https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/en-USTelligent Community 10https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/8469/social-proof-for-authors-how-to-get-book-reviews-that-sell-books-for-youWed, 11 Feb 2026 21:25:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:e25c6deb-e9d4-4eda-ad3f-13651bb042a9A.G. BilligAre you struggling to get your book noticed in a crowded marketplace? You’ve poured your heart into writing, but without reviews, your book may be invisible to potential readers. The good news? Reviews aren’t just feedback. They’re powerful social proof that can dramatically increase sales. In this action-packed webinar, discover how to turn your readers into enthusiastic advocates for your book. You’ll learn why social proof matters, how to strategically gather authentic reviews, and, most importantly, how to leverage those reviews to sell more books, without feeling pushy or spammy. Author and book marketing expert A.G. Billig covers: • The psychology behind why reviews influence buying decisions • Proven strategies for getting reviews before and after your book launches • How to identify and reach the right reviewers—readers, bloggers, and influencers • Tools and templates to streamline review requests and follow-ups • Ways to use reviews as marketing assets across social media, email, and ads Whether you’re a first-time author or an experienced self-publisher, this webinar will give you practical, ready-to-use tactics to build credibility, attract more readers, and grow your book sales. Don’t let your hard work sit unnoticed. Learn how a handful of well-placed reviews can become your most powerful marketing tool. Walk away with strategies you can implement immediately—and start turning reviews into revenue. Start letting your readers do the selling for you! Here is the handout referenced in the session: www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Social-Proof-for-Authors_5F00_Handout.pdf www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../SocialProofforAuthorsHowtoGetBookReviewsThatSellBooksforYou.mp4 About the Presenter: A.G. Billig is a bestselling published author of fiction and nonfiction books. As founder of the award-winning educational center Self-Publishing Mastery, she uses her book marketing and publishing expertise to help authors become successful. She has a BA in Languages and Literatures (English and French) and a Master’s Degree in Public Relations and Communication. For the past ten years, she has hosted and produced radio and TV shows, built awareness and drove sales for various international brands as a PR and marketing expert, and helped authors just like you to achieve number one bestseller status.fictionNonfictionSubscriberRecorded Webinarhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/amazon/7949/amazon-algorithms-101?CommentId=f8d96c5e-5b2a-414a-9d92-19e89998e2fdThu, 12 Jun 2025 14:51:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:f8d96c5e-5b2a-414a-9d92-19e89998e2fdKeith OgorekGlad this was helpful to you.https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/amazon/7949/amazon-algorithms-101?CommentId=5d2e40f1-c220-41cd-af85-75072856063fTue, 10 Jun 2025 18:26:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:5d2e40f1-c220-41cd-af85-75072856063fGerald RobisonOf all the ALC programs I've been a part of, this one has been the most jam-packed with practical, how-to information. It was a weak part of what I've been doing and now I know what to do, how to do it and where to find what I need. Thanks SO much!https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/8056/obtaining-and-featuring-book-reviewsThu, 17 Apr 2025 12:30:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:5aae2160-3368-45e4-9795-9d68ea73dfa3Beth Kallman WernerThe Good, The Bad, and the Ugly Reviews are a critical, but challenging part of any book’s marketing strategy. Authors rely on reviews to build credibility and word of mouth marketing, while readers rely on them to decide whether to purchase a book. In this webinar, book marketing advisor Beth Kallman Werner addresses these important questions: • Why are book reviews important? • What are various sources of book reviews, both paid and unpaid? • Is it really ok to pay for book reviews? • What happens if I get a negative review? • How do I get the most value from a good review? • Where do reviews fit into my overall marketing plan? Learn how acquiring and using book reviews in your marketing communications can add significant value to your book marketing plan. Here is the handout referenced in the session: www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ALC-Handout-_2D00_-Book-Reviews_5F00_Werner.pdf www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ObtainingandFeaturingBookReviews.mp4 About the Presenter: Author Connections (AC) has been serving a global roster of author and publisher clients since 2010. AC is devoted to editing and marketing excellent content for discerning readers. As former Director of Marketing & Sales for Kirkus Reviews, Beth worked with major houses and indie authors on book reviews and title campaigns for any size budget. Since launching Author Connections, Beth has worked on more than two hundred titles in fiction and nonfiction, adult and children’s books; many earning multiple marketplace awards and accolades. Beth is Advisor to the Next Generation Indie Book Awards (NGIBA), a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and