Do Reviews Really Boost Sales?

So much has been discussed about reviews by different authors in different blogs and articles, but do reviews really boost sales? I suppose they might. But at the same time I have also read that people don't pay attention to reviews. They say that they know that reviews are bogus. They say the multiple great, five star reviews that seem to flood Amazon and Goodreads are either written by the author's friends and family, or were paid for by the author. Thus, they are bogus reviews.

So who else will write a review then? A stranger with nothing to gain? Friends and relatives want their friend or relative to be happy and/or find success, right? So they have a reason to review their friend's book, or their family member's book. And paid reviewers have a reason, too. They make money! They get paid to review the books they review. But they won't stay in business if they give bad reviews.

So it's true! Reviews of those kinds are indeed bogus reviews. And I would guess that those kinds of reviews make up the majority of all reviews. To date, no friend or family member has reviewed any of my books. Not a one. And that's a good thing. No bogus reviews are happening for me, and I'm glad for that. But there are no reviews at all for my books. Is that a bad thing, then?

Once, over a year ago, someone posted a review about Killer of Killers on Goodreads. It was a super review, too, and from a complete stranger. I didn't know the guy from Adam! So that was no bogus review. But did it boost my sales? I don't think so. Of course, the guy took down his review shortly thereafter. I can only conclude that because I didn't thank him, or post a similar review about his book, he got mad and took it back.

But I didn't know that guy, really! I didn't even know he was a writer. I found out later he had a book out, but before I had a clue, his review of my book had disappeared. But again, did it matter? I can't imagine that it did. Sales for Killer of Killers is slow, to be sure, but the trickling sales do mount on Amazon, but they have to stay consistent.

My request, then, will be as it was yesterday. If you are reading this blog, please buy a copy of Killer of Killers by clicking on the image to the right of this post. I don't doubt you will enjoy the story, and that will be that. No reviews necessary. After all, that will take time and effort. And a reviewer would have to be someone who is a good writer him/herself. It wouldn't look too good if a reviewer wrote with bad grammar, poor spelling, and lousy reasoning in a review, whether a good or bad review.

So the bottom line is sales, not reviews. Buy your copy TODAY!