World, Writing, Wealth discussion

On Amazon (and many other websites), you cannot pay for reader reviews
Although somewhat dated ( February 8, 2016), I believe that this article is still relevant. It describes the different kinds of book reviews.

Before I discuss the pros and cons of paid reviews, I want to define them (strictly for the purposes of this post).

* Trade book reviews. Trade publications are those read by booksellers, librarians, and others who work inside the industry (as opposed to readers/consumers). Such publications primarily provide pre-publication reviews of traditionally published books, whether from small or large presses. Typically, these publications have been operating for a long time and have a history of serving publishing professionals. However, with the rise of self-publishing, some trade review outlets have begun paid review programs especially for self-published authors. Examples: Kirkus Reviews and Foreword Reviews.

* Non-trade book reviews. Because of the increased demand for professional reviews of self-published work, you can now find online publications that specialize in providing such services. These publications or websites may have some reach and visibility to the trade, or they may be reader-facing, or a mix of both. Examples: Indie Reader, Blue Ink Review, Self-Publishing Review.

* Reader (non-professional) reviews. It’s considered unethical to pay for reader reviews posted at Amazon or other sites, and Amazon is actively trying to curb the practice.
...
This post is focused on the first two types of paid reviews; I recommend you stay away from the third.

(https://janefriedman.com/paid-book-re...)

On Amazon: You cannot require a review in exchange for a free or discounted book

"Book authors and publishers may continue to provide free or discounted copies of their books to readers, as long as the author or publisher does not require a review in exchange or attempt to influence the review."
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...)

Is it still valid to use "A free copy of the book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review."

Hi Alex,

I wasn't aware of this material. Thanks for opening a whole new world to me.

Graeme Rodaughan wrote: "Is it still valid to use "A free copy of the book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.""

I don't think that I can really say b/c I've always bought my books (even if it was on sale for free it still shows up as a verified purchase) or checked out from the library.

Having said that, "exchange" expresses a reciprocal relationship which isn't accurate and would imply a violation. Maybe something like "I received a free copy from the author." Or "I received a free copy from the author without any expectation of a review or a positive review if I wrote one."

The FTC says that it doesn't have to be complicated. They have more examples:

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/busin...

The disclaimer is required by both the Amazon and GR TOS. Both will actively remove reviews that are reported. Amazon will often remove all of a user's reviews if even one is reported, on GR they'll usually just remove the specific review that was flagged.

The Amazon guideline is a bit ambiguous, but you can also read it as "you cannot review a book in exchange for a reciprocal review of your own book". I base this on the fact that a) That requires a disclosure too, according to the FTC, and b) the FTC classifies that as a commercial review, not a consumer review, and commercial (i.e. the kind Alex posted about in the OP) reviews are not allowed at all in the consumer review space on Amazon, they can only be posted as editorial reviews in the space provided. Reciprocal reviews and review exchanges are similarly not allowed on GR.

On a related topic, did a featured deal with this crew: https://readingdeals.com/reviews many moons ago.

Got one 5 star review. That's my only attempt to garner reviews by paying someone to promote my book for that purpose.

Done my dough.

The better solution is to run a BoM/ARC to get the first 5 to 10 reviews to put the book into "advertising" compliance with book promotion sites.

It can be hideously difficult to get reviews, so I have sympathy for some who try this route, but my guess is if you try the first or second of Alex' groups, you won't get your money back any time soon, unless you re really lucky. The problem is, without reviews you are unlikely to get lucky. It is a lose lose situation 😟

You can't "require" a review for a free copy, but if you're an author who sends out ARC's to fans, there's always the possibility an author may drop someone from their list for future books if they don't receive a review or don't like the review the reader gives them. When I look at reviews, this is why I always skip over those with the disclaimer unless I want a bit of a laugh, because there's always the hint that the reviewer is only praising a book to stay on the author's good side and get the free books in the future. It doesn't matter if that's the case or not because that is the perception, and as we know from politics, perception is unfortunately more important than the truth.

Question 1. As a reader, if the author provides me a beta copy to read, and then upon release it is available for free on Amazon, or available on KU, if I obtain a free copy or download it on KU, is my review then required to have the "language" in it?