Author Connections has earned the coveted Seal of Excellence from the Association of Independent Authors (AiA). Beth’s own book, "Travels of an Independent Woman", is scheduled for September 2026. For more information on Author Connections and the services offered, visit https://authorconnections.com/ .fictionNonfictionSubscriberRecorded Webinarhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/amazon/7949/amazon-algorithms-101?CommentId=346d8cd7-2c50-4c04-a8f1-86167633b8daFri, 16 Aug 2024 16:20:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:346d8cd7-2c50-4c04-a8f1-86167633b8daKeith OgorekGlad you found it helpfulhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/amazon/7949/amazon-algorithms-101?CommentId=20fcb8bb-7c11-40de-9ab6-2141e7e10cb6Thu, 15 Aug 2024 04:09:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:20fcb8bb-7c11-40de-9ab6-2141e7e10cb6Margaret Keene SrirachVery helpful. Thank you.https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/amazon/7949/amazon-algorithms-101Tue, 13 Aug 2024 21:56:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:0dff3a3d-b1b5-4a97-be25-caa8018c1a00Keri-Rae BarnumWe all know that you can pay for Amazon to boost your book on their site with Amazon Advertising. But did you know that you can also work with Amazon’s algorithms to naturally improve your book’s visibility on their site for FREE? In Amazon Algorithms 101, Keri-Rae Barnum of New Shelves Books discusses the most recent algorithm updates on Amazon and 4 easy hacks you can use to make sure your book shows up in more Amazon searches without paying a thing. She covers what Amazon algorithms and SEO (search engine optimization) are and how to increase and optimize both for a book listing utilizing: • Categories and Ranking • Keywords • Outside Traffic • Reviews Here is the handout referenced in the session: www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Amazon-Algorithms_5F00_Handout-ALC.pdf www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../AmazonAlgorithms1012024.mp4 About the Presenter: Keri-Rae Barnum is the owner and CEO of New Shelves Books. One of the most sought-after publishing experts in the U.S., her focus and strengths are helping authors skip the “learning curve” and become truly successful at advertising, review acquisition and book sales online, in libraries, and in stores. She is a keyword expert and creator of highly successful Amazon and online ads. She can be found at www.newshelves.com .fictionNonfictionSubscriberRecorded Webinarhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/8101/reviews-for-authors-insider-tips-for-how-to-get-reader-reviewsWed, 27 Mar 2024 21:05:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:9c38be02-00c8-4789-97b6-ffd2cf0ef429Keri-Rae BarnumA great review provides social proof for your book and can help turn book browsers into buyers. But authors know that building up reviews for your book can be much harder than it sounds. What can you do once you’ve exhausted your list of family and friends and are still struggling to wrangle a handful of reviews? Keri-Rae Barnum of New Shelves Books joins us to share insider tips on where to find new reviewers for your book, and how to ask for reviews and actually get results. Here is the handout referenced in the session: www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ReviewsforAuthors_5F00_Handout-24.pdf www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ReviewsforAuthorsInsiderTipsforHowtoGetReaderReviews24.mp4 About the Presenter: Keri-Rae Barnum is the Owner and CEO of New Shelves Books. Over the last few years, Keri has parlayed her 15 years of varied marketing experiences and turned her attention to book sales and marketing. Her focus and strengths are helping publishers and authors skip the “learning curve” and become truly successful at advertising, review acquisition and book sales online, in libraries, and in stores. She is a keyword expert and creator of highly successful Amazon and online ads. She can be found at www.newshelves.com .fictionNonfictionSubscriberRecorded Webinarhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/6211/four-tips-for-getting-book-reviews---article?CommentId=fe1e5e6a-4229-44d5-987f-af526ad128bbTue, 26 Mar 2024 20:30:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:fe1e5e6a-4229-44d5-987f-af526ad128bbMarylee MartinExcellent advice. Thanks for sharing.https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/8339/the-best-ways-for-authors-to-acquire-meaningful-reviewsFri, 02 Feb 2024 20:25:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:3ce190f0-e3ca-4fc8-b36b-dbd6442bc648Elizabeth HawkinsAcquiring book reviews, both professional and reader, is an important aspect of book marketing, as reviews can influence whether readers want to purchase a book, and whether decision-makers want to consider a book for an opportunity. W Publishing Group Publicity Manager Elizabeth Hawkins begins reaching out for reviews for her authors' books at least nine months to a year in advance of release. She recommends authors do the same on their own, along with making a list of who they know that could possibly provide a review. Nonfiction authors are encouraged to reach out to experts in their field to request reviews or testimonials. Hawkins is always pleasantly surprised by the meaningful collaborations that can be created when an author takes a chance on reaching out to people they