6 Reasons Customer Reviews Matter To Authors

“Provide an experience that is both useful, usable, desirable, and differentiated, and you will create demand for your brand and delight your customers.” David Armano

I once wanted to purchase an online course. Prior to paying for it, I checked to see what other people had to say about it. After going through lots of reviews, I decided to pay for the course because I realized that the positive reviews surpassed the negative ones. Word of mouth is very important to the success of any business and as an author, this is one area of your marketing strategy you cannot afford to be complacent about.

I’ve never been one to get excited about writing reviews, and honestly, I didn’t see much point in leaving them after reading a book. I understand the time and effort that go into writing and publishing, and I’ve always worried that being too honest—especially with critical feedback—might hurt the author’s feelings. But over time, my perspective shifted. I started to recognize reviews as an essential tool for personal and professional growth—whether for authors or anyone else. Just as I rely on feedback from my trusted circle to grow and improve, reviews serve the same purpose for authors. So, let’s dive into why reviews are so important.

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• Influences potential readers and buyers: In this age of self-publishing, thousands of books are churned out on a daily basis. This means that there are endless alternatives from which your potential audience has to make a choice. If they come across several books in your genre, yours included, they might have to resort to reviews to make a final decision. In the same way that I was reluctant to purchase that course until I saw numerous positive reviews, your readers will want to go for a book that’s highly praised by other readers. A large number of positive reviews show that your work is valuable, point to your experience and expertise in your field, and help to establish trust with potential readers. Reviews provide an unbiased view of your work which greatly influences the purchasing decisions of your potential reader.

• Feedback and improvement: Reviews offer honest insights into an author’s work, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses. These unbiased assessments let authors know what they’re doing well and where they might be falling short. Through reviews, an author can discover their talent for dialogue, character development, world-building, or storytelling. At the same time, reviews can point out areas that need improvement. With this knowledge, authors can build on their strengths while addressing any weaknesses. Though reviews can sometimes be tough to read, for a growth-minded author, they are invaluable tools for personal and professional development. By taking feedback to heart and using it to refine your craft, you’ll create books that resonate more deeply with readers, boosting both your visibility and your success.

• Increased visibility: Reviews shape how readers perceive and engage with your book. The more positive reviews you gather—especially on platforms like Amazon—the more likely your book is to be recommended to others. A strong collection of reviews can also boost your book’s ranking on search engines, making it one of the top results when potential readers search for titles in your genre. This increased visibility leads to a larger readership, which ultimately helps boost your book’s earnings.

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• Author reputation: Reviews have the power to build or break your reputation as an author. A strong collection of positive reviews will solidify your brand and shape how you’re viewed by readers and others in the literary world. This reputation can open doors to new opportunities—such as speaking engagements, coaching, consultancy, publishing deals, and collaborations. It can also boost your chances of being considered for literary awards. When you have a positive reputation, your audience is more likely to engage with both you and your books.

• Personal motivation and validation: Think about how you felt the last time someone complimented your outfit—elated and motivated to dress like that more often, right? Authors experience the same joy. When you leave a positive review, you’re telling the author that their work resonated with you and that you appreciate their effort. This not only validates their work but also encourages them to keep going and continue producing great content. It gives them the confidence to create more memorable works for your enjoyment. On the flip side, negative reviews can be discouraging. For an author who hasn’t developed a thick skin, a harsh critique could easily mark the end of their writing journey.

• Earning potential: Though this has already been addressed in preceding points, the quality and quantity of reviews will affect the earning potential of your book. Lots of positive reviews will make for increased sales and higher income for the author while negative reviews will result in poor sales and lower income. Seeing as there are numerous books vying for the attention of your potential reader and the available resources to purchase them are limited, your reader will want to purchase a book that will give them a higher return on their money and positive reviews are one way you can tell them that your book is the right one for them.

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Have you ever given or received a review? How did you handle it? Share your experience in the comments below.

Talk soon!