Typically independent freelance book authors & self-publishers have a difficult time competing for “shelf-space” with the big book publishing companies on Amazon.com. We can all agree that Amazon has made self-publishing a viable income generator for self-published authors and publishers, but getting your book to show up high enough in the search results on Amazon is often far more difficult than actually writing the book was.

The other big problem for authors and self-publishers is that even if a prospective book buyer finds your book on Amazon, they may be a bit timid about buying a book that no (or very few) people have been so inspired by, as to write a good review for it. This might be tough to swallow, but that’s actually not the worst scenario. The worst scenario is that someone did take the time to write a review for your self-published book, but they gave it a one-star rating. I can tell you with no reservations whatsoever that having a negative review is far worse than having no reviews at all.

No one knows the credentials of the person that gives your book a negative review on Amazon because he can be completely anonymous. He doesn’t have to reveal his credentials. He doesn’t even have to prove that he actually even read your book. This is exactly the point; if this one guy doesn’t like your book, that’s fine. You obviously can’t please everyone, but his one negative review of your book on Amazon can stop all your sales if it’s the only review you have!

At some point we have to decide that business is business, and stop playing by their rules. After all, we didn’t make these rules. In fact, we never even agreed to play by their rules. I’d bet every cent I’ve ever earned that Jeff Bezos wasn’t caring about “the rules” when, via Amazon, he put every mom & pop bookstore on the planet out of business. I’d also bet every cent I’ve ever earned that a huge percentage of the reviews written for the “big authors” are placed there on Amazon by the paid employees of their big book publishers. How many times have you seen tons of reviews posted on Amazon for a book that hasn’t even been published yet? I’m always on the look-out for such things, so maybe I’ve seen it more than you have, but I’m telling you, it happens constantly.

I used to think that Amazon book reviews were a good thing, but over the course of the last few years I’ve figured out that Amazon book reviews are just one more tool the “haves” use to keep the little guys from competing. They pretend that the book reviews on Amazon are honorable, when in fact, they are just another sales ploy. And the evil genius of them is that not only does the average book buyer on Amazon think the book reviews are all real, but independent book authors and self-publishers think those Amazon book reviews are real too!

The “big authors” and “big publishers” make their money. Amazon makes their money. But how much do we self-published authors make? We pay their fees and commissions. Not only do we pay their fees, but we provide content for their website free of charge. Companies that sell their services to self-publishers hoping to sell their books on Amazon are in the business of convincing writers and self-published authors that they can compete with the big publishers for book sales on Amazon. I’ll bet they make a lot of money from selling most of us proof-copies, maybe even more than they do from the actual sales of our books. It’s a classic sales ploy. Our self-published books (with very few customer reviews) make their “big books” look more appealing. Businesses have been using this trick forever. The human brain is “programmed” to make comparisons. Nothing has value until you compare it to something else. That Caesar salad you just ordered may seem great until the lady sitting at the table next to you gets her filet mignon delivered to her table. And your self-published book might look great until the prospective book buyer spots a different one with a bunch of good positive reviews posted for it.

We self-published authors need to understand that business is business. Selling books is very competitive. It’s dog-eat-dog. Jeff Bezos doesn’t care one lick about us. He just wants his investors to be happy. Why play by the competition’s rules? When you finally get to the point where you understand that Amazon book reviews are a sham (a sales tool just like all the other sales tools big businesses use), that’s when you’ll start selling more of your self-published books, because you’ll stop feeling guilty about getting book reviews any way you can. If they don’t even play by the rules they try to force onto us, then we shouldn’t feel guilty about not playing by them either. If they can use their financial influence to get book reviews, then why can’t we?

Typically self-published authors care much more about what they write than they do about “sales”, and if that’s your situation, then, how many books you sell, probably doesn’t matter all that much to you. After all, if your goal is simply to spread your message or tell your story, you could easily sell your books for a very reduced price or even give them away for free. But if your goal is to make some actual money from your writing skills, then you may want to consider starting to think like a business owner (as opposed to an artist). Business owners don’t care one tiny little bit what “rules” other businesses “suggest” they follow. You have no obligation (moral or otherwise) to play by “their rules”. (For the moment at least) This is still a FREE country. Don’t let those currently holding the power “guilt” you into playing by “their rules” –that they set up to keep you down.

And thus, to conclude; the way that you get Fast & Easy Amazon Book Reviews (as this article title suggests) is to stop sitting around hoping that someone will like your book and then go to Amazon and post a good review for it. You need to actively pursue getting reviews just like you would actively pursue any other business endeavor, like getting advertising or getting sales. You need to be relentless and business-like. Get reviews any way you possibly can. Call on friends, family, online-friends, or even companies that provide such services (they do exist) to post reviews for your business’s product (your book).

Getting book reviews posted on Amazon is actually a lot faster, cheaper, and easier than you might think. The only thing that’s really holding you back is that fear that maybe you’re doing something wrong. That fear is what separates authors that self-publish for fun, and authors that self-publish to make some real money selling their books on Amazon. Get creative. That’s what great artists do isn’t it?