may not know. Per Hawkins, garnering both professional and reader reviews takes time, planning, and reaching out, maybe even more than once. She says the key to obtaining reviews is being persistent in a respectful way. Authors can also work with a publicist to write and distribute a press release, which can bring a lot of attention to a book. Once reviews are acquired, Hawkins recommends using some of the best reviews in all marketing efforts, as this can garner more opportunities. www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheBestWaysforAuthorstoAcquireMeaningfulReviews.mp4fictionNonfictionvideohttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/6211/four-tips-for-getting-book-reviews---article?CommentId=f433f903-688d-4fe3-bcff-000ee0588071Sat, 09 Sep 2023 11:22:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:f433f903-688d-4fe3-bcff-000ee0588071Keith OgorekGlad you found this helpful. Lots more great advice and insight available to you as an ALC member. Just use the search function at the top of the page to find helpful information on any topic of .https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/6211/four-tips-for-getting-book-reviews---article?CommentId=e0155097-152f-4048-8194-969e3d6f9c5eThu, 07 Sep 2023 20:28:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:e0155097-152f-4048-8194-969e3d6f9c5eMwaanga A MicheloThank you for opening my eyes on this topic.https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/amazon/8247/amazon-attribution-links-for-authorsThu, 13 Jul 2023 17:28:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:88dee570-1819-4549-a903-aa860ef9efe6Keri-Rae BarnumHave you ever run ads for your book on social media that reported lots of activity and clicks but you weren’t sure if the ads were generating sales? Or perhaps you have been promoting your book in multiple ways and would like more solid sales data on what works to sell your book… and what doesn’t? Thanks to Amazon Attribution links, a new tool available for free to all authors, you can now track the effectiveness of your ads and marketing on multiple platforms while gaining real time sales data from Amazon. In this session, New Shelves Books CEO Keri-Rae Barnum teaches us about Amazon Attribution links and how to use them to improve your book marketing ROI. She covers: • What Amazon Attribution links are • How to set-up and use an Amazon Attribution link to collect sales data • Tips for improving your book marketing ROI using Amazon Attribution links • 4 Places to use Amazon Attribution links for better sales tracking Here is the handout referenced in the session: www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ALC-Handout_5F00_Amazon-Attribution-23.pdf www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../AmazonAttributionLinksforAuthors.mp4 About the Presenter: Keri-Rae Barnum is the Owner and CEO of New Shelves Books. Over the last few years, Keri has parlayed her 15 years of varied marketing experiences and turned her attention to book sales and marketing. Her focus and strengths are helping publishers and authors skip the “learning curve” and become truly successful at advertising, review acquisition and book sales online, in libraries, and in stores. She is a keyword expert and creator of highly successful Amazon and online ads. She can be found at www.newshelves.com .fictionNonfictionSubscriberRecorded Webinarhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/8101/reviews-for-authors-insider-tips-for-how-to-get-reader-reviews?CommentId=3bd7b0fb-4ddb-428d-bfaf-6cc144822dbfSun, 29 Jan 2023 19:23:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:3bd7b0fb-4ddb-428d-bfaf-6cc144822dbfKeith OgorekCongratulations Greg. I know this has been a long journey but excited to see you reached your goal to be published .https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/8101/reviews-for-authors-insider-tips-for-how-to-get-reader-reviews?CommentId=53cc23aa-596c-47ce-936e-d32637e3f365Fri, 27 Jan 2023 00:34:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:53cc23aa-596c-47ce-936e-d32637e3f365Greg DunnVery helpfull, especially since I just launched my novel Mall /https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/8101/reviews-for-authors-insider-tips-for-how-to-get-reader-reviews?CommentId=90e2cea9-e249-4305-9d16-cdff9b7f49c2Thu, 19 Jan 2023 22:27:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:90e2cea9-e249-4305-9d16-cdff9b7f49c2William VasilakisExcellent workshop..gained much insight on this great marketing tool. I truly loved this as a first time author.Thank you so much.https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/8101/reviews-for-authors-insider-tips-for-how-to-get-reader-reviews?CommentId=bb57b4b5-a104-4291-a920-0f221217a04eSat, 19 Nov 2022 12:55:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:bb57b4b5-a104-4291-a920-0f221217a04eKeith OgorekGlad you found it helpful. Lots of other great expert advice on the site. Just type in your topic in the search bar at the top of the page and you will find what you are looking for or needing an answer to.https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/others/8101/reviews-for-authors-insider-tips-for-how-to-get-reader-reviews?CommentId=1a4e78dd-dea9-4f2e-884d-ff1c80d79724Tue, 15 Nov 2022 13:13:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:1a4e78dd-dea9-4f2e-884d-ff1c80d79724Dan FlemingYour video was very helpful, and I plan to use your tips