Overall, Amazon book reviews play a crucial role in the success of a book, influencing purchasing decisions, affecting book rankings, providing feedback to authors, and creating social proof. In this article, we’ll cover how to get book reviews on Amazon, as well as other details related to the book review process.
How Do I Leave a Book Review on Amazon?
To leave book reviews on Amazon, you can follow these steps:
- Go to the Amazon website and search for the book you want to get reviews for.
- Once you find the book, scroll down to the “Customer reviews” section on the product page.
- Read the reviews that are already posted by customers. You can filter the reviews by rating, language, and format using the dropdown menus at the top of the reviews section.
- If you want to leave your own review, click on the “Write a customer review” button.
- Choose a star rating and write your review in the text box. You can also add photos or videos if you want.
- Once you are done, click on the “Submit” button to post your review.
Keep in mind that Amazon has rules and guidelines for customer reviews. Reviews must be honest and unbiased, and they should focus on the product itself rather than the seller or the shipping experience. Amazon may remove reviews that violate these guidelines or are suspected to be fake or fraudulent.
Why Do Amazon Book Reviews Matter?
Amazon book reviews matter for several reasons:
- They influence purchasing decisions: Reviews provide potential readers with a glimpse into the book’s quality, content, and usefulness. If a book has a large number of positive reviews, it’s likely to generate interest and sales. Conversely, negative reviews may deter readers from buying a book.
- They affect book rankings: Amazon’s algorithm takes into account the number and quality of reviews when ranking books in search results. Books with more positive reviews tend to rank higher, making them more visible and increasing their chances of being purchased.
- They help authors improve: Reviews can provide authors with valuable feedback on their writing, allowing them to improve their craft and make changes to future works.
- They create social proof: Positive reviews create social proof, which is the psychological phenomenon where people are more likely to trust something if others have approved of it. This can lead to more sales and more positive reviews.
How Long Does it Take for Reviews to Appear on Amazon?
The amount of time it takes for a review to appear on Amazon can vary. In some cases, reviews can appear within a few hours of being submitted, while in other cases it may take a few days or even longer.
Amazon has an automated review filtering system that checks reviews for authenticity and relevance before posting them. This can cause delays in the review appearing on the book’s page, as the system may need to verify the review before making it visible to the public.
Additionally, Amazon may require reviewers to have purchased the book from their website before allowing the review to be posted. If the reviewer has not purchased the book from Amazon, it may take longer for the review to be verified and posted.
Overall, while there is no set timeline for when a review will appear on Amazon, it typically takes anywhere from a few hours to a few days for the review to be posted on the book’s page.
How Many Book Reviews Should I Aim to Get on Amazon?
The number of book reviews you should aim to get on Amazon depends on your goals and the level of competition in your book’s genre. Generally speaking, the more reviews you have, the better, as it can increase the visibility and credibility of your book.
There is no hard and fast rule for how many reviews a book should have, but having at least 10-15 reviews can help establish credibility and provide potential readers with a good idea of the book’s quality. However, if you’re in a highly competitive genre, you may need many more reviews to stand out from the crowd.
It’s important to note that quality is just as important as quantity. Having a high number of positive reviews can be great, but if the reviews aren’t genuine or informative, they may not be as valuable as a smaller number of detailed, honest reviews.
Ultimately, the number of book reviews you should aim for on Amazon depends on your goals and the level of competition in your genre. Focus on getting genuine, detailed reviews that provide value to potential readers, rather than just trying to hit a specific number.
What are Amazon Book Review Guidelines?
Amazon has rules and guidelines for book reviews to ensure that the reviews are authentic, helpful, and trustworthy for other customers. Here are some of the key rules and guidelines:
- Reviews must be related to the product: Reviews should focus on the product itself, not on the seller, price, or delivery experience.
- Reviews must be honest and unbiased: Reviews should reflect the reviewer’s genuine experience with the product, and they should not be influenced by incentives or other conflicts of interest.
