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Should I respond to an Amazon review?

Back in August, I wrote about Amazon’s reviewing system for eBooks. I still feel that reviews are important to sales but not the be-all, end-all. I’ve recently received some new reviews on my books (yay!) and they are all positive 4- and 5-star reviews.

When a reader leaves a review on Amazon, good or bad, there’s a little spot where other people can leave a comment.

Don’t!

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As the author, whatever you do, don’t respond to a review. If you respond to a 1- or 2-star review you are seen as whiny and can’t take constructive criticism. If you respond to a 4- or 5-star review, congratulations, you have officially entered into creepy stalker territory.

I know it’s hard not to defend your work from people who didn’t “get” it, don’t like it, or didn’t read the full description before buying. But there is NOTHING in any way, shape, or form that you can say that allows you to stay classy.

And as much as you’d love to thank a reviewer for a positive review, don’t do that either. Amazon’s reviewing system isn’t Facebook; the reader isn’t looking to start a conversation with you – you are AUTHOR, not a real person.

Deal with it.

If you want to engage directly with readers, be available through links in your book to your website, email, and social media accounts. Then, if a reader reaches out to you directly, feel free to thank them for their opinion, start a dialog and exchange knitting patterns. And if a reader sends you an email saying how much they loved the book, it’s okay to ask them to post the review on Amazon!

Kim Galloway
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