How Do I Get Reviews for My Book?
You get reviews by lining up real readers before launch, then having them buy the book at launch and leave an honest review. The purchase is what makes the review verified, which is exactly what Amazon wants. Here is how it actually works, step by step, the honest way.
The short version
There are two kinds of reviews, and people mix them up.
Customer reviews are the star ratings from real readers. You cannot buy these, and you cannot use friends and family. Amazon detects that and removes them.
Editorial reviews are professional write-ups from review services. Those you can pay for, and they are fine to quote.
This page is about the first kind, the reader reviews that build real trust. Those come from real people who really bought your book.
The verification question everyone asks
Here is the part that confuses authors.
Amazon wants verified reviews. A review marked Verified Purchase carries the most weight, because Amazon knows the person actually bought the book.
But you cannot get a verified review before the book is for sale, because there is nothing to buy yet. The purchase is the verification.
So the trick is not to skip the purchase. The trick is to line up your readers early and have them buy the moment the book goes live.
The steps, plainly
Here is the sequence that keeps everything verified and honest.
- Recruit before launch. Build a list of real readers who agree to buy and review. Ask for an honest review, never a good one.
- Get them ready. If you want, send an advance read copy so they have finished the book before launch day. Reading early is fine. The review still waits for the purchase.
- Launch at a low price. Put the ebook out at a low entry price so buying is easy and the cost is not a barrier.
- Have them buy in the window. Your readers buy at that low price during the launch window. That purchase logs as a Verified Purchase.
- They post the honest review. Now the review carries the verified badge, because it is tied to a real sale.
Recruit early. Buy and review after the book exists. That order is the whole game.
Why the low price matters
A low launch price does two jobs at once.
It removes the reason not to buy, so more of your recruited readers actually follow through. And it keeps every one of those reviews verified, because each one sits on top of a real purchase.
That is why this method works. Nothing about it is hidden, paid, or faked. Real readers, real purchases, real reviews.
What to never do
Do not pay for reviews. Do not reward a positive review. Do not lean on friends and family. Do not buy a pack of reviews from anyone.
Those are the exact patterns Amazon flags, and they can get a book pulled. They also are not your brand. Honest books earn honest reviews.
Note: Amazon updates its community guidelines over time. Check their current policy before any campaign.
How our bestseller package handles this
Our bestseller package includes 10 reviews, gathered exactly this way. We offer the ebook at a low price, ask real readers to buy, read, and leave an honest review, and let the verified purchases do the work.
We do not sell reviews as a standalone product. Reviews come with the bestseller package, as part of building real credibility around your launch.
Apply here.
Related:
Jane Ubell-Meyer, Founder, Bedside Reading. Former television and film producer (Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, WSJ-TV). Author of a Number 1 New Release in Spiritual Self-Help on Amazon.