to get reviews. Thankshttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/advance-review-copies/6582/what-is-an-advance-review-copy-and-how-is-it-useful-for-authors---article?CommentId=2b29e511-3a7c-48b6-8e29-3c1f49970ae0Tue, 23 Aug 2022 15:33:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:2b29e511-3a7c-48b6-8e29-3c1f49970ae0Kim PhillipsThank you for this article. Now I understand why I see samples of books in various outlets.https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/marketing/book-reviews/w/amazon/7918/7-ways-to-get-book-reviews-on-amazon-without-begging-everyone-you-knowTue, 17 May 2022 18:17:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:36916016-b3fd-42cd-8a29-a91d5099cfa2Author Learning CenterReviews are a critical, but challenging part of any book’s marketing strategy. Authors rely on reviews to build credibility and word of mouth marketing, while readers rely on them to decide whether or not to purchase a book. The more positive reviews an author has, the more books he or she is likely to sell. Having a lot of positive reviews on Amazon, the world’s leading book retailer, can mean the difference between success and failure with a book. The details behind Amazon’s search algorithms are a mystery, but it’s clear that reviews play an important role in a book’s search rankings. The more positive reviews your book has, the higher it will rank in Amazon’s search results, increasing your book’s discoverability. This will ultimately lead to more book sales. Acquiring a large number of book reviews on Amazon is difficult, especially for new or unknown authors that are still building a readership. A big part of the issue is Amazon’s ever-changing review guidelines , which can be a little hard to decipher. Here is a breakdown of the current guidelines: What you CAN’T do: Pay someone to leave a Customer Review, or, offer a free gift or gift card in exchange for a Customer Review. Offer to refund the reviewer’s money if they purchase your book and then leave a Customer Review. Review your own book or swap reviews with another author. Authors that write books similar to yours are seen as “competitors”, and Amazon will likely remove these Customer Reviews. Have your friends and family leave Customer Reviews. Amazon can track your close relationships and will remove these reviews because they are seen as biased. What you CAN do: Give a free, advance review copy of your book in exchange for an honest review. You cannot require a review, require that it be posted specifically on Amazon, or demand that it be positive. You can only state that the free review copy is being provided with the expectation that the individual will leave an honest review online. Use the “Editorial Reviews” section on your Amazon book page to post reviews that you paid for or garnered through independent review services or book bloggers. There’s more on this below. Review the books of other authors if they are not direct competitors and if you were not a part of their book publishing process – cover designer, editor, collaborator, etc. Don’t do this because you want a review in exchange. Do this for the books that you truly enjoy and to support your favorite authors. So, how do authors find readers to provide these coveted reviews and start building a buzz for their book? Here are 7 ways that authors can garner book reviews, without badgering family and friends to “Please, please, PLEASE leave a review on Amazon!” ( Which Amazon doesn’t like, anyway ): 1. Build a launch review team with an advance review copy (ARC) plan. A book launch review team is a group of people who have agreed to read your book in advance of publication and follow up with a review immediately after the book is live. This group does NOT consist of your close family and friends. When it comes to creating a launch review team, it is about building relationships over time. Start assembling your team as soon as you have a close-to-finished manuscript and a book publication date. How do you find these reviewers? If you have a following on social media, ask your followers if they would like to be a part of your review team. If you’ve started to build an email list of fans, ask them in an email newsletter if they’d like to join your review team. If you have a day job outside of writing, ask your work colleagues or others in your professional network. For nonfiction authors that are writing a book to supplement a business or service, ask your existing client base. Find groups relevant to your topic or theme on sites such as Facebook, engage members over time and add value to the group. When ready, ask members if they’d like to join your review team. The key to a good book launch review strategy is to start early and communicate clearly to your team members. Make it easy for them to participate by providing a free, digital copy of your book (ARC) with plenty of time to read it, and simple instructions on how and when to leave a review. Your goals is to have at least 10 to 20 Amazon reviews shortly after going live. 2. Include a personal note in your back book matter that requests reviews. “Thank you for purchasing and reading my book. I am extremely grateful and hope you found value in reading it. Please consider sharing it with friends or family and leaving a review online. Your feedback and support are always appreciated, and allow me to continue doing what I love. Please go to (link) if you’d like to leave a