- Reviews must not contain prohibited content: Reviews must not include obscene, offensive, or defamatory language, or promote illegal or prohibited activities.
- Reviews must not be fake or fraudulent: Reviews must be based on genuine experiences with the product, and they should not be written by friends, family members, or anyone else with a vested interest in the product.
- Reviews must meet Amazon’s community guidelines: Reviews should be respectful of others, and they should not violate Amazon’s community guidelines or terms of service.
- Reviews must not be duplicate or spam: Reviews should be unique and original, and they should not be copied or duplicated from other sources. They should also not be posted multiple times or used to promote unrelated products or services.
It’s important to note that Amazon has the right to remove reviews that violate these rules and guidelines, and it may take action against reviewers who repeatedly violate them. Customers who encounter reviews that they believe violate these guidelines can report them to Amazon for review.
What are Editorial Book Reviews?
An editorial book review on Amazon is a review of a book that has been written by a professional reviewer or a publication, rather than a customer who has purchased and read the book. These reviews are usually longer and more in-depth than customer reviews, and they may provide a more objective or expert assessment of the book’s content, writing style, and overall quality.
Editorial book reviews on Amazon are usually marked with a “Editorial Review” label and are often written by well-known publications. These reviews may be included on the book’s product page alongside customer reviews, and they can be a useful tool for readers who are looking for a more detailed analysis of a book before deciding whether to purchase it.
Keep in mind that editorial book reviews are still subjective opinions and should be evaluated critically, just like any other review. It’s also important to note that editorial reviews are not guaranteed for every book, and they may not be available for newer or less well-known titles.
What is a Launch Review Team? What are ARC Copies?
A Launch Review Team is a group of people who are given early access to a book before its official release date in exchange for a review. The purpose of a Launch Review Team is to generate buzz and early reviews for a book, which can help increase its visibility and sales when it is officially launched.
Launch Review Teams are often created by authors or publishers and typically consist of avid readers, book bloggers, or book reviewers who are interested in the genre of the book being launched. Members of the Launch Review Team are given access to an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of the book, which is a pre-release version of the book that is used for promotional purposes.
An ARC, or Advance Reader Copy, is a pre-release version of a book that is given to reviewers, bloggers, and other influencers before the book’s official release date. ARCs are often distributed by publishers or authors as part of a book launch or promotional campaign.
ARCs are typically not the final version of the book and may contain errors or typos that will be corrected in the final version. They are intended to give reviewers and other influencers an early look at the book so that they can generate buzz and provide early feedback to the author or publisher.
Reviewers who receive ARCs are typically expected to write an honest review of the book and post it online or share it with their followers. The reviews generated from ARCs can be used to build anticipation for the book’s official release date and can help increase its visibility and sales.
How to Apply to Book Review Websites?
If you’re an author or publisher looking to apply to book review websites, here are some general steps you can follow:
- Research relevant book review websites: Start by researching book review websites that are relevant to your book’s genre or topic. Look for websites that have a good reputation and a significant following. You can use search engines, social media, or book review directories to find relevant websites.
- Read their submission guidelines: Once you have identified potential book review websites, make sure to read their submission guidelines carefully. Most websites will have a page on their site dedicated to submission guidelines, which will outline what they are looking for, how to submit your book, and any other specific requirements or guidelines.
- Prepare your pitch: Based on the submission guidelines, prepare a pitch that is tailored to the specific website. Your pitch should include a brief synopsis of your book, your author bio, and any other relevant information that will help the reviewer understand the book and its target audience.
- Submit your pitch: Depending on the website’s submission guidelines, you may need to send your pitch via email, an online form, or through a specific review platform. Make sure to follow the guidelines closely and include all the necessary information and attachments.
- Follow up: If you don’t hear back from the website within a reasonable time frame, it’s okay to follow up with a polite email or message to ask about the status of your submission.
Overall, when applying to book review websites, it’s important to do your research, follow the submission guidelines closely, and be professional and respectful in all your interactions. Remember that book reviewers receive a lot of submissions, so be patient and persistent in your efforts.

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