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I need help on my EBook! I have no idea what I am doing?

by EDIT
20 replies
Hey Warriors!

I am a newbie and need some help! I know I am going about things the long and not so smart way right now, so I need someone who has done this before and can help. Here is what is going on.....

I published my very first Ebook last Saturday on Amazon and am trying to get people to read it and leave a review for me. My strategy right now has been to go to the Amazon Top Reviewer Ranking page and collect as many emails as I can to send emails asking reviewers if they would be kind enough to read my book and leave a review. First off, is this a good strategy?

I did this for two days straight and went through close to about 2,000 profiles which has gotten me around 85 emails so far. I collected these emails and put them into an excel spreadsheet.

What I did next was I set up a gmail account and sent emails out one by one, individually, to each person. After a while, gmail did not like this and suspended my account for 24 hours so I started looking for a solution.

All I was able to find for a solution was to send out one email draft to all the emails in my Excel file using the BCC function in gmail, but upon further research, I found that my emails would end up in people's spam / junk box by doing it this way, so now I have no idea as to how I should go about this?

I want to continue to try and grow that Excel sheet with more emails of potential reviewers so I need to find another solution other than sending emails out one by one as this method would take for ever, especially when my excel list grows with more emails over time, not to mention gmail is not a fan of me doing this.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance for your replies!
#idea #wtf
  • Profile picture of the author neshaword
    I have an idea. This was something I witnessed first hand. So, I'm really not quite sure whether it works or not. OK? So, here it goes. There was a guy, who posted a project on one freelance platforms. He was paying a few bucks to people to write reviews for his eBook. Honestly, I wasn't interested because I was working on some project and the payment is symbolic, of course. Now, I'm trying to imagine myself walking in your shoes. For my first eBook, I would've invited my freelancer friends all over the world. Yet, who would wanna read what I wrote. Most importantly, who would write a relevant and nice review. Right? Yet, in this scenario, you can choose freelancers based on their location and writing skills. Yes, you would have to spend some money, but not too much. No one is gonna ask you some serious money for a simple review. Just give it a thought. If this isn't the right one for you, I do apologize. Just wanted to help. Either way I will keep an eye on this thread. I may face this trouble in the future as well. Good luck! N
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    • Profile picture of the author EDIT
      Originally Posted by neshaword View Post

      There was a guy, who posted a project on one freelance platforms. He was paying a few bucks to people to write reviews for his eBook.N
      Hey Neshaword! Thanks for your reply and suggestion, but just curious......wouldn't this be against Amazon's rules and get me banned? I am asking because I don't know? I know I'm late to the party, but I only found out what Amazon Kindle Publishing was about 2 or 3 weeks ago LOL
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      • Profile picture of the author neshaword
        Originally Posted by EDIT View Post

        Hey Neshaword! Thanks for your reply and suggestion, but just curious......wouldn't this be against Amazon's rules and get me banned? I am asking because I don't know? I know I'm late to the party, but I only found out what Amazon Kindle Publishing was about 2 or 3 weeks ago LOL
        Lol, honestly that makes two of us. I am also not sure. I believe in fair business practices, but I'm also open to solutions that really work. We should wait to hear from some other warriors. But, how's Amazon gonna know? I hope to publish my eBook some day. So, I'm not gonna sit an md wait for readers to come right out of the blue. That's not gonna happen. I heard stories of countless ebooks buried on Amazon. So, we need an effective and above all an affordable solution. If you gonna pay to someone to read your book, then what is the point. Right? It supposed to be the other way around, lol. For example, I wanna write a review. So, how's Amazon gonna know? I'm just saying. I can report you, but you can make me sign an NDA. So, there is a solution. As I said, I will wait to see what other warriors have to say. Then we will decide. I'm personally attached to this question. Your solution is something I can use in the future. Cheers!
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Of course it can get you banned.

    If you don't know the Terms you agreed to, read them. I think you are aware you cannot buy reviews - or hire freelancers to write reviews for your Kindle books.

    You might find some good info with a search here - use the search function above - advanced search - and look for

    promote kindle books

    and similar phrases....and read through those threads

    There is a paid Kindle section (one time payment) on this forum and also several good WSOs you can buy that take you through the publishing and promotional aspects of Kindle.

    Another search here might be to look for "kindle" in thread titles - there are quite a few accomplished ebook authors here and many have posted their experiences.

    Good luck with your book.
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    • Profile picture of the author neshaword
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      Of course it can get you banned.

      If you don't know the Terms you agreed to, read them. I think you are aware you cannot buy reviews - or hire freelancers to write reviews for your Kindle books.

      You might find some good info with a search here - use the search function above - advanced search - and look for

      promote kindle books

      and similar phrases....and read through those threads

      There is a paid Kindle section (one time payment) on this forum and also several good WSOs you can buy that take you through the publishing and promotional aspects of Kindle.

      Another search here might be to look for "kindle" in thread titles - there are quite a few accomplished ebook authors here and many have posted their experiences.

      Good luck with your book.
      On my mobile. For some reason my comment was lost. Here's the short version, lol.

