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Articles, how-to’s, opinion and tips and tricks in the self-publishing arena

Editorial Reviews vs. Customer Reviews: How Each Moves the Needle on Amazon – Part III

Timing, Ethics, and the Long Game: When to Seek Endorsements, What to Expect, and How Not to Trip the Wires

This installment sets expectations of when to pursue endorsements, and highlights the policy guardrails that keep your campaign safe.

Timing options, with evidence-based expectations

Pre-launch (T–12 to T–16 weeks for selective outlets)

  • Pros: Quotes are ready to populate Editorial Reviews on day one; you can weave them into the description and A+ Content and use them in outreach. Early framing influences the first shoppers who also become your first reviewers.
  • Cons: Longer lead times and less flexibility if you wish
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2026-02-09T13:31:23+02:00February 9th, 2026|Categories: Features|Tags: |

Editorial Reviews vs. Customer Reviews: How Each Moves the Needle on Amazon – Part II

Placement, Framing, and Findability: Engineering Editorial Endorsements for Impact

“Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.” —Neil Gaiman.

Treat endorsements as your on-page librarian: the thing that steers a skimmer to the right reason to care.

Why Amazon elevates editorial endorsements (and how to use it)

Authors can add endorsements in Author Central under “Your Editorial Reviews.” This section appears high on the detail page and is under your control, unlike customer reviews. It is the appropriate, policy-compliant place for promotional language, whereas the customer review space is explicitly not for […]

2026-02-09T13:32:25+02:00February 6th, 2026|Categories: Features|Tags: |

Editorial Reviews vs. Customer Reviews: How Each Moves the Needle on Amazon – Part I

Two Engines of Trust: Editorial Endorsements and Customer Reviews

“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” — Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Executive Argument

On Amazon, readers encounter two distinct “trust engines”: curated editorial endorsements (short, attributed pull-quotes you control) and customer reviews (ratings plus text you don’t control). They don’t compete; they specialize. Endorsements frame expectations at the top of the page; customer reviews compound social proof over time. Treat them as complementary levers in one system.

What the Strongest Evidence Says About Reviews

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2026-02-09T13:32:12+02:00February 5th, 2026|Categories: Features|Tags: |

How Not to Submit to a Literary Agent (and What to Do Instead)

Ah, the thrill of finishing a novel. You’ve spilled your soul onto 300 pages of tortured genius, and now the world – nay, the publishing industry – must fall at your feet. Right?

Wrong.

Before you clutch that manuscript to your chest and hit “send” with trembling fingers, let’s talk about what actually happens when your email lands in an agent’s inbox. Spoiler: if you skip the prep, your brilliant work will likely get deleted faster than you can say “subjective industry.”

Here’s how to increase your odds of success – and avoid joining the tragic ranks of great authors […]

2025-05-27T12:00:18+02:00May 23rd, 2025|Categories: Features|Tags: |

Why Your Paperback Deserves an E-Book Sibling (And Maybe a Hard Cover Cousin Too)

Let’s face it—publishing a paperback and calling it a day is like baking a cake and never frosting it. Sure, it’s technically a cake. But it’s not quite ready for the party. In today’s ever-evolving literary jungle, if your book exists only in physical form, it’s basically wearing a sign that says, “I don’t like success.”

The Modern Reader: A Fickle, Digital Beast

Once upon a time, readers carried books everywhere. Literal books. Heavy, spine-breaking tomes. Back then, lugging around War and Peace was considered a character-building exercise. Today? Readers prefer downloading entire libraries onto devices lighter than a ham […]

2025-05-12T18:04:46+02:00May 12th, 2025|Categories: Features|Tags: |

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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2025-04-28T10:22:38+02:00April 27th, 2025|Categories: Features|Tags: , |

The Long-Term Value of Metadata: How to Best Choose Your Keywords, Categories, and Book Description

In the vast and often unforgiving landscape of self-publishing, the difference between a book that thrives and one that languishes in obscurity often comes down to something invisible to most readers: metadata. Like a hidden force, metadata determines how your book is discovered, who sees it, and whether it has a chance to claim a place in the hearts and libraries of readers worldwide.

For self-published authors, mastering keywords, categories, and book descriptions is not just an exercise in optimization – it is a necessity for survival in a marketplace where thousands of books are released daily.

Why Keywords and […]

2025-04-27T12:21:20+02:00March 22nd, 2025|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: |

AI Book Cover Design is Here to Stay – Now What?

Since the early days of publishing, covers have evolved from simple, text-heavy designs to highly artistic and genre-specific illustrations. In the 19th century, book covers were often embossed with gold leaf and intricate designs to signal prestige. By the 20th century, technological advancements allowed for full-color printing, leading to the rise of illustrated covers that became marketing tools in their own right.

Similarly, in the music industry, album covers became a cultural phenomenon in the mid-20th century. Think of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon – iconic images that […]

2025-04-27T12:25:48+02:00February 18th, 2025|Categories: Features|Tags: |
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