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I published my first book on Amazon in 2012. It's sold roughly 15,000 copies since then. Along the way, I've learned that there are not only multiple ways to e

I published my first book on Amazon in 2012. It's sold roughly 15,000 copies since then. Along the way, I've learned that there are not only multiple ways to easily buy reviews (and in bulk), but that a significant portion of Amazon reviews are these 'bought' reviews--utterly fake. Amazon does police reviews, but it's inconsistent and easily defeated. More practically, I've come to realize that Amazon reviews have very little to do with sales now. Many authors I know feel the same way.

bambax 6y ago
Products with bad reviews sell more than products with no reviews. No reviews is the worst. Amazon used to allow asking for "honest" reviews if it was mentioned in the review that it had been solicited. They changed that policy a year or two ago and as a result the whole review business went underground.
- stakkur 6y ago
  That's a good point--the exception here is 'no reviews'.