      1) How is it possible for Amazon to know what's happening with my reviews?
      2) I know there must have been similar threads, but can you save us some time by giving a practical advice or two?

      Hope this one won't get lost, lol.
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      • Profile picture of the author marketingva
        Originally Posted by neshaword View Post

        On my mobile. For some reason my comment was lost. Here's the short version, lol.

        1) How is it possible for Amazon to know what's happening with my reviews?.
        Amazon is monitoring all freelance sites for this type of job or gig and they are suing the person placing the reviews.... they started with Fiverr and are moving on to the other sites.

        Bonnie
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        Magic Wand Author Services helps writers polish their manuscripts and connect to readers.
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        • Profile picture of the author neshaword
          Originally Posted by marketingva View Post

          Amazon is monitoring all freelance sites for this type of job or gig and they are suing the person placing the reviews.... they started with Fiverr and are moving on to the other sites.

          Bonnie
          Huh, thx Bonnie you're a lifesaver, lol. Amazon is a serious machinery, I should've known better. Cheers! N
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    • Profile picture of the author EDIT
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post


      You might find some good info with a search here - use the search function above - advanced search - and look for

      promote kindle books

      and similar phrases....and read through those threads
      Hey thanks Kay!

      I actually have been searching through the forum for the last couple of weeks now, but am probably not searching under the right phrases so thanks! I have been reading quite a few threads that I have found under the search term "kindle" and found a few posts made by you. I took a chance on one of your suggestions in a thread and bought the k money mastery course which I am about half way through right now.

      The course teaches how to get email addresses from the top review ranking page so that I can email these people for reviews, but I am still not understanding how I can go about emailing 100 or more people without emailing each person individually which just seems dumb to me?
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  • Profile picture of the author DWaters
    Originally Posted by EDIT View Post

    My strategy right now has been to go to the Amazon Top Reviewer Ranking page and collect as many emails as I can to send emails asking reviewers if they would be kind enough to read my book and leave a review. First off, is this a good strategy?
    !


    Make sure this is OK with Amazon, contacting people who are not your customers and asking for a review may be something that Amazon does not like. Check the TOS.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Excellent decision - I have that WSO myself it's excellent and updated which is important. I think that will help you a lot !

    The "search" here can be iffy - it works but as you said, you have to know WHAT to look for.

    Glad that helped.


    kay
    Signature
    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    Dear April: I don't want any trouble from you.
    January was long, February was iffy, March was a freaking dumpster fire.
    So sit down, be quiet, and don't touch anything.
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    • Profile picture of the author EDIT
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      Excellent decision - I have that WSO myself it's excellent and updated which is important. I think that will help you a lot !

      The "search" here can be iffy - it works but as you said, you have to know WHAT to look for.

      Glad that helped.


      kay
      Judging from your participation in this forum, I can tell you are experienced with IM in general. You seem pretty knowledgable when it comes to Kindle and since you own the course yourself, I was wondering if you had any input, opinions, feedback, etc on the full disclosure part of the course? Or the k optimizer software?

      Are you a part of either one of those? Do you think it is worth the investment? What has your experience been like with it if you are?

      These questions go for anyone else who might be reading this who owns the course as well and who wouldn't mind answering.

      I have been tempted to purchase both, and might one day, but right now, I am just trying to finish up all the lessons in the course and see my first two books to the end of the process.
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  • Profile picture of the author domainer45
    What if you gave away free copies of your eBook in exchange for reviews? Is that against tos??

    Now think about where you would make such an offer. Look around, very close by.

    You could have friends or family buy the book and write a review, just give them back their money after the sale so only Amazon gets their cut or percent which minimizes your costs for the review. There's no way for them to find that out.
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  • Profile picture of the author EDIT
    I have already gifted one copy of my book to someone who doesn't have kindle unlimited where I basically paid for my own book in exchange for a review. Still no review, but that is besides the point right now.....

    Man! I have an excel file with about 80 or so email addresses. I have a gmail account. I want to send all 80 emails from my excel file the same email. I simply want to know how I can do this easily without sending 80 individual emails out and without sending it out using the BCC function in gmail.

    How can this be done? That is all I need to know right now!
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    • Profile picture of the author peachesQT
      Originally Posted by EDIT View Post

      I have already gifted one copy of my book to someone who doesn't have kindle unlimited where I basically paid for my own book in exchange for a review. Still no review, but that is besides the point right now.....

      Man! I have an excel file with about 80 or so email addresses. I have a gmail account. I want to send all 80 emails from my excel file the same email. I simply want to know how I can do this easily without sending 80 individual emails out and without sending it out using the BCC function in gmail.

      How can this be done? That is all I need to know right now!
      Hi,
      If you haven't already, can I suggest you put your ebook on Kindle Unlimited. Although the profits are lower, you will get many more people to read it and they are very accurate when giving feedback, even the negative.

