Indie author seeks solutions for getting book reviews and feedback.

Published on 06/01/2025KOL Promotion Opportunities

Okay, after scanning the Reddit post and comments, here's an analysis for potential collaborations:

User Profile (OP):

  • Name/Reddit ID: Not explicitly named, referred to as "OP" from Reddit ID 1l0bwvs.
  • Pain Point: Published their first novel, ran a KDP Free Promotion, got 70 downloads but zero reviews after four months. Actively seeking solutions for getting reader feedback.
  • Goal: Obtain reviews and understand how indie authors get reader feedback.
  • Potential: High. This user is actively looking for solutions to a common and significant pain point for indie authors. They are receptive to advice and likely to try recommended services or strategies.

Identified Potential Collaborators & Communities:

  1. ARC Service Platforms:

    • Who: BookSirens, NetGalley, BookSprout. These were repeatedly mentioned by multiple commenters as the go-to solution.
      • Commenter specifically mentioning a positive experience: The user who said, "I used BookSirens, it's a very good price for getting quality reviewers." This user could be a micro-influencer or provide a more detailed testimonial for BookSirens.
    • Why they are good candidates:
      • They directly address the OP's problem of getting reviews.
      • Multiple community members endorse them, indicating trust and effectiveness.
      • They have established systems for connecting authors with reviewers.
  2. Genre-Specific ARC Communities (e.g., on Facebook):

    • Who: The user who suggested: "Try ARC communities - quite a few genre-specific ones on FB." This user might be an admin or active member of such a group. While not a single influencer, these communities collectively represent a targeted audience.
    • Why they are good candidates:
      • Offer a more grassroots approach to finding ARC readers.
      • Often free or low-cost.
      • Readers are typically enthusiastic about specific genres.
  3. Book Bloggers & Reviewers (General Advice):

    • Who: Users mentioning "contacting bloggers in your genre offering a free copy for a review."
    • Why they are good candidates: While a broader category, if the OP's genre is niche, identifying key bloggers in that niche could be very effective. This requires more research from the OP.
  4. Authors/Coaches Specializing in List Building & Reader Engagement:

    • Who: The user who advised: "Put a link to a reader magnet inside your book that encourages people to go over and download it in exchange for their email address. That starts your relationship with the reader." This user understands direct reader engagement strategies beyond just asking for reviews.
    • Why they are good candidates: They offer a long-term strategy for building an audience and fostering relationships that can lead to reviews and sales over time.

Collaboration Suggestions & Expected Benefits:

1. For ARC Service Platforms (e.g., BookSirens, NetGalley, BookSprout): * Collaboration Suggestion: * Offer the OP a discounted trial or a free slot for their first book on the platform. * If successful, feature the OP's experience (with their permission) as a case study or testimonial on the platform's blog or social media. * Expected Benefits for OP: * Receives initial reviews, solving their primary problem. * Gains visibility if featured. * Learns how to effectively use ARC services for future releases. * Expected Benefits for Collaborator (ARC Platform): * Authentic testimonial/case study from a real indie author. * Demonstrates the platform's value in solving a common author challenge. * Potential for the OP to become a paying customer and advocate. * Exposure to other authors following the OP's journey or seeing the case study.

2. For the User "I used BookSirens, it's a very good price for getting quality reviewers": * Collaboration Suggestion: * If this user is an author themselves with some following, they could share the OP's book (if genre-aligned) or more detailed positive experiences with BookSirens, perhaps tagging OP if they find success. * BookSirens could reach out to this user for a more formal testimonial or a short interview about their experience. * Expected Benefits for OP: * Moral support, potential for a reader if the genres align. * Expected Benefits for Collaborator (BookSirens): * Reinforced positive sentiment and credible user advocacy.

3. For Genre-Specific ARC Community Leaders/Admins (if identifiable): * Collaboration Suggestion: * OP could join these communities and offer ARCs according to group rules. * Community admins could highlight new authors or books needing reviews (if this is part of their community engagement). * Expected Benefits for OP: * Access to targeted, enthusiastic readers more likely to review. * Networking with other authors and readers in their genre. * Expected Benefits for Collaborator (Community Admin/Group): * Fresh content (new books) for their readers. * Supporting new authors, which can be a community goal.

4. For Authors/Coaches Specializing in List Building (like the user advising on reader magnets): * Collaboration Suggestion: * If this advisor has a platform (blog, course, mailing list), they could offer the OP a free resource, a shoutout, or a guest spot to share their journey after implementing list-building strategies successfully. * Offer the OP a complimentary consultation or a discount on a relevant course. * Expected Benefits for OP: * Learns a sustainable strategy for long-term reader engagement and review generation. * Builds a direct connection with their audience. * Expected Benefits for Collaborator (Coach/Expert): * A real-world example of their strategies working. * Potential for OP to become a client or advocate for their services/teachings. * Content for their platform (e.g., "How [OP's Book] Grew Its Mailing List and Got Reviews").