Question 2. If I receive a book for "free" but it's value is listed as $5.99 at bookselling sites, and I write a review of that book, then have I not actually been paid $5.99 for my review?

Wow, that's tricky, Lizzie.

I'm not sure what you mean about 'the language' in Question 1.

Question 2: Only if splitting hairs, I suspect, and if you were expressly given the book to review it.

Leonie wrote: "Wow, that's tricky, Lizzie.

I'm not sure what you mean about 'the language' in Question 1.

Question 2: Only if splitting hairs, I suspect, and if you were expressly given the book to review it."

The language of having received a copy of the book for free from the author.

In regards to splitting hairs, I spent 30 years as a paralegal. Splitting hairs is what the law does.

Lizzie wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Wow, that's tricky, Lizzie.

I'm not sure what you mean about 'the language' in Question 1.

Question 2: Only if splitting hairs, I suspect, and if you were expressly given the book..."

I expect you'd understand splitting hairs very well then!

I have seen reviews that begin with 'This book was provided to me free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review." But in addition to that, places such as BookBub often offer books for free, or at a greatly reduced price. It is of course, an advertising service.

When I put my 'authorly hat' on, I would say that if one of mine was free on Bookbub, then I wouldn't be expecting any reviews, (if someone did, then that would be a bonus) but that I would be using exposure from BookBub in order to gain more readers. Hopefully, that is. 🤣

Online book club includes errors found with their official reviews. I find that really useful because grammar checkers find some errors, beta readers find some errors, and readers find some errors. Every error you find before the last step is a good one.

There's some value from paid reviews, but generally, I would be skeptical.

Leonie wrote: "Lizzie wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Wow, that's tricky, Lizzie.

I'm not sure what you mean about 'the language' in Question 1.

Question 2: Only if splitting hairs, I suspect, and if you were expressly..."

When I first got my kindle paperwhite, I signed up for BookBub. I only "bought" free books. Still, it was a lot of books. I got a mix of badly written books, badly written books with good ideas, well-written books that were boring, and well-written books that had good ideas and were exciting. It took me several years to realize that I didn't have to finish bad books. Very difficult concept for me - not to read a book to its end.

BookBub exposed me to new authors, and that last category resulted in me buying subsequent books by those authors. Often in that first book would be an offer of a free book if you signed up for the newsletter, which I did on the good ones. That led to being a beta reader a few times or a free advance copy in exchange for a review.

I still received the bookbub email each week, but I delete it without opening, because I have so many books on the to read list in case I run out of things to read, while at the same time having the books to read on those series or by those authors that I discovered as a result of those initial free books.

I don't know about now, but 5 years ago, the free books on bookbub worked well as advertising. It got me hooked on many authors new to me. I agree that I didn't feel like I was expected to provide a review on those.

That Bookbub list is incredibly tempting...

Here is my two cents worth.

I review books sent to me by independent authors. I read them and give honest reviews. I have never taken a dime, nor have I ever been offered a dime. For me, it has never crossed my mind until I stumbled upon this discussion. Still, I will not take a dime even if I am now offered one.

Paid reviews are a cheat in my opinion. It behooves the reviewer to write good reviews especially once they accept coin. They can keep getting coin and if they are a skilled reviewer; I imagine it can be lucrative. I certainly understand why an author wants a good review. With the sea of books pouring out of independent authors, getting heard must be almost impossible. The author is happy and the reviewer is happy, so what is the harm?

Yet, it is a cheat. The reader my be badly misled to spend their money on something that is not great, but reviewed as great. It is one thing to review honestly and the next reader does not agree, but far different when the review is not honest. I look at this way, I once told a younger coworker when he mentioned dancing girls seem to like him that they like you because they are paid to like you.

Now for receiving a free book, did you get paid? Yes and no. It depends if you were explicitly asked to write a review. As I noted, I write reviews, but I have never been asked to write a review for any book that I received. No, I am not stupid, I certainly understand why the author sent me the book with the hope that I read it and review. Yet, there is no obligation and that is the difference.