      And, also give copies or pay for the copies for friends/relatives and ask them to do genuine and I stress genuine feedback on your ebook. Amazon is very good at spotting all the 'good' feedback as not genuine.
      Ask your friends to actually buy or if they are with Kindle Unlimited, to read your ebook, and you can then reimburse them. Once you get a few genuine feedbacks, the rest will follow.
      Can you tell me what your ebook is about; fiction, fact, biography, marketing or similar?
      Also, allow some pages to be read from within Amazon (their 'Look Inside' option); that will go a long way it piquing interest. of course that depends on if you have enough pages in your book.
      As a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, Amazon sends me emails with all the latest releases (within my general interest and even some out of it), so like wise, other Kindle Unlimited users will also get the email.
      Make your 'blurb' about the ebook very succinct and interest grabbing and a very good cover is a must for some people.
      I wish you every success with it
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    • Profile picture of the author wordsandthebees
      Originally Posted by EDIT View Post


      Man! I have an excel file with about 80 or so email addresses. I have a gmail account. I want to send all 80 emails from my excel file the same email. I simply want to know how I can do this easily without sending 80 individual emails out and without sending it out using the BCC function in gmail.

      How can this be done? That is all I need to know right now!
      Hi Edit.

      Are you talking about a bulk email sending facility such as MailChimp? I think your original point might have got lost in this thread!

      If you are looking for suggestions of how to send one email to your 80 contacts that are in excel, MailChimp offers a free service up to 3000 email addresses (don't quote me on that figure, it's around that though). You can import an excel spreadsheet as a CSV file and then craft your email on a template of your choice and send one email out to all of your contacts - the email addresses are kept discreet so that nobody knows who you've sent your email to. I use MailChimp and can thoroughly recommend it - IF that's what you're asking!

      IF however, you're asking how to beat the review process on Amazon, yes there are ways you can beat the system and use a Freelancer but this is unethical and won't do you any favours in the long run, but I know you know that ha ha.

      Hopefully, your eBook is good enough that people will want to leave a review of their own accord once you've asked them in your bulk email.

      Good luck!!
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      • Profile picture of the author EDIT
        Originally Posted by wordsandthebees View Post

        Hi Edit.

        Are you talking about a bulk email sending facility such as MailChimp? I think your original point might have got lost in this thread!

        If you are looking for suggestions of how to send one email to your 80 contacts that are in excel, MailChimp offers a free service up to 3000 email addresses (don't quote me on that figure, it's around that though). You can import an excel spreadsheet as a CSV file and then craft your email on a template of your choice and send one email out to all of your contacts - the email addresses are kept discreet so that nobody knows who you've sent your email to. I use MailChimp and can thoroughly recommend it - IF that's what you're asking!

        IF however, you're asking how to beat the review process on Amazon, yes there are ways you can beat the system and use a Freelancer but this is unethical and won't do you any favours in the long run, but I know you know that ha ha.

        Hopefully, your eBook is good enough that people will want to leave a review of their own accord once you've asked them in your bulk email.

        Good luck!!

        Thank you so much! This was the answer I was looking for! I will look into MailChimp's Free service! Thanks again!
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        • Profile picture of the author wordsandthebees
          Originally Posted by EDIT View Post

          Thank you so much! This was the answer I was looking for! I will look into MailChimp's Free service! Thanks again!
          Oh my pleasure!
          I had thought this was what you were looking for but it appeared to me to get lost in the thread somehow!
          I hope you have luck with MailChimp, as I said I've used it for a long time and it's really straightforward and user-friendly!
          Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author EmEm
    I think it is a good strategy. I have used that same strategy successfully. What I did however was not as organized as your efforts. I did not send from gmail, but what I did was make a list of the reviewers’ names and then cut and paste them (from a Word doc) one by one in the address field of an email I sent to each one. For the body of the email I cut and pasted a short request. Not as efficient or quick as your method! But it worked for me. It doesn’t seem as though they ended up in SPAM folders, judging by the responses I got. Yeah, I know this takes forever, but it did work, and once you get rolling, the cutting and pasting did not seem too bad, and seemed worth the effort. Of course I’m sure I sent to a smaller list than you did (and are planning to increase). Actually after awhile I cut and pasted the names directly into the address field of an email, and that seemed like it didn’t take any more time than it took to paste it into a doc (or any more time than it might take to paste it into a spreadsheet?). Sorry I haven’t an easier solution but I hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author EmEm
    I think it is a good strategy. I have used that same strategy successfully. What I did however was not as organized as your efforts. What I did was make a list of the reviewers’ names and then cut and paste them (from a Word doc) one by one in the address field of an email I sent to each one. For the body of the email I cut and pasted a short request. Not as efficient or quick as your method! But it worked for me. It doesn’t seem as though they ended up in SPAM folders, judging by the responses I got. Yeah, I know this takes forever, but it did work, and once you get rolling, the cutting and pasting did not seem too bad, and seemed worth the effort. Of course I’m sure I sent to a smaller list than you did (and that you are planning to increase). Actually after awhile I just cut and pasted the names directly into the address field of an email, and that seemed like it didn’t take any more time than it took to paste it into a doc (or any more time than it might take to paste it into a spreadsheet?). Sorry I haven’t an easier solution but I hope this helps.
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