Many times in my life, I failed to recognize the value of something because it was not directly affecting me. For instance, I rely on reviews to either help choose one product over another or to confirm a choice I’ve made is a good one. Which olive oil diffuser should I buy? Do those shoes have good arch supports? Are there allergen friendly options at that restaurant?
Most frequently, though, I rely on book reviews when deciding my next read. Even with authors I’m familiar with, I want to know a book isn’t going to be a waste of my time and money. So, I read reviews before I buy a book. Until recently, though, I didn’t really leave any reviews. For whatever reason, I didn’t make the connection between my need for them and then real people like me who wrote them.
Now that I’ve published a book, I understand the value of reviews. In addition to lending credibility and creating trust, book reviews:
- Increase visibility and ranking. The more reviews, the higher the rank and more visibility in search results.
- Provide endorsement. When others have read and enjoy a book, others are more likely to give it a try.
- Give feedback to authors. Reviews give insight an author can use to improve future work.
- Help market a book. Strong reviews promote a book in social media and even as quotes on future books.
- Create a sense of community. Reviews give readers a way to engage with a book’s material, inspiring connection and discussion with other readers
Now that I understand the importance of reviews, I’m going to make a point to review more products and books. Especially when something really resonates with me or meets a need in a powerful way, I not only want others to share that experience but also to experience those positive effects in their lives, too.
Thank you for reading Comfortably Uncomfortable. Your feedback means a lot to me and to other readers deciding if this book is right for them.
If you enjoyed the journey or have constructive feedback, please share your thoughts in an Amazon review. Reviews make a big difference in helping this book find its way to more readers, and they also help me grow as a writer.
It only takes a few minutes to leave a review, and every word is appreciated. Thank you for supporting my work and being part of this adventure!
Know someone who has read (or is reading) the book? Please forward this post to them. Maybe share this post on social media. Thank you again!