Cate Baum | Self-Publishing Review

Why 5-Star Reviews Aren’t Ideal for Self-Published Authors

For self-published authors, Amazon customer reviews are more than just nice-to-have — they’re essential. They influence how often your book is shown to readers, how it ranks, and whether someone clicks “Buy Now” or keeps scrolling. While racking up five-star customer reviews may seem like the goal, a wall of perfect ratings can actually hurt more than help.

In fact, readers today are savvy enough to recognize when a book’s reviews seem “too good to be true.” If you want sustainable success as an indie author, focusing on authentic feedback rather than perfect ratings is key.

Why High Ratings Help

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Cate Baum2025-04-28T10:22:38+02:00April 27th, 2025|Categories: Features|Tags: Amazon News and Tips, Book Promotion Articles|

How To Choose An Author Name – Eight Easy Tips

Choosing an author name, often referred to as a pen name, nom de plume, or pseudonym, can be an exciting and creative process. Here are some steps you can follow to help you decide:

1. Consider Your Genre and Audience:

Genre Fit: Some genres may benefit from specific types of names. For example, a name for a romance author might differ from one for a science fiction writer
Audience Expectations: Think about what your target audience might find appealing or memorable

2. Personal Meaning:

Family Names: Consider using a name that has personal significance, such as a family name or

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Cate Baum2024-08-30T11:54:17+02:00August 30th, 2024|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: Author Branding|

Four Ways To Prevent Unwanted Comments on your Facebook Author Page

We’ve all been there. You post about your new book on your Facebook Author page; maybe you paid to boost the post, or made an ad. And then the comments come in. Loads of scams, fake-commenting that your page is in breach of Amazon Terms. Some people decide your post is a great place to advertise their own book. Some hawk their own services. And then the trolls come along to tell you how utterly awful your book is. This is much more damaging to your campaigns than you might think.

What steps can you take as an author to […]

Cate Baum2024-07-24T18:44:10+02:00July 24th, 2024|Categories: Features|Tags: Facebook|

I was accused of using AI in my writing work. Here’s what I found.

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Cate Baum2024-06-07T16:00:00+02:00June 7th, 2024|Categories: Features|Tags: AI|

La Hoja de Ruta Fiscal y Financiera para los Españoles en EE.UU. by Peter Dougherty

La Hoja de Ruta Fiscal y Financiera para los Españoles en EE.UU. by Madrid-based finance professional Pete Dougherty is a short, handy book intended for Spanish citizens who need to understand banking and taxes in the US.

The book is divided into sections describing various aspects of culture, banking, and taxation, as well as the social and economic reasons for their implementation. The book has a fact-sheet layout, which can well-serve the target audience as a supporting tool for navigating complex economic matters in addition to cultural habits, such as the confounding practice of tipping in the USA.

While the […]

Cate Baum2024-06-07T15:45:16+02:00June 7th, 2024|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Finance Book Reviews|

Five Ways To Self-Publish Your Book in 2024

Here are the main five methods in 2024 to self-publish, with advantages and disadvantages.

Amazon KDP

The easiest choice for self-publishing on both paperback and Kindle, Amazon holds the lion’s share when it comes to distribution and sales, meaning you will get the best platform and the quickest to reach readers, as long as you use the tools available to the maximum advantage when releasing your book. The advantages of using Amazon cannot be overestimated where stats show 70% of all readers buy their books from Amazon. To make sure you get the most out of Amazon, follow these steps:[…]

Cate Baum2024-05-15T17:24:01+02:00May 15th, 2024|Categories: Features|

Is Amazon Censoring Customer Reviews? Seems Like It.

Lately, there has been much said about censorship of writing in the United States. But now it seems Amazon has got on the morality bandwagon with the slashing of customer review content.

Amazon has rightfully always had its standards when it comes to customers writing product reviews. But now it seems that words used in reviews are being judged as “hate speech” when they are simple criticism or review of a subject discussed in a book.

Mary, a reviewer from Colorado, says, “I bought and reviewed a book about hitting fifty and reaching the Menopause. I was pleased to have […]

Cate Baum2023-10-03T16:47:26+02:00October 3rd, 2023|Categories: Features|Tags: Amazon News and Tips|

Twelve Must-Read Books on Self-Publishing for 2023

It’s hard to know where to start with such a wide range of books out there claiming to be written by experts for self-published writers. Here are our picks from Amazon for writing, marketing, and publishing your book.