May 2013 Archives

Amazon Bogus Reviews Part 2

The first time we looked at Amazon reviews, we dug into who can leave them and who can’t. To sum up: consumers good, sock puppets or anyone who could be mistaken for sock puppets, bad.

Today let’s talk about what happens when you get a one star review that: 1) you know is a mistake 2) that is actually a criticism of Amazon or 3) where the reviewer admits to not having read the book.

Example #1: An actual live review for one of our books (a Booktrope book, Riversong by Tess Thompson). We have reported this review on a couple of different occasions now, and yet, here it still sits. Now, you can see that the author of the review comments on her own review and indicates that she had made a mistake and somehow left the wrong review. Clearly she is confused and does not realize she can delete or revise her review. In fact, it appears she feels she already left a positive review somewhere for Riversong and says it is “excellent”.

Example #2: Lest we think this is an isolated incident, here is another example. Actually, on the same book: in this case a literal technical issue with a Kindle device and/or download or plain old user error. What I find fascinating here, is that there are actually four comments (from people I do not know, nor does the author) that follow on to the initial review. Note I only show two in my screenshot. These comments chastise and educate the reviewer for leaving the review and tell them to contact customer service. Wouldn’t you think that four comments telling someone to contact customer service might somewhere, somehow tweak a search bot on the site? I don’t know, but it seems to me like it should.

Example #3: Just for good measure, let’s look at the last type of review that I believe should automatically be pulled from Amazon – one in which the reviewer literally states they have not read the book. This one is for another of our books, Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales: A Story of Addiction by Marni Mann. In this case, the review says they have only read the sample and gives it a one star (apparently) for being about drug use. Hence the title which, I think indicates that very clearly. Generally, stories of addiction involve, well, addiction (I suppose we could mean addiction to books or puppies or something, but that is unlikely). Again, a stranger comes to our defense. Which, again, leaves me wondering why Amazon does not clue in to this.

All of these have been reported to customer service yet still appear as valid reviews – dragging down the books’ star ratings. As an aside, this has not created a financial problem, as both of these books are best-sellers and do just fine in sales. I think that lends credence to the fact the reviews are ridiculous.

Now, just to be sure I address this, there are certainly people who will leave one star ratings that should stand. Not everyone will love every book. On several occasions, I have found that one star (or two or three star) ratings help me understand how to do a better job of hitting the proper target audience. In some cases it has made me realize that I needed to rework a book description to better portray the tone of the material. Some people are just grumpy and delight in leaving horrid reviews for their own angst-ridden reasons, but are not technically violating anything but the policies of human decency. What I have issue with, is a system that is widely policed for bogus positive reviews, yet not policed (seemingly) at all, for negative or erroneous ones.

Have another example for us? Please put it in the comments section! Maybe Amazon will pay attention if we can get enough of them.

Email Marketing

Authors, Build Your Lists!

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Without fail, the one thing I ask every author (or publishing company) when I start working with them on selling more books is this: How many people do you have on your email list?

I always cross my fingers that they say an actual number, but a surprising amount of people (and companies) have NO WAY of capturing people’s email addresses, or (equally as surprising), that they do have a list, but they have never sent a single email to the people on it.

Here’s what is wrong with both of these scenarios. The whole purpose of having a blog, or Facebook, or Twitter, or really, anything where you interact with people is that you’re trying to build up an audience of people who are interested in your work. You’re not trying to trick anyone or be a slimy salesman, ok? You’re just collecting names of people who like you/ like your work and who will be happy for you when a new book comes out. These people will go to the trouble of opting into a mailing list if you will just give them a chance. You should give them that chance!!

Marketing people commonly say “The money’s in the list,” and this could not be truer for authors. This expression just means that if you build a targeted list of people who buy one type of thing, you are most likely going to be able to sell them related products in the future.

Here’s why you’ll hear people say “the money’s in the list,” and why it matters so much for authors—presented in a friendly, conversational way, but with a few key points numbered for clarity:

1. You Reach Readers Directly

It’s so frustrating when social media algorithms keep changing and hiding your posts. But with an email list, you cut right through all that noise. You can pop up directly in someone’s inbox, which means they’ll actually see your book launch updates or behind-the-scenes stories.

2. You Launch Strong

Ever worry that your new book might get lost among a gazillion other releases? When you have a subscriber list, you can give your fans a heads-up the moment it goes live. That early surge in sales can help your book rank better on online stores (like Amazon), which means more people see it—and more sales follow.

3. You Build a Personal Bond

An email list feels kind of like having a VIP club for your readers. They’ve signed up because they genuinely want to hear from you, so it’s easier to share personal stories, writing tips, or bonus chapters. This one-on-one vibe also means fans are more likely to leave reviews or spread the word about your books.

4. You Get Predictable Sales

If your subscribers enjoyed your last novel, chances are they’ll want your next one, too. Over time, that loyalty can give you a pretty steady stream of income. You can even team up with other authors in your genre—maybe swap newsletter mentions—and everyone benefits.

5. You’ve Got a Long-Term Asset

Platforms come and go, and algorithms change all the time, but your email list is yours. Even if your favorite social network disappears tomorrow, you’ll still have a way to reach your readers. Plus, every time you launch a new book or do a giveaway, that list can grow—and so does your potential revenue.

Bottom line: An email list isn’t just a marketing tool—it’s a backstage pass to your writing life. It gives you a reliable, personal way to connect with readers, spark excitement around new releases, and enjoy that author-reader relationship that turns casual fans into dedicated superfans. That’s exactly why “the money’s in the list” is so often repeated—because it really works, especially for authors!

The other reason why you should be building your list is because (as Tim Ferriss will tell you), having a large list of people who are interested in buying things you write is the quickest way to get your book to go to # 1 on the bestseller lists on the day it comes out. When you build your list and communicate regularly with its members, they will WANT to help you make your book successful.

If this is something you’ve been putting off, I think it’s something you should do today—really! Keep trying things until you find something that works, because these days especially, an author is only as successful as their list.