Goodreads and I'm very glad I did. You see, I'm an author of fiction and I am working on a Trilogy of novellas. Why novellas one may ask. Well, for me novellas in series ..."

Jesmioni@gmail.com

[Jesmion]

Jacquelynn wrote: "My latest novel, 'Lost Innocents,'Lost Innocents is available free for the Kindle tomorrow, for one day only. If you happen to download a copy, I'd be very grateful for a review.
L..."

Jacquelynn wrote: "My latest novel, 'Lost Innocents,'Lost Innocents is available free for the Kindle tomorrow, for one day only. If you happen to download a copy, I'd be very grateful for a review.
L..."

it seems a pretty good and should be properly looked into and reason of the missing child and the deadman scenario

[Jesmion]

It seems pretty good and should be properly looked into, and reason of the missing child and the deadman scenario!
The novel of the Lost Innocent and the missing child seems serious to be attended!

[Penelope]

I can't figure out the where or how or why about anything on Goodreads, Jacquelynn.

[Penelope]

When I first became involved with Goodreads, years ago, it was an enjoyable way to interact with readers and other writers. Then, Amazon changed Goodreads. Now, I mostly avoid it because it has become so confusing and an author can't offer books for review without paying Amazon. Here, where we are meeting, interesting people like you come drifting into my personal email. Good to meet you, Jacquelynn. Hope you figure out other places on Goodreads that are of benefit to you. I've given up.

[Joanne]

Hi everyone. I have a general question about being asked to review a book. I was messaged on Twitter by the PR agent of another author whom I am following. He checks out as does the publisher, and he asked if I would be willing to review an electronic version of the book and post the review anywhere on social media-Goodreads, Amazon or other. Has anyone here experienced this, and if so, was it a good experience? Thanks in advance.

[Jenny]

Hi, I am getting flooded by requests by book reviewers that want to get paid for their "honest review". I am aware that having a good review will rate your book in a better category on amazon. So I am sure it is big business. I will not pay for an "honest review", how honest will it be if you paid for it anyway? I want reviews from people that read it and wanted to rate it and review it, on their own.
How do you feel on this subject?

[V.M.]

I agree, Jenny. I keep getting emails, too. One person has sent me an email several times.
And, like you, I wonder exactly how honest these reviews are.

[Elena]

Hi Jenny.
I agree with you!!
100% i rather have people who review because they really read my books.

[Jane]

I agree, reviews should be free. If you paid for one you would want a 5* whether book was worth it or not, and then it isn’t honest. What would readers and authors gain from that?

[Tilly]

Jenny wrote: "I am aware that having a good review will rate your book in a better category on amazon."

Reviews have nothing to do with how a book is ranked on Amazon. Store wide ranking is based on sales + borrows (if a title is in KU). If you want to understand more about how Amazon works I recommend reading David Gaughran’s “Amazon Decoded”. It also busts several urban myths that keep getting repeated in groups.

The best way to get reviews is to sell books and reviews magically take care of themselves ;) Personally I have been using Facebook ads (with a teeny $5 budget) to sell a book that when I started, had no reviews (it now has 100 due to those sales).

[Jenny]

Hi all, thank you for answering. Interesting to see that some of you also had this happen to you. We all want readers that enjoy what we write. Much love to all of you, stay safe.

[Jim]

For whatever reason, the vast majority of avid readers choose to never post a rating or review. Those who do are merely expressing their personal, and therefore subjective, opinion. One reader's Best book ever! might very well be another reader's Worst book ever!, which is why astute readers do not allow a review to influence their purchasing choices one way or the other.

Many novice authors are unaware that sales drive reviews, not the other way around. Therefore, it behooves an aspiring writer to focus upon striving to continuously improve upon their technical writing skills, along with their knowledge and implementation of promotional, marketing, and distribution expertise rather than obsessing over reviews.

[Jane]

Jim wrote: "For whatever reason, the vast majority of avid readers choose to never post a rating or review. Those who do are merely expressing their personal, and therefore subjective, opinion. One reader's Be..."

It is true that sales drive reviews, but many readers do take into account what reviews say. I read the good ones and the bad ones to work out the in-between. It seems to be held as truth that people are put off by something if it has no reviews, perhaps believing no one has bought it and not wanting to be the first.

Plus if you get reviews on multiple sites it increases your exposure and thus serves as promotion.

[Tilly]

Jane wrote: " It seems to be held as truth that people are put off by something if it has no reviews"

It's not true... BUT you need a cover and blurb that are doing their jobs. Most readers only look at reviews if cover, blurb, sample aren't enough for them to make a purchase decision.

We all start from zero. I used a teeny budget to advertise a book with NO reviews and contrary to what authors repeat as "true" (that no one will buy a book with no reviews) my book did sell. It sold with no reviews. And it kept on selling with no reviews. Then one day it had 1 review, then 3, now over 100...

I never spent a dime, or exerted any mental energy to get those reviews. I simply concentrated on selling that book. And to repeat once more for those up the back... you CAN sell a book with no reviews. I use narrow targeting on Facebook (to find my peculiar little niche) and the cover/blurb conveyed the right message to readers, to persuade them to buy even when the book had no reviews or social proof.