Customer Reviews
Written by readers who purchased and read your book. They appear on retail platforms — Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble — and primarily influence other customers' purchase decisions. These are the reviews most indie authors focus on, and rightly so.
Editorial Reviews
Written by professional reviewers, industry publications, or established book bloggers. They appear in trade publications, newspapers, magazines, and influential blogs. These reviews primarily influence industry professionals — affecting bookstore placement, library purchases, and media coverage.
The Hierarchy of Influence
- Professional Editorial — Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Library Journal — highest industry credibility
- Established Book Bloggers — Significant followings — strong reader influence in genre communities
- Customer Reviews (Amazon / Goodreads) — Direct purchase influence — what most readers see first
- Goodreads Community Reviews — Community and discovery influence — important for genre fiction
- Social Media Mentions — Awareness and word-of-mouth — ephemeral but cumulative
What Reviews Actually Influence
- Purchase Decisions — Readers scan reviews to confirm a book matches their expectations. They look for patterns across many reviews — not individual opinions. One negative review among many positives rarely stops a sale.
- Platform Algorithms — Amazon's recommendation system considers review quantity, recency, and ratings when suggesting books to customers. More reviews = more algorithmic visibility.
- Social Proof — Books with many reviews appear more established and trustworthy than books with few or no reviews. Readers use review count as a proxy for quality verification.
What Reviews Do NOT Influence
Avoid
- Avoid: Guaranteed sales — many well-reviewed books sell poorly due to poor marketing or wrong audience targeting
- Avoid: Long-term success — sustained sales depend on ongoing marketing, not initial review momentum
- Avoid: Industry recognition — customer reviews rarely influence award committees, agents, or traditional publishers