Everything You Need to Know About Indie Author Book Reviews
Let’s say it’s the night of binge-watching and all you want to do is to find the absolute masterpiece of a movie. How do you decide if a movie is worth it?
Ratings and reviews, of course!
Same is the case when buying a product online. Our decision of purchasing something is heavily based on ratings and reviews.
Reviews are a big element when it comes to online shopping. Often, it is the deciding factor for whether the potential reader will tap “buy” on your book or scroll through it.
In this guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about indie author book reviews, from what they are to how to get them.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
“An unreviewed book is a struck bell that gives no resonance. Without reviews, literature would be oddly mute in spite of all those words on all those pages of all those books.”
- Patricia Hampl
What is a Book Review?
Contrary to the common notion that an indie author book review tells the structure of a book, it is more about the reader’s take on it. In a review, a reader describes the strong points or the weaknesses of a book; whether they liked or disliked it and for what reasons.
Although the review might include the structure of the book, it mainly comprises the analysis of how well it is written. Depending on the reviewer, it encompasses the author’s writing style, the art of storytelling, character building, and whether they were able to convey the message they intended to.
A good review paints a pretty picture of your book, encouraging people to invest in it. Similarly, a bad one gives a negative impression and discourages readership. It is either given by your general audience, a critique, or a blogger.
Types of Book Reviews:
Based on who reviews the book and where the review is published, book reviews can be categorized into five main types. Let’s have a look at them;
Customer Reviews:
These are the reviews given by everyday readers, published on retail platforms like Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble. They comprise the reader's personal view of the book, thus vary in length and tone.
Such reviews heavily influence the buyers who visit these sites to buy books. Just by skimming through these reviews, an indie author can have an idea of where their work is lacking and what his target audience expects of them.
Editorial Reviews:
These reviews are given by authoritative figures in magazines, newspapers, or other literary sites. They hold significance due to the expertise of the reviewers and influencing trend makers like bookstore owners or librarians.
Social Media Reviews:
Such reviews are shared by indie book bloggers, influencers, and general readers on their social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, or Pinterest.
Although limited to their followers, these reviews get people talking about the book. The author can share and appreciate them on their account too.
Peer Reviews:
Peer reviews are written by your fellow indie book writers, industry professionals or influential figures for constructive feedback. Along with providing the writer room for improvement, these reviews also build the credibility of the book.
Publishers use them for marketing and promotion by printing them on the cover of the book. These endorsements really take the sales and visibility of a book up a notch.
Book List Inclusions:
On book-reading websites when a potential reader adds a book to their “to read” list, it has a positive impact on the book. Even without writing a review, the reader embodies their trust in the author and the book itself.
Why does Indie Author Book Review Matter?
Book reviews are a big part of a writer’s journey. A good review not only sells the book but the writer too. Similarly, a bad review restrains the writer along with the book. The major benefits of a book review are as follows;
Work as a Social Proof:
The biggest advantage of an indie author book review is that it acts as a social proof of your book’s credibility. When a buyer is interested in your book, a positive review will influence them much more than any description or blurb you have written for your book.
A good review builds the author's reputation, guaranteeing people that they will not regret investing their time and capital in your work. Publishers use lines from credible reviewers on the book jackets to market your book. You can also share them online for promotional purposes.
Give an Algorithm Boost:
With millions of books published online every year, the chances of a reader finding yours are very thin. But if your book has a significant number of reviews, it will boost its visibility.
Reviewers are likely to use relevant keywords in their reviews for your book, like its genre, sub-genre, and theme. These keywords improve engagement and optimize the search engine to rank your book high on every search.
Hint Target Audience:
Although indie authors know their target audience before writing the book, the reviews help them understand their audience better. If one truly scrutinizes the reviews, they can know a lot about their primary audience, from the demographics to their preferences.
Build Reader Trust:
Indie author book reviews, whether positive or negative, provide the reader a chance to express their feelings. By taking that review positively, the writer can build trust and connection between themselves and the reader.
Improve Your Skills:
Reviews that contain constructive feedback are important for writers' betterment. They provide a reality check of where they stand in their skills and what is expected of them. Working on such reviews helps them improve their skill set and come up with better books.
Offer Market Insights:
If you are a self-published writer, getting seen becomes very difficult. That’s where reviews from credible sources help.
An endorsement from a seasoned writer of your genre will take your sales to new skies. The more reviews your book has on online platforms, the more it will be recommended to other readers, increasing sales.
How to Get Online Book Reviews?
After understanding the importance of a book review, you might wonder how you can get people to review your book.
The answer is, by spreading your book far and wide. Here’s how to do that;
Start with your Inner Circle:
Before you go around the globe asking people for feedback, try people from your inner circle, such as friends and family to review your book, even before the launch.
Their unbiased opinions about your first draft will give you valuable insights regarding your storytelling, character development, and pacing. It will help you refine your work before final edits and publication.
Issue Advance Review Copies:
Issuing Advance Review Copies (ARC) to local influencers and indie book bloggers is a marketing strategy. It makes your book the talk of the town even before launch. Along with increased visibility, ARCs also help you better your content prelaunch.
Reach Out to Reviewers and Bloggers:
Once published, you can reach out to general readers on retail sites and request them to review your book. Moreover, you can also ask other authors or influencers in your genre to provide their points of view on your content.
Use Online Communities:
You can also request reviews via online communities such as Goodreads groups, book clubs, or social media platforms. It will help you reach a larger audience worldwide.
Offer Incentives:
People might not take out their valuable time just to review your book. However, if you offer some incentives, they sure will. Hosting giveaways, lucky draws or promotions for reviewing your book can be a good strategy to engage people.
How to Deal with Negative Feedback?
While talking about indie author book reviews and their importance, let’s not forget about the negative ones. The thing a writer dreads the most is a bad review of their months of hard work.
Knowing how to respond to them makes the difference between an average and a good writer. Here are some aspects to consider while dealing with negative feedback.
Consider it Imperative:
When we put any piece of content online, whether it is a post, a picture, or a book, some people will like it and some won't. Hence, when your book gets positive reviews, it will surely get some negatives too. Know that even the best writers get negative reviews and it’s alright.
Consider the Reviewer:
Considering the reviewers might help you cool off. Look at their point of view of things and you might see where they are coming from. You yourself don’t like everything you read, right? Having a difference of opinion does not make either of you wrong.
Respond Gracefully:
It is best to not respond to negative indie reviews. However, if you feel like you must answer, respond gracefully. Do not use harsh words or tone to drive the reader away. Answer in such a way that they understand what you are saying and get a positive image of you. It will elevate you in the eyes of other readers as well.
Learn and Adapt:
Bad reviews are a great learning opportunity. They help you see the points you might have missed earlier. As long as the review does not involve harsh words, you can learn from it and adapt according to the audience’s preferences.
All-in-all, book reviews are highly important and help with book sales, marketing, and promotion. Apart from that, they provide a learning curve to the indie writer, keeping them humble and refining their art constantly.
Implement the above-mentioned strategies to gain reviews and do not take any reviews personally. Value every reader’s opinion and keep working hard towards your goals.
To increase the visibility of your book through online reviews, start by publishing your book on Book Brackr. Here, you can reach more readers and manage subscriptions easily. Try it out today and let our team help youtube the best e-book writer in town!
Remember, book reviews pave the path to your success as a writer. Happy writing!