You can’t legally exchange book reviews on Amazon. If you want reviews of your books on Amazon, you have to do it the old-fashioned way: ask for them.
Here, we’ll cover the ins and outs of exchanging book reviews on Amazon, from what they actually mean to why they’re banned. Don’t worry about losing out on a potential source of reviews because we’ll also provide other ways to get reviews for your Amazon book.
What Does Exchanging Book Reviews on Amazon Mean?
Exchanging book reviews on Amazon, sometimes called review swapping, means you get reviews through one of two methods:
- Agreeing to review an author’s book in exchange for them reviewing yours.
- Providing a book for free (outside Amazon Vine) with the condition that the recipient reviews it.
Essentially, exchanging book reviews on Amazon is a form of review manipulation.
Why Amazon Book Review Exchanges Are Disallowed
The main reason that exchanging book reviews on Amazon is disallowed is because it’s against Amazon’s book review policy. Additionally, American consumer protection laws require any reviews that came from exchanges or swaps to be disclosed.
Another issue with exchanging book reviews is its potential bias and inauthenticity. Let’s say you and another author agree to exchange reviews for one another’s books. You read their book, and it’s not that good. But since you already agreed to review their book, it wouldn’t be a good look for you to give it a bad review, right? So you need to write a good review, which makes it a misleading review at best and an outright fake review at worst.
Remember, Amazon doesn’t like reviews that mislead or manipulate customers. In fact, they have a zero-tolerance policy for misleading reviews because they want reviews to provide readers with a good picture of what the book is actually like.
What Happens If You Exchange Amazon Book Reviews?
If you exchange Amazon book reviews, there’s a good chance that Amazon will remove the reviews in question. This isn’t a hard thing for Amazon because it can track reviews and easily determine your relationship with the other author.
In some cases, Amazon may even delete your account for review-swapping since it’s a form of review manipulation. So, exchanging Amazon book reviews is a risky proposition, especially if you rely on your account to sell books.
What Amazon Does Allow When It Comes to Book Reviews
While Amazon is strict about fake or manipulated reviews, it does allow authors to legitimately request reviews as long as it’s done properly and ethically. Here’s what you can do:
- Ask for reviews politely. You’re allowed to say something like, “If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review.” Just don’t pressure readers or promise anything in return.
- Give away free copies with no expectation. You can distribute ARCs (advance review copies) as long as you don’t require or strongly suggest a review in exchange.
- Mention your request in the author’s note at the end of the book.
- Ask your mailing list or social media followers to leave a review without any form of compensation or obligation.
- Use Amazon’s “Request a Review” button in Seller Central if you’re distributing print books.
The key rule is no quid pro quo: don’t offer anything in exchange, and don’t imply that a positive review is expected. Keeping things transparent and voluntary protects both your account and your reputation.
How Amazon Maintains Review Quality and Authenticity
Amazon moderates book reviews to ensure they’re all high-quality and authentic. The site uses advanced algorithms and AI models to moderate reviews efficiently, identifying content guideline violations and flagging them for further examination.
Working in concert with the algorithm are human reviewers who manually review flagged content to determine whether they’re really in violation of the guidelines or not. Customers also have power to report reviews they consider non-compliant for further review by the moderation team.
What to Do If Amazon Removes Your Reviews
Amazon sometimes removes book reviews, even when they appear legitimate. This can be frustrating for authors who are working hard to build credibility, but there are steps you can take.
- Check for a pattern. Was it just one review, or did several disappear at once? If there were many, Amazon may have performed a general sweep for suspicious activity.
- Contact Amazon Author Central or KDP Support. You can politely ask why the review(s) were removed and request clarification. Be prepared to provide:
- Reviewer names or pseudonyms
- A brief explanation (e.g., the reviewer is not a family member, there was no compensation, etc.)
- Let the reviewer know. Sometimes Amazon removes reviews due to issues with the reviewer’s account. If possible, ask them to check if they received an email explaining the removal.
- Don’t try to resubmit the same reviews. Amazon tracks attempts to repost removed content and may penalize repeated infractions.
