Self-Publishing FAQ: How Many Book Reviews Can I Actually Expect?

You went through all the steps to get from an idea to a fully polished manuscript, and you even got a ton of readers set up pre-launch…but how many of these readers will actually go on to leave your book a review on Amazon? The truth? Probably not as many as you think.

We’re not saying this to scare you; it’s just how it is. People are extremely busy these days, and having to follow up more than once comes with the territory of self-publishing. Below, we’ll talk about the actual numbers and different strategies to boost your reviews based on this question that Brigitte asked in our exclusive AIA Facebook group. 

Not Everyone Will Review Your Book

Jenni is another student in our community who’s got the right idea in the comment above. If you ask 200 people to review your book, it’s pretty unlikely all 200 people are going to follow through. At the low end, only 10% of people might read your book and take the time to post an honest review on Amazon, but the high end can be much more than that.

This is why we encourage all of our students to follow up with Facebook messages or emails. We also add the caveat that there’s a BIG difference between following up and pestering someone. As long as you’re being polite and not spamming them with multiple messages a day, a quick reminder never hurts anyone. Your readers have a life just like you—they might be juggling three different kids’ sports schedules, dentist appointments, multiple jobs, or burnout. 

50 reviews is the absolute minimum we tell our students to aim for because, at this point, reviews will naturally start coming in on their own from book purchases, but 100+ reviews is a lot better and worth the work. 

How Do I Get More Book Reviews on KDP? 

After helping thousands of students, we’ve seen these three book review methods produce the best results: 

1. The Facebook Review Method: Joining author, publisher, and book-related groups on Facebook to connect with new readers.
2. The Pubby Review Method: Investing in legitimate reviews that comply with Amazon's policies.
3. The Networking Method: Connecting with other authors and publishers to share readership.

We have an entire module dedicated to reviews inside our AIA course because it's THAT important. It includes time-tested templates, AI prompts, review trackers, and special interviews with students who add their own bonus tips for getting reviews. 

Rolling on more of a budget? Our student success hub is jam-packed with publishing advice for total beginners!

Did you know? Customers read an average of 10 reviews before they feel they can trust a business, and 94% of people say bad online reviews convince them not to buy from a business.

Is Getting Reviews from Family and Friends Worth It? 

While it might be tempting to tap into your immediate network during your book launch, here are some things to consider: 

• Objective feedback may be lacking. Friends want to support you, so they may not reflect whether the book would truly interest the wider intended audience. They are also less likely to provide constructive criticism.
• Credibility is everything. Readers can often tell when reviews come from a personal connection rather than an impartial reader. This may undermine the credibility of your review section from the start. Not a good look if you're trying to build up your readership across a series!
• Amazon doesn’t like it. This might be the biggest reason of all. You might get away with one or two reviews from your roommates, spouse, etc., but you could be risking your entire KDP account in the process. Is it really worth it?
• It messes up the algorithm. If you write a book all about raising a bulldog and you have your cat friends leave you a review, the Amazon algorithm is going to get confused and start pushing your book to other cat people. These cat people wouldn't have any use for your book, which will make it seem like your book isn't helpful, which can further damage how it shows up in the search results. Just food for thought!

Verified Reviews and Verified Publishing Success

We're the first to admit that Publishing.com isn't for everyone.

We're certainly not a get-rich-quick deal, and we let all our students know that publishing takes upfront work.

We WILL show you how you can outsource 90% of the process by tapping into the same AI technologies that Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are pouring billions of dollars into, and we WILL teach you absolutely everything you need to know about the publishing process, but you're ultimately still responsible for that 10% to get your books across the finish line. That's something we can't do for you.

Now, that 10% of upfront work can go on to earn you recurring income for the rest of your life, which is the beauty of royalties, but if you're looking for instant gratification, then unfortunately, publishing might not be the best fit. (And that's okay, there are literally hundreds of other side hustles out there!) 

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Here’s what Trisha had to say about her AIA experience recently:

And David, too: 

See how Publishing.com maintains an Excellent rating on Trustpilot with verified reviews written by verified students! 

Get a Taste of the Publishing Life

Most of the students who find their way to our AIA community come with zero publishing or writing background.

Heck, some don't even speak English!

None of those are necessities.

The ONLY thing we ask of our students is to show up with a great freakin' attitude. (It's one of our core tenants for our team, too!)

That's it. We can teach you all the rest: 

• How to go from a total newbie to a pro publisher at your own pace
• How to find the most profitable niches
• How to find GOLD inside your competitor's reviews
• How to market your book on a tight budget
• How to grow your publishing business to the point of selling it (if that's what you want to do)

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See how it all works at our 100% beginner-friendly zero cost webinar!