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Got a facebook message from a follower, whom I have never met, saying he has read my new book and loved it. But. Amazon won't let him leave a review because they've worked out we know each other.
So for authors like me, who sell books in single figures, mostly to people I already know through various social media, have zero chance of reviews. This is Not Fair! ''
Comments
There are many discussions about this on the ALLi page, Lizy.
First I've heard of a person not being able to post one in the first place.
I agree it seems unfair, especially to indy authors as social media is often our main way to reach readers, but it's their ball so they can play any games they like.
There is an author on FB whose posts I saw in a group, but we weren't 'friends', and one day she messaged me to say she had bought one of my books and absolutely loved it and would definitely post a review. She posted a lovely 5* one. After that, when I saw her posts in relation to a charity she tirelessly supports, I thought it would be a nice gesture to share them on FB/Twitter as a kind of thank you. I think I must have friended or followed her at this point. I knew a reciprocal review would be out of the question.
We have never had a conversation on social media, apart from that first message she sent me when I didn't know her from Adam. Still Amazon removed her review, presumably because I was helping her spread the word about her charity, which was AFTER the review had been left. Furious, I then contacted her and asked if she would mind reposting as it had disappeared. Apparently, she got a message to say that she was banned from posting a review for me. In fact, she had lost the right to post reviews anywhere, for anything. Punishment, it seems for flouting The Rules!
It makes you think twice. Big Brother is always watching, and assuming...
I wasn't allowed to leave a review on Amazon because it said I had to spend at least £40 first.
If it's any consolation - I rarely read book reviews and I never use them to help me decide whether to buy a book or not - and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.
Saw this posted in an author's group I'm in and thought it might be pertinent information for folks here if people aren't aware:
"I just learned from Derek Murphy that WHEN YOU ASK FOR REVIEWS you should only send people the part of your book’s amazon link that ends in your ISBN or ASIN number. The rest of the gobbly-gook is amazon's way of tracking that YOU sent the link. It's how they try to eliminate reviews from "family and friends.""