Several authors have had complaints from readers recently that they have tried to leave reviews on amazon and not been allowed to do so.
The belief is that amazon is changing its review policy and if amazon can see (by authors/readers connecting their social media accounts such as facebook and twitter to their amazon account) that you are somehow connected, they will view the reviews as biased and will delete them.
Of course this seems like a crazy policy: readers like to connect to authors on social media and authors like to connect to them. Readers like to leave book reviews and authors LOVE that. Reviews help other people find our books. (Thank you readers).
And yet, many authors seem to have resolved their readers’ review issues by disconnecting their social media accounts from their amazon accounts.
I wrote to amazon to get clarity on their policy.
Here is their reply in full:
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| Your Account |
Amazon.co.uk |
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| Message From Customer Service |
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| Hello Claire,
I have gone through your correspondence and I understand your concern regarding sharing your Author page on Twitter and Facebook. I will be able to provide you more information on this.
I would like to inform you that, when you add a Twitter account, you allow the Author Page to display tweets you create on Twitter.com. The most recent tweets you post appear on the Author Page within a few minutes. Twitter is normally used as a way to share reviews, comments, and messages.
I assure you that even by adding your Twitter and Author Central accounts, the customers who follow you on Twitter will still be able to review your books. The same is applicable for the facebook account.
Further, please be informed that, as of August 13, due to a change in the service provider used to surface updates from Twitter, Tweets will not be visible on Author Pages. We are in the process of working to reestablish this functionality as soon as possible; however we do not currently know how long this will take to resolve.
If you still have questions or would like to contact us about any other matter, you can reach us by phone or email through this link:
https://authorcentral.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/contact-us
I hope this explains what you are looking for. It is our privilege to have your books listed on our website. We look forward to seeing you again soon. |
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Amazon facebook Reviews social media Twitter
Interesting — well done for following up. x
I have had two reviews removed from my book, Tindog Tacloban, when Amazon were contacted by one of the reviewers, he was told it was because they thought he would be biased as he knew the author. He is a friend of mine on Facebook.
How do Amazon think indie authors are going to promote their book if not through social media, and as they are the people then buying the book they will be the one’s leaving reviews!
Thanks for checking this out, Claire, I’m sure lots of people will be reassured. I realise, on reading this, I probably wasn’t at risk anyway (!) as my Twitter and Amazon account aren’t connected, but I’m always ready to join in the collective paranoia.
And yes, hurrah for reviewers!