The Significance of Amazon Reviews
Let’s talk about Amazon reviews and their value.
Since I began publishing books in September 2024—you’ve probably heard (a bit too much) from me asking for reviews. And as someone who really doesn’t like bothering people, I definitely felt a little (or a lot) annoying nudging folks to please leave a review. Ha! So sorry!
When I started this author journey, I understood the basic concept of reviews. When I shop on Amazon, I definitely notice how many stars an item has and how many people have reviewed it. Why? Because reviews offer social proof. They let us know what others think, what worked (or didn’t), and if something is worth trying. Personally, I often go straight to the negative reviews and read those first. It’s a strategy many people follow—to understand what concerns others have had and to make a more informed decision. (This is why, by the way, it’s often said that a well-written 4-star review with thoughtful feedback can carry more weight than a vague 5-star one—BUT a 5-star review with specific, positive comments is always the best… so don’t get any ideas! HAHA.)
What I didn’t know was just how hard it is to get reviews. This is something that comes up constantly in author forums and groups. The statistics are surprisingly low—many experienced authors estimate that only around 2-10% of people who say they’ll leave a review actually do. That number can vary, of course, but the point is: it’s really challenging to get reviews, but they are SO impactful when they are there.
Reviews do several important things:
They show potential readers that your work has value.
They help readers decide if the book is a good fit for them.
And they send a signal to Amazon’s algorithm that the book is active and engaging and hence it is of benefit for Amazon to display it.
Now, while there’s no official “magic number” of reviews, reaching 50 reviews on Amazon is considered a major milestone.
Why 50?
Because at that point, Amazon’s system is more likely to:
Start including your book in “Customers also bought” recommendations
Make it more searchable within the category
Possibly trigger inclusion in email promos or internal ads
Help increase organic discoverability overall
And so—I’m thrilled to share that the Dog Owner’s Guide to Health Emergencies has officially reached 50 Amazon reviews!
For everyone who helped get me this far—thank you so, so much. Your reviews, shares, and encouragement have made a real difference.
And to everyone else—thank you for joining me on this journey. If you’ve read any of my books and feel compelled to leave a review, I would be incredibly grateful. Also— if you know of any other indie authors— they would love your review as well!
And don’t worry—once my children’s book releases in the next few months, I’ll be back to asking (pleading?) for reviews again. This one is going to be a biggie, and I’ll need ALL the help I can get! My goal will be to reach 100 reviews during launch (deep breaths!!!!).
