Comments on: Are authors allowed to vote on Amazon reviews of their books?

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Tue, 01 May 2018 16:37:07 +0000

In reply to Michael Stern. You're welcome, Michael. Sandy

By: Michael Stern

Michael Stern — Tue, 01 May 2018 16:06:23 +0000

Thanks, Sandy.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 21:26:30 +0000

In reply to Richard.

Thanks, Richard. For those reading these comments, I want to make it clear that your statement that “just one unhelpful vote can really hurt your rank” is referring to Amazon reviewer rank, not book rank.

In addition, reviews from verified purchasers show up on the first page of reviews.

Sandy

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 10:10:21 +0000

There are a number of changes in the way Amazon handles helpful votes:
1) Yes, reviewer ranking is influenced by the number of times that reviewers gets “yes” votes when asked “Was this review helpful to you”. However, more influential is the impact of people who vote your review as “unhelpful”. There is a factor of about 5 to 1 in this – so just one unhelpful vote can really hurt your rank. This seems unfair and subject to attacks from trolls, and Amazon has indicated it will tackle this, so expect this change.
2. The biggest change is not so much on the reviewer ranking, but the order of book reviews for your book. This use to be ordered by those with the most helpful votes going to the top. NO MORE. Perhaps several of you have noticed that the top review for your book does not have the most helpful votes, but is from a reviewer with the highest rank.
In other words, Amazon is not adding more weight to the reviews from higher ranked reviewers, even if other reviews have more helpful votes (because it comes from a lesser ranked reviewer).
Go figure. Amazon changing its rules yet again.

By: Phillip Gary Smith

Phillip Gary Smith — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 12:52:50 +0000

Cool discovery, thanks for finding this.
Phillip Gary Smith
author

By: W. M. Raebeck

W. M. Raebeck — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 23:02:09 +0000

In reply to Sandra Beckwith. Adite, I had an Amazon review that spilled the beans about the ending of a book. Fortunately, I knew the person and immediately emailed asking if she'd remove the one spoiler sentence. She understood and did. (But she left it up on B&N, where it remains—bummer...I just couldn't ask more of her when she was both enthusiastic and taking time to write anything at all.) However, it would seem basic reviewer etiquette to not give away outcomes. And it's easy enough to edit a review. I feel authors have the right to expect that sensitivity from all reviewers.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:12:14 +0000

In reply to Jeanne Felfe. Who knew, right? Sandy

By: Jeanne Felfe

Jeanne Felfe — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 14:58:03 +0000

I had no idea I could do that. I’m going to start. Thank you.

Jeanne Felfe
Author of The Art of Healing – A Novel

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 14:47:17 +0000

In reply to Sally Fletcher.

I’m glad it’s helpful, Sally. You can apply this logic to all products you’ve used on Amazon, too. The goal is to more or less thank those who have provided information that has helped you make a purchasing decision.

Sandy

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 14:44:56 +0000

In reply to Muz MURRAY.

You’re very welcome, Muz. I was very happy to get the info. we needed from Amazon. The loudest voice in the group discussion on this topic said, “I do it, so it must be OK,” but that wasn’t definitive enough for me!

Sandy