I am a contributor to +Guy Kawasaki's new book about Google+ and wrote a review on Amazon. Even as proficient as I am in Google+ I still learned a thing or two reading the book (yes, I decided to purchase my own copy)!
As a soon-to-be published author myself, I am seeing the benefits having solid reviews – especially on Amazon – and how it helps readers find your book. I'm sure there is some sort of SEO voodoo going on as well.
Authors : Tell me the benefits to you for getting reviews up on Amazon, and if having them on any other sales platform matters. Do you ask for reviews or do you publish and hope for the best? Who do you ask to review your work?
Readers : How do the reviews help you pick books? Do you ever 'vote' on comments to show if they were helpful or not? Do you ever not purchase a book you thought you wanted based on reviews?
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Amazon.com: Lynette Young's review of What the Plus! Google+ for the Rest of Us
If you are someone that wants to benefit from the vast opportunities that exist via social networking this is absolutely the book for you. The manner in which Guy put this book together is based on ex…
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I was also a contributor to this book… and agree with you 100% This is a book that should be read by everyone using Google Plus.
I both review products and books on Amazon from time to time, as well as use the current reviews to help see whether a book or product might meet my needs/expectations. Also, yes, I most definitely vote reviews up or down. I just voted yours up as well! 🙂
+Lynette Young First let me say Congrats! and I really value both +Guy Kawasaki and yourself. You have had much in the way of experience and provide info in an easy to digest format.
That said, I do consider others comments when purchasing, although it does not change mymind regarding a planned purchase.
From a contributor standpoint:
I think, like anything else it is best to ask for reviews just as it makes sense to ask for shares on posts, and testimonials for sites/blogs etc. I also believe the reviews on Amazon do carry more weight in the scheme of things
Congrats! I love Guy, what a fun project for you!
As a reader/shopper, I most always read product reviews on Amazon if I've not already decided to buy, but if I've already made the decision, I'm not actively looking at the reviews unless it has a low overall rating, at which point I will look at some reviews to see why.
Congratulations as well, I'm a fan of Guy.
+Leah Davies that got me thinking, I read Amazon reviews for books & for products, but tend to take the product reviews a bit more to heart. If I go to buy some electronic and it has a lot of bad reviews that seem probably (short battery life, breaks easily, etc.) I will shy away from the purchase. Book reviews are a bit more subjective!
thanks Lynette, I found you AGAIN, in the new to google plus group. I'll check out the book!
I do write and read reviews. I find that the more 3/4 star reviews something has the more inclined I am to purchase. I tend to mentally "throw out" the 1 and 5 star reviews. I also vote on reviews that I find helpful. In this day of free books, I make it a point to "pay" for the free book with a review–even a non-favorable review. Books that are given away free need traction to later make money and reviews accomplish that.
I definitely use reviews to get a sense of how the content matches up to my expectations based on the author or subject matter and I've often passed on books I would've bought otherwise. I've written a review or two; but in general I'm a review lurker, I don't often contribute or rate other reviews, but they certainly influence my behavior.
What do you think of the various Amazon review services out there, like thedigitalin and 12dollarreviews?
+J.G. Sandom you can pay for reviews (Our reviewers are encouraged to purchase your title and write a review only if they can guarantee a positive, 5-star review. If they can’t, they don’t buy or review it. It’s that simple.)?!!
UGH. That's about as bad as fiverr.com
I used to put quite a bit of score in Amazon reviews, but there are so many folks gaming the system now with paid for reviews, and assorted incentives I simply don't trust it any more.
I do still check them over and try and form a view how "real" they are, and sometimes check the 1 – 3 star reviews. A series of bad reviews can put me off a product, but mostly rave reviews I can't take in isolation any more.
i read amazon reviews more for products than books. I usually stick with the publisher review to get an idea of whats going on rather than reading reviews from the hivemind when it comes to books.