While it’s disappointing to lose legitimate feedback, avoid trying to game the system. Focus on consistent, organic review generation over time. It’s slower, but far safer and more sustainable.
Why Do Amazon Book Reviews Matter?
Amazon book reviews matter because they gauge how people like your books. They act as social proof to influence people into buying (or not buying) your books. Additionally, good reviews can boost your visibility, helping more people find your books.
Reviews are arguably even more important for books than for other products. Books are often very subjective, and whether or not somebody likes your book is very dependent on taste. Reliable book reviews can clue potential customers in on what your book is like.
Since like attracts like, legitimate and reliable book reviews can draw more customers who might like your book, who in turn can leave more positive reviews. It’s a positive reinforcement cycle that can propel your book’s popularity.
How To Encourage Reviews for Your Book on Amazon
Book reviews matter, but you can’t exchange reviews with other authors because it’s a breach of Amazon’s terms and conditions. So, how do you legitimately get Amazon reviews for your books? Here are some ways to do so:
Give Out Advance Review Copies to Book Bloggers
Most book bloggers are voracious readers and reviewers. If you provide advance review copies to them, there’s a good chance that they’ll read and review them. However, as we’ve covered before, you can’t “bribe” reviewers to cover your books by providing free copies.
While there’s nothing wrong with providing an advance review copy, you can’t ask for a review. Leave the part about writing a review unsaid so you won’t be liable for review manipulation. To cover all your bases, it’s probably a good idea to explicitly state that you’re providing the copy without expecting to receive a review.
How to Build a Street Team or ARC Team (The Right Way)
You can take the first tip a step further and build a street team or ARC (advance review copy) team. These are groups of readers who get early access to your book and may choose to leave reviews once it’s released.
Here’s how to set one up:
- Recruit the right readers. Use your mailing list, website, or social media to invite fans who love your genre. Be clear that there’s no obligation to leave a review.
- Use ARC delivery tools. Platforms like BookFunnel, StoryOrigin, and BookSprout let you securely distribute digital ARCs and track who downloads them.
- Communicate expectations. Let readers know that while reviews are appreciated, they are not required or incentivized in any way. A simple message like: “I’d love your honest feedback if you feel inspired to leave a review” is enough.
- Stay organized. Keep track of who’s on your team, who’s downloaded the book, and who may have reviewed. However, avoid following up with pressure or deadlines.
Over time, a dedicated team of early readers can become a powerful asset, not just for reviews but also for spreading the word about your new releases, providing beta feedback, and supporting your career long term.
Use Author Notes
A strategic review request placed in the back of your book can be an effective way to get reviews. The reader will most likely have just finished reading by then, so you still have their attention. Make a good case for leaving a review by telling a bit about your writing journey and saying how much a review would mean to you. That said, keep it authentic and natural so you still come across as genuine.
To make things easier for the reader, you can also put up a link to your book’s review page so if they’re reading a digital version, they can click on the link to immediately leave a review.
Post on Social Media and Newsletters
If you already have a pre-established following on social media and newsletters, make good use of them. While most loyal readers are probably happy to leave reviews, it’s a good idea to remind them. Announce that you’re releasing a new book and encourage readers to leave a review after they finish.
Use Reviews From Other Sites
Websites like Goodreads host a community of readers who may leave reviews of your book. While they don’t review directly on Amazon, you can use blurbs and quotes from those reviews in the Editorial Reviews section of your book’s page.
Conclusion
Exchanging Amazon book reviews is a breach of Amazon’s terms of service, so it’s not a good way to gain reviews. However, you can use alternate methods to get Amazon reviews, like providing advance copies (without expecting a review), posting on social media, using author notes, and using reviews from other sites.
Building a reputation as a great author on Amazon isn’t just about having great reviews. It’s also about ensuring fake reviews don’t make it onto your book pages. While Amazon’s moderation process can help you avoid these abusive reviews, TraceFuse is your best bet. With advanced AI-based solutions, we’ll sniff out and remove those bad Amazon reviews without any effort on your part.