review.” Use this opportunity to share a little about your writing journey with the reader, or what inspired your story, but most importantly, be authentic. Be sure to include this note and link in the back of all formats of your book. 3. Engage with fans through an author newsletter. If you haven't already started building an email marketing list , start now. Email marketing can be even more effective than social media networks and can help an author build lasting relationships with his or her audience through weekly, monthly, or quarterly newsletters. Let your followers know that you have a new book coming out and that they have the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. These readers can be added to your launch review team. Your author newsletter can also be a great way to subtlety remind those that have purchased your book to please leave a review. As with the note in the back matter of your book, u se your newsletter to share a little about your writing journey or what inspired your story. If you let your readers get to know you personally, they will be more inclined to take the time and leave a review. 4. Garner reviews from book bloggers or independent reviewers. Another great way to gain reviews, especially at launch, is through a book blog tour . Get in touch with bloggers who cover the sort of work you create, and see if they’ll review your book. There are book bloggers that specialize in reviewing certain genres . Authors can also submit to independent review services, free or paid. Getting a positive review from reputable services such as Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, or BlueInk Review is not a small feat and the review should be included in any of your marketing material, including your Amazon book page. This is where the "Editorial Reviews" section of your Amazon book page comes in. In this section, the author gets to choose and list meaningful reviews , comments, or testimonials. It's the perfect place to include blurbs of notable reviews from other sites or services and should not be ignored! 5. Get active on highly trafficked sites like Goodreads. Goodreads is a website with social media elements that is focused around books of all genres. It allows readers to post reviews on books, find their next read, see what friends are reading, form book clubs, and connect with authors. It is an ideal book marketing tool for authors to gain exposure, find their niche audience, and build deeper connections with their readers. Readers that review your book on Goodreads may not be leaving a Customer Review on your Amazon book page, but you can use blurbs from these reviews and include them in the "Editorial Reviews" section of your Amazon book page. If you receive a stellar or notable review on Goodreads, make sure anyone browsing your Amazon book page can see it. 6. Use an automated platform like Booksprout or StoryOrigin to find reviewers. The goal of platforms such as Booksprout , StoryOrigin , and BookFunnel is to connect authors with readers. If you are struggling to build a review team on your own or need help with managing your advance review copy plan, sign up for one of these services and get access to their database of eager readers. These services help automate and streamline the process, while also introducing you to a huge pool of potential reviewers. In addition, some of these platforms offer helpful author tools such as seamless digital file delivery, group promos, newsletter management and swaps, and more. 7. Look at the Amazon Customer Reviewers for books similar to yours. This last effort can be tedious and time consuming, but can also target the type of reader you are looking to engage with your book. What are some of your favorite books in the genre you are writing, and who has reviewed them? If you find reviewers that really enjoyed those books, they might enjoy yours too. Some reviewers share their social media links, websites, or emails in their profiles. You can also browse the Amazon Top Reviewers list to see if it makes sense to reach out based on their review history. Even if you get only a few reviews this way, every positive review can help. What Amazon Link Should I Share? If your book is live on Amazon and you’re sharing a link that readers can click on or type in to leave a review, be sure to include the URL linking directly to the Amazon review page for your book. This will save the reader a few steps and they will be more likely to leave a review. This direct link also removes any unnecessary information and should follow this format: Amazon.com/review/create-review?&asin= insert your books ASIN or ISBN-10 number For more on this, see Kindleprenuer's "How to Make a Special Amazon Book Review Link" . Already published and need reviews? Is your book already published and you’re afraid you’ve missed the boat? Don’t worry, it’s never too late to start garnering reviews for your work. Consider adding new content to your existing book, or enhancing it in some way so that you can release a new edition. This will allow you to work on your review strategy before you relaunch. Last, be sure to personally thank those that have left a review for you if you have their contact information. It's not a small task to read a book and then write a meaningful review, so show genuine appreciation for their support. Once you have a team of loyal reviewers, you can continue to use them for future books.articlefictionNonfiction