Eva Pasco's Blog - Posts Tagged "amazon"

Waiting for the break of day

Twenty-five or six to four

Twenty-five or six to four

*(Lyrics from the song, “25 or 6 to 4," recorded in 1969 by the band, Chicago)

My break of day:

July 19th - My Contemporary Women’s Fiction novel, 'An Enlightening Quiche,' merited its 25th Amazon review one day shy of turning 10-months old.

Breakdown: Twenty-two 5-Star and three 4-Star reviews

I’m grateful for each unique review which offers valuable insight to potential readers.

https://amzn.com/B01LX9UXWV

Arguments: Twenty-five—less or more?

Less:

Don’t get hung up on reviews. Many bestsellers have few reviews when they hit hot. Sales are always going to be more important than reviews to Amazon. Around ten to fifteen reasonable (3.5 – 4 star) reviews and a few strong editorial reviews will do nicely. You don’t need 300 reviews.

http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/2...

More:

Reviews immediately add credibility to your book, communicating to potential customers that it is a worthy read. They also improve your book’s ranking when consumers are searching on Amazon, which is the primary reason to stay committed to getting reviews. And that, hopefully, will translate into more book sales.

http://www.blurb.com/blog/how-get-rev...

More, more, more!

Purportedly, 50 is the magic number of reviews that triggers Amazon to start paying more attention to your book. After you hit 50, you gain more visibility on Amazon.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brooke-...

From my own experience, nothing generates more of a buzz on social media than when I post my latest 4 – 5 Star review for a book I’ve read, or post the latest 4 - 5 Star review my book has received. Word of mouth is the best marketing strategy money can’t buy, discounting the cash outlay for a verified purchase. Since reviews can make or break a book on Amazon, it behooves the Indie author to foster feedback from readers, as the pen is mightier than the sword!

*Doing my small part to help an Indie author rise above the ashes of obscurity by reading and reviewing—I’m currently reading Aliya Dal Rae’s Sweet Discovery (The Jessica Sweet Trilogy) (Vol. 2) in the genre of Paranormal.

https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Discover...

Who are you reading?

It’s like “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”!

Take one down, throw it away. One less book review today.

The takeaway of Amazon reviews is disheartening for Indie authors who experience sluggish, sporadic, or stagnant book sales. The reward for our slow and tedious uphill climb along this precarious journey is a book review posted by a reader. Therefore, it’s a shock to discover the removal of a review every now and then, especially when that review is based on a verified purchase. Mind you, nothing but the removal of a 5-Star review will do, while a mean-spirited 1-Star, vitriolic slander-fest holds its ground despite an appeal, and subsequent curt dismissal.

First and foremost, it’s an insult to the reader who takes a leap of faith in purchasing a book and graciously takes the time to write an honest review providing feedback.

Last week, my Contemporary, 'An Enlightening Quiche,' had its reviews whittled down to 28—again! So close to 30, yet so far! My Nonfiction Memoir collection, '100 Wild Mushrooms: Memoirs of the ‘60s,' is down to 10.

Each day, I walk the gangplank, on edge, over what I’ll discover that may obstruct my path to the Promised Land of Visibility, purportedly attained after your book gets 50 reviews.

However, the hide of an Indie author is thick to begin with, having pioneered self-publishing on our own terms. Taking away one or more reviews over time can never undermine my integrity as a writer, erode myself self-respect, or devalue the merit badges my books have earned. I also take consolation that many bestselling authors have had few reviews prior to hitting it big.

Sales drive success, not reviews.

Although I’ve yet to strike the mother lode of book sales, like an errant weed poking through concrete, I’m determined to succeed in my own way—one book sale at a time.

For Indie authors whose books are enrolled with Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing…

I mention this program because it’s the one I opted for when publishing my Contemporary, Mr. Wizardo (May 2019):

As of October 9th, the Paperback Edition, originally listed at $5.99, is currently retailing for $2.80.

The Kindle Edition, originally listed at $2.99, is currently retailing for $2.80.

A die-hard fan of The Honeymooners reruns, a classic American TV sitcom starring Jackie Gleason portraying Ralph Kramden, a working-class stiff who drives a bus for the Gotham Bus Company (Oct. 1, 1955 – Sept. 22, 1956), my initial reaction was that of uttering one of Ralphie Boy’s—“Hamina-hamina-hamina-hamina!”

Aren’t most self-published books retailing in the $.99 - $4.99 range feasibly priced?

Purportedly, according to Amazon’s knowledge base, it’s either:

You’ll sell more books at the discounted price.

They want to free up warehouse space.

Nevertheless, whether an Indie author publishes exclusively with Amazon—KDP Direct or Select; or distributes “wide” – we have our work cut out for us when it comes to marketing our books. The price might be right, but does the cover and content entice a reader into making a purchase?

At any rate, here’s an out-of-context, Kramden wish for making sales at any price to increase our book rank—“Bang! Zoom! Straight to the moon!”

Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w