DO REVIEWS AFFECT SALES?

SOMETIMES

BUT OFTEN NOT LIKE YOU THINK

1.) A SAVAGE REVIEW CAN HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT

 Once upon a time there was a children's book that got such an unfair review 

that I not only bought it but gave it a good review -- which it deserved.

"I can understand the disappointment of not getting any text with the free sample, but it is unkind to one star a book you have never read.

I have read this delightful book, and I find it everything you would want for your child ... 

ah, in this case, just the little child in me : 

fun, zesty, light-hearted with a sense of humor to it that leaves you closing the book with a smile.

 Even the illustrations had a smile on my face.

I highly recommend this book. And I am off to order the next in the series. Thank you, Sally, for a fun, delightful read."

2.) SOMETIMES REVIEWS ARE SO OFF THE MARK THEY ARE FUNNY AND SPARK SALES

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HJ377A/

 
Don't judge me.  But after reading these reviews I just had to buy this shirt!

 ***

"I used to drive to work every day, now I can fly! Thanks Three Wolf Moon t-shirt!"

***

"The Three Wolf and Moon shirt arrived in the mail last week. 

When I got home from work I found the shirt had torn itself out of the packaging, 

destroyed my mail box, broke into my house, 

slept with my wife, kicked my dog, and mowed my yard." 

*** 

"I have to admit I wasn't convinced about the power of this shirt and bought it as a gag to get a few laughs with friends over. 

However something has changed since I put this shirt on, something has changed for the better that is!

Lets go over some of the things that have happened within just a few hours of putting this shirt on. 

Keep in mind these are facts that have been verified by others and your results will vary:

1.) I won the lottery for $3 Million Dollars
2.) I have about 10 supermodels fighting for my attention
3.) My muscles have become much larger then before
4.) I may or may not have super powers (possibly developing signs of x-ray vision)
5.) I rushed into a burning building and saved a bunch of school kids and some kittens."

 Don't neglect to read the answers to the 41 questions if you go to this shirt's Amazon page:

Q:

Is there a difference between the $6 shirt and the $30 shirt?  I don't see any more wolves.

A:

Yes -- Twenty-four dollars.

***

Q:

Does this shirt glow in the dark?

A:

Of course not!  It is much too stealthy to glow in the dark.

But if you chew Mint-O-Green Life Savers with your mouth open in the dark, you can see sparks!

3.) REVIEWS DON'T SELL BOOKS/ WORD OF MOUTH DOES

Who do you trust more, a stranger or a good friend?  

Yeah, easy answer, right?

Lightning strikes where it will.  

None of us know what group of strangers might read our book and spread the word ...

to a local book club ... to their local library ... to their close friends.

 

4.) THICK SKIN IS A MUST FOR WRITERS

"I have pretty thick skin, and I think if you're going to be in this business, if you're going to be a writer, you better have a thick skin."

 - John Irving .

Bad reviews are just part of the tuition of being an author.  Hang in there, everyone.