Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Importance of Leaving Reviews

I hope this post doesn't come across as bragging because that's not my intention. My aim here is two-fold.

First, to say thank you to everyone who has bought Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles, and especially those who took the time to leave a review on Amazon. I woke this morning to the good news it’s the sixth most recommended western on their charts. There’s Lonesome Dove just a few rungs above me! I’m humbled and deeply honored. Many thanks for the five star reviews that placed Adventures there.

Second, to talk about those reviews. I never completely understood the significance of these appraisals on Amazon. That may seem naive but, quite honestly, most of the time I don’t follow reviews when I purchase a book or attend a movie—but I’m obviously in the minority in that department. Once my book reached the top twenty, sales picked up significantly. Obviously, the higher chart status brought it to the attention of readers not familiar with me, Edward Grainger, or BEAT to a PULP.

Hilary Davidson mentioned over a year ago that she would begin leaving reviews for books she likes and asked others to join. Well, Hilary I’m a little late but I get it now. I’ve already dropped comments for Wayne Dundee and Gerald So and plan to do a few more this week to catch up. And from here on, when I finish a book I’ll leave a short review. It doesn’t take much time and it does make a difference.

13 comments:

Randy Johnson said...

I never got it either, but I do leave reviews on things I like. The real thing I don;t understand is the vile things people say about things they don't like.

I won't review something i don't like or don't finish(and I've been sent more than a few I set aside probably never to get back to them). I guess that doesn't make me a good reviewer, but I can't separate the reader from the reviewer in my case. And I don't generally blame the book if I don't like it.

Paul D Brazill said...

Just a quicky.

If you leave a review on Amazon, that DOESN'T get transferred over to Amazon UK and vice versa . So, if you want to give someone a review, you've got to do it on both.

Ron Scheer said...

I used amazon as a kind of personal blog for many years to keep track of the books I'd read (some use goodreads for that now, but I stuck with amazon). Always left reviews of books and movies I liked or thought someone would, and particularly for those that had few or no reviews (typical in my case since my interests are apparently so esoteric, ha). Never slammed a book (I'm with Randy Johnson on that point) but left caveats where I thought they were deserved.

Since I started blogging, I review here instead and make an exception in instances like yours. I've done it as a service to other readers (I've often gone by what reviewers say), and am pleased to know that it actually makes a difference for writers.

Charles Gramlich said...

I try to leave as many reviews as I can, especially for folks I know. It does seem to help and there's not that much us readers can do anyway to support good writing other than buying the book and reviewing it.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I started to do this and then forgot. Will have to resume this. I myself read those reviews when trying to decide on a book.

David Cranmer said...

My thoughts are similar, Randy. I feel if I was being paid to review then fine and I will be blunt. But (and I get this from Chris Rhatigan) I'm a recommender. If I don't like something I just don't review it.

Very true, Paul. I do forget that.

Ron, Blog reviews are, of course, extremely helpful as well. But Amazon shouts the word out to a wider audience. Until ADVENTURES I just didn't comprehend the impact.

Charles, You’re the most gracious reviewer I know. I'm not sure how you balance it all, amigo.

Patti, I can't believe it has taken me this long.

Chris Rhatigan said...

Yep, I'm a recommender too!

I've heard this as well--that reviews make a difference for sales and the like. I tend to just take what I write at Death by Killing, copy it and paste it in.

Paul--I didn't know that! I need to head over to Amazon UK straight away. Thanks for the tip.

AC said...

I also agree with Randy. The blessing and the curse of the Internet is that on public forums, everyone is welcome to post his or her opinion. That includes Junior, who thinks "nothing happens" in The Quiet Man because there are no explosions or fart jokes. Oh well...

David Barber said...

Congrats of the top 6 spot, David. I've not read them all yet but on completion I was going to do a review on my blog.

I've only done one bokk review to date but was advised to put it on Amazon. Seems like the right thing to do. At the end of the day it's about sales and getting something back for the time and (sometimes thankless) effort put into writing AND editing your work.

Onece I've finished the book I'll be doing just that. We go to France for 2 weeks on Saturday and the Kindle is in my hand luggage.

Well done, my friend!

David Barber said...

Excuse the typos on my last comment. Just finished a 12 hour day and have another to look forward to tomorrow before heading down to Manchester on Thursday for the start of a well deserved break!

David Cranmer said...

Chris, I picked up "recommender" from you.

AC, The dark flip-side is it will take one nasty one-star review to bring me down. If its legitimate that's fine but I don't believe anonymous reviews should be allowed.

Thanks, David. I appreciate you taking the time. Typos? I thought that was the way you Scots talked. :)

Chris said...

I, too, was shocked what a difference reviews made in my sale of 8 POUNDS. And I, too, shall endeavor to leave more of my own...

Alyssa Goodnight said...

How very impressive! Congratulations!!

I am going endeavor to be better about this. It's often in my mind, and then other things crowd it out...