I certainly feel for independent authors. It is easier to be published than ever and harder to be heard. It is a real paradox. I can afford to be a purist because it is not my blood and money involved not to be heard and everyone is looking for an edge.

BTW, let me leave with this chestnut. My son is a gamer and a new game came out. It had a thousand great reviews and he pretty much ignore them. I asked him why he ignored all of the reviews and he mentioned that they were all pay to win reviews. Why bother considering a review when you know it is a paid advertisement? That is what a paid review really is in the end. Nothing more than a late night infomercial. Even if it is a great product, whom trust infomercials?

Papaphilly wrote: "He is my two cents worth.

I review books sent to me by independent authors. I read them and give honest reviews. I have never taken a dime, nor have I ever been offered a dime. For me, it has neve..."

Well said. When looking to purchase something I read the 3 star reviews. I feel they are more likely "real". The 5 star are people who got things for free or are paid to review, too often, and the 1 star tend to be those who didn't read the description or have unrealistic expectations. I also look at the weight - hot many overall vs. how many are at each star rating.

Lizzie wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "I also look at the weight - hot many overall vs. how many are at each star rating. . ..."

I do that also on the overall count. I tend to believe that the curve for the book will even out overall as the numbers increase thus becoming closer to the actual truth.

If I receive a book for "free" but it's value is listed as $5.99 at bookselling sites, and I write a review of that book, then have I not actually been paid $5.99 for my review?


No, you have not. You have received a book for free and have no obligation or contract to provide a review. If you do provide a review it is entirely up to you how you rate and whatever words you want to use to describe the book.

Personally, I would take absolutely no notice of a review that was paid for, but I would certainly take notice of a review provided by an ARC reviewer, They're not always 5 stars - in fact, they're just as often 1 or 2 star.

Papaphilly wrote: "I certainly feel for independent authors. It is easier to be published than ever and harder to be heard...."

Amen to that. Of course, just because someone has something to say doesn't mean it's worth listening to.

Lizzie wrote: "When looking to purchase something I read the 3 star reviews. I feel they are more likely "real"..."

I do the same thing. That's not to say that every book should be rated 3 stars but I generally find many 5 star reviews to be overly gushing about the author and many 1 star reviews to be extremely acidic. Three star (and 2-star and 4-star) reviews, I find, are often a good mix of what works and doesn't about the story. I very much appreciate the reviews that people take the time to write on GR, and I especially feel the reviewer should state whether they were given a free copy of a book (ostensibly) for a review. I've come across too many books that seem too 5-star heavy to be believable. Especially when you can use Amazon's "Look Inside" feature to read the first chapter or two. If I'm not immediately sucked in by the writing then the entire bunch of ratings for this book are suspect to me.

As for whether paid reviews are worth it: my feeling is that, no, they aren't. As Papaphilly said, it's extremely difficult to be heard these days. As a writer, it can be frustrating trying to get reviews but as a reader, I don't want the system to be gamed. Oftentimes, you can tell if a reviewer is being genuine in their review. That's the best any author can hope for.

For whatever reason, the vast majority of avid readers choose to never post a rating or review. Those that do are merely expressing their personal, and therefore subjective, opinion. One reader's Best book ever! might very well be another reader's Worst book ever!.

Contrary to what many believe, sales drive reviews, not the other way around. A novice writer would be much better served by constantly striving to continuously improve upon their basic writing, promotional, and marketing knowledge and skills rather than obsessing over reviews or their content.

Very few writers ever achieve commercial success within this extremely competitive field. However, some have. You might eventually become one of them. I wish you success.

📜𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓾𝓹𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓼 𝓸𝓷 𝓕𝓪𝓬𝓮𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴, 𝓣𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻,𝓘𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓶, 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓣𝓾𝓫𝓮 & 𝓖𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓲𝓶𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼.
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As a reader I don't think I would ever want to be paid for a review. I would feel that the author would expect a better review.
As a writer I wouldn't pay for reviews as I probably couldn't afford to. I want people to buy, read my book and give an honest review. I did give a few books away in return for honest reviews. I don't think that there is any harm in that, especially if you have confidence in your work, but if someone doesn't like your work, so what!, even the best selling authors have people who don't like their work.

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