Book Review: The Book of Common Prayer, “My carry-with-me copy is this size, and I recommend it for traveling places…”by Peter MenkinHere I am daring to comment on this wonderful book, used by Episcopalians and one of the prayer and rubric publications that unite Anglicans worldwide. (There are about 77 million Anglicans in the world, and most have their own “version” of this wonderful and inspired book, though perhaps this specific size of which I write and this specific American version, may not be familiar to them all.)My copy that is this size, and at a similar good price as this one (take advantage of a good offer, by the way), has been used by me for about ten or so years. It’s been a durable book, though worn now and the leather cover warped, despite my treating it from time to time. But then I carry it in my car, and sometimes leave it on the seat where the sun hits it. Nonetheless, it has proved durable.There are so many personal uses for the prayer book, and touching on some of them, it is important for me to note in this recitation, that the primary purpose of this issue of The Book of Common Prayer for me is taking it to nursing, hospital, and similar places (including home visits), to administer home Communion. It is an excellent size for traveling, and as I may not have mentioned, also offers the complete book with all the prayers and this includes, “Communion under Special Circumstances,” used in the Episcopal Church for bringing home communion.As a licensed lay Minister in my Church, and as an Oblate, I am always moved and informed by the same words from that shared, intimate service. To give you reader, an idea of the character of the book, here is a quote from the beginning prayer of the section “Communion under Special Circumstances.”"Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrement of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.”There is flexibility in the prayers, and the rubrics allow the lay minister or clergy administering the Eucharist to do the following: “After the reading [found before the opening prayer quoted above], the Celebrant may comment on it briefly.” Also, “Suitable prayers may be offered, concluding with the following or some other Collect.”My opinion is the book, both a religious, spiritually literary, and inspired work, encourages spiritual discussion of a religious nature after or before the words of the service. In this way, the Eucharist is a community or communion activity, where the idea of sharing the Church experience is enlarged in the presence of God and man.When I visit the elderly, especially the frail elderly in my visits, I sometimes share Psalms. The book contains all 150 Psalms, its own translation, of course. This one is a favorite of mine, not only because of its familiarity, but as well because it is a kind of statement about the journey and ministry with which I am engaged in this pastoral relationship:Psalm 23The Lord is my shepherdI shall not be in want.He makes me lie down in green pasturesand leads me beside still waters.He revives my souland guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I shall fear no evil;for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me;you have anointed my head with oil,and my cup is running over.Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.This is a good place to end the review. (This review appeared originally on Amazon.com.)Notes on review: A friend tells me via email the review is “Too long and too much about your personal ministry. You might try reading other reviews (if any) or looking at what Church Publishing says about it.” I am happy for the critique and suggestions. Here is my response, in part, “As you can tell from the review, my intent was not to take on the book itself for review, but a part of it relevant to me and specific to that particular ‘version’ (inexpensive, small, portable, and useful for a specific purpose and kind of ministry). “I also wanted to speak to Episcopalians themselves, as well as Christians, mostly, in a way that would engage them in the review based on experience, rather than expertise. To do that, I thought I needed to use my own personal (though personable might be a better term), than expert opinion. “For me, dealing with so awesome and holy a work has more validity and genuineness by the stance used. Certainly, there is a kind of authority in this kind of review by testimony (granted that is an important focus of the review, by intention).”There you have an explanation of why I wrote it as I did, and part of the rationale for the conception of the approach.”I add as of the posting of the review here: I do hope readers will find the review both interesting and able to inform them of some merits of the holy prayer book for Episcopalians in America, The Book of Common Prayer. It is many things, and contains instructions for worship services including Eucharist, Daily Prayer, Burial, and other rites and sacraments of the Church. As a literary work, it is a marvel and famous as well as admired in that regard. I cannot say how much I have found in this book, and others have found, too. It does bring one closer to God in Christ and reveals a central part of worship for Episcopalians. An indispensable book for so many Christians of that denomination, and good reading for others who may be interested.I hope my added notes help the review satisfy some of my friend’s objections.

Writing, editing, and getting a book published is a lot of hard work, unfortunately it does not guarantee any tangible sales. In fact, most books published each year fail to sell more than a few dozen copies, creating a very competitive and cut throat book marketing industry. There are many ways people will tell you to market a book, however the most effective is usually attributed to book reviews.
Custom book reviews not only provide an author with substantial buzz for a new book, it also lends the book a sense of credibility that would be otherwise void. There are certainly no shortage of great books on the market today, however only a small percentage of them have the necessary book reviews to urge people to take action.
Next time you are on a book merchants website, have a look at a book that has no reader reviews and ask yourself if you buy this book? Chances are you would pass on buying this book in an effort to find a better, more reviewed book that people can give you some information on before buying it. The bottom line is that book reviewers provide a valuable service to book buyers by taking the mystery out of buying a book.
For whatever reason book merchants typically supply a short and concise review of the book by the publisher. This review offers often too little information for a book buyer to take action. It is therefore up to the book reviewers to provide all the needed info that persuades a book buyer to get their wallet out and click the purchase now button.
Book reviewers are unfortunately a rare breed, as the population of the world turns more and more to TV, DVDs, the internet, and other forms of entertainment. This creates a large demand for high quality book reviews, and thus the price is driven up by major publicity firms that offer such services. Thankfully there are several firms that specialize in affordable book review services, allowing authors to reap all the benefits of custom book review without the big price tag.
Affordable book reviewers can be found, and should be sought out for those interested in gaining major publicity without having to get a second mortgage on their home or put the family dog to work delivering newspapers each morning just to pay your PR firm bill. Further the author that utilizes book review services can see an immediate result in their publicity efforts because book reviews can be completed in a minimal amount of time.
There are many reasons why authors choose to get their books reviewed, but most reasons seem to stem back to the fact that book reviews actually work, and thus it is a safe investment for the author to make.