Recommendation or Review?

Reviews on your novels are important for sales, especially and obviously if they are good ones. When people searching for books in your genre can see and compare the number of reviews as well as the rating it does impact the chances of a sale.

Amazon reviews for Thai Die

Reviews are tough though. That is people scoring your work. It can feel very much like a judgement and as an author who has put so much time, effort, sweat, tears and, in my case, memories of experiences I have had, it can be painful when 'scored' below par. It has that negative aspect, judgement and when people don't explain why, we are left wondering if it's us, our writing or just not their thing!

Recommendations are another thing. They are awesome. Having run my own successful business, completely unrelated to the IT work I do now or my writing, for 15 years recommendations are King!

Every successful entrepreneur or business owner, no matter your industry, knows recommendations are what makes you. Not the advertisements or the marketing. Ultimately it's the product, in this case my novels, but the recommendations grow it.

You don't recommend something you don't enjoy or think is good and conversely you likely only recommend something you really genuinely think is something special that you want to share.

Shot of Cozy Book Cafe website

Book clubs and TBRs (to be read) lists borne of someone's recommendation are far more powerful in growing your readership.

Recommendations, and reviews making the recommendations, are rewarding in a more positive and genuine way.

That is why I am chuffed to be on the Cozy Book Cafe website recommended under their 'Top 30 Mystery Thriller' books section. It's a lovely site to get your next recommended read, so head over and pick one out.

Enjoy the sunshine and have a good week,

Helen x