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[00:00:00] Today, we're taking a deep dive into the silent integration of Goodreads ratings on Amazon book listings.
[00:00:06] For authors who rely on both platforms, this change might hold exciting possibilities and unforeseen challenges. So let's explore what this integration means for you and your author journey.
[00:00:18] I'm Zach Kristensen, and this is Beyond the book presented by Juxta book.
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[00:00:32] Before we jump into the details. Let's rewind a bit. In 2013, Amazon made headlines by acquiring GoodReads the social platform for book enthusiasts. But for years, the integration between these two literary giants remained minimal. Fast forward to the fall of 2022 when Amazon made a subtle yet potentially significant move, it started displaying good reads ratings alongside its reviews and [00:01:00] ratings on Amazon book listings.
[00:01:02] So, what does this mean for authors? Well, it means that when readers browse Amazon for their next read, they'll now see both Amazon's ratings and reviews and the ratings from GoodReads users right next to each other.
[00:01:16] It's an interesting development because Amazon's ratings are typically based on verified purchases where you assume the reader has read the book. Well, Goodreads allows ratings from anyone, regardless of whether they've read the book or not. On the positive side, this integration opens up new avenues for building buzz before our books official release. Thanks to Goodreads readers can rate and review books before they hit the shelves, potentially creating anticipation and excitement for when your book launches and as an author, you'll potentially see your Goodreads rankings appear on your Amazon listing when it launches. Assuming they are favorable ratings this could increase your sales and increase the power of your book launch.[00:02:00]
[00:02:00] However, there's a flip side. Goodreads is known for review bombing, where books can be unfairly targeted with negative ratings for reasons that go beyond the books, content. This could impact an author's reputation and even lead to the cancellation of book releases. As we've seen with some high profile cases.
[00:02:19] It's important to recognize that we're in the early stages of this integration. As it's clearly in its beta form.
[00:02:25] Who knows Amazon may decide to kill it next week.
[00:02:28] The implications, both positive and negative are still unfolding. While, having more avenues to engage with readers and gather early feedback and display that feedback through reviews and ratings can be a positive thing we must also be cautious as consumers to make sure that we are taking account of the whole picture and not just going off of reviews alone.
[00:02:54] As we can see reviews can be highly manipulated and are not based on real factual [00:03:00] information and might be from people who have not actually read the book.
[00:03:04] Until next time, keep writing, keep exploring and keep pushing the boundaries of your literary journey.
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[00:03:14] To further understand how to gain ratings and reviews for your book..
[00:03:18] Visit juxta book.com to set up your author coaching session today.
[00:03:24] If you have any questions about a recent episode, I'd love to hear from you. Visit juxtabook.com/beyondthebook and click the appropriate button to leave your question and we will include it in our weekly Q&A episode.
[00:03:40] Your book is just one chapter in your author journey. Think beyond the book as you craft your path. Thank you for your questions and thank you for listening.