Summary: The OP is an ideal candidate for services and advice related to obtaining book reviews, particularly ARC services. Platforms like BookSirens are directly recommended and have a high potential for a successful collaboration yielding mutual benefits. Engaging with active community members who offer specific, actionable advice (like list building or genre-specific groups) also presents valuable, albeit potentially more niche, opportunities. The key is that the OP is actively seeking help and is likely to be appreciative and vocal about any solution that works.

Origin Reddit Post

r/selfpublish

“Published My First Novel – Got 70 Free Downloads but No Reviews. How Do Indie Authors Get Reader Feedback?”

Posted by u/Forsaken_Luck_205306/01/2025
Hey fellow authors, I recently published my first novel (about 4 months ago) and was super excited! I ran a 5-day KDP Free Book Promotion and got around 70 free downloads. But here’s the p

Top Comments

u/SL_Rowland
In my experience, you get about 1 review per 100 free downloads.
u/SL_Rowland
In my experience, you get about 1 review per 100 free downloads.
u/SugarFreeHealth
I never obsessed. I wrote the next, the next, the next in 2 pen names. Suddenly, one pen took off, and i dropped the other pen name and focused on the one that sold.. I have thousands of revi
u/matt95110
You be patient. I have waited weeks to get even one review.
u/[deleted]
[removed]
u/Forsaken_Luck_2053
At least you got one
u/madpiratebippy
Ok, here's my truth- I read a LOT of Kindle books from new authors. I try to read through to the end so they get the credit and all that jazz. If I don't leave a review I'm being nice to th
u/SugarFreeHealth
I never obsessed. I wrote the next, the next, the next in 2 pen names. Suddenly, one pen took off, and i dropped the other pen name and focused on the one that sold.. I have thousands of revi
u/azwriter2
Getting reviews is extremely difficult. I've run .99 promos with decent reviews return. Free books, including myself in this, will sit in Kindles far longer unread than ebooks we buy.  Howeve
u/Intercitywitty
Booksirens ARC readers
u/idiotprogrammer2017
All true, but I want to take issue with your pejorative language ("bottom feeding bargain hunter freebie hoarders"). People who download freebies are more adventurous readers, more willing
u/Aggressive_Chicken63
> Indie authors use ARC services to get reviews We have to pay for that, right?
u/mysweetetc
Others have said it, but I will reiterate—free promos do almost nothing for one book. I have had a book get downloaded 500+ times in a 5-day period and get zero reviews. I have seen success i
u/Rommie557
Free downloads *very* rarely turn into reviews. Like less than. 01%. Those files sit on devices for months at a time, along with all of the other downloaded freebies that those readers hoard,
u/idiotprogrammer2017
All true, but I want to take issue with your pejorative language ("bottom feeding bargain hunter freebie hoarders"). People who download freebies are more adventurous readers, more willing
u/authorbrendancorbett
Yes - BookSirens, NetGalley, BookSprout, genre / audience dependent as well. That, and contacting bloggers in your genre offering a free copy for a review.
u/Muted_1092
I published my bookbon 19 May 2025 and I think so far I have got only on review. Getting reviews is tough.
u/NoeTellusom
Try ARC communities - quite a few genre-specific ones on FB.
u/cherismail
You’re lucky if 5% of your readers leave a review.
u/Odd_directions
This confirms my own experiences, although I seem to have been lucky in this regard, with 20 (majority positive) reviews after only 400 sales or so. It's annoying, though, that there's no rev
u/Forsaken_Luck_2053
At least you got one
u/dragonsandvamps
If you need reviews, using ARC readers is a better way to accomplish this. ARC platforms have a higher rate of return than getting people randomly off of social media, but both work. Free do
u/Muted_1092
I published my bookbon 19 May 2025 and I think so far I have got only on review. Getting reviews is tough.
u/CoachWriter
I used book sirens, it's a very good price for getting quality reviewers
u/All0ut0f0ptions
They pay for reviews, their is literally no other way. Most of these authors use websites that charge a monthly fee and you trade review for review. It sucks for those of us trying to stay
u/mysweetetc
Others have said it, but I will reiterate—free promos do almost nothing for one book. I have had a book get downloaded 500+ times in a 5-day period and get zero reviews. I have seen success i
u/NoeTellusom
Try ARC communities - quite a few genre-specific ones on FB.
u/nycwriter99
Put a link to a reader magnet inside your book that encourages people to go over and download it in exchange for their email address. That starts your relationship with the reader. Then follo
u/All0ut0f0ptions
They pay for reviews, their is literally no other way. Most of these authors use websites that charge a monthly fee and you trade review for review. It sucks for those of us trying to stay
u/SacredPinkJellyFish
In my experiance: For shareing links on social media: * You will recieve one freebie download for every one thousand likes * You will recieve one paid buy for every ten thousand likes Fo
u/[deleted]
[removed]
u/Intercitywitty
Booksirens ARC readers
u/madpiratebippy
Ok, here's my truth- I read a LOT of Kindle books from new authors. I try to read through to the end so they get the credit and all that jazz. If I don't leave a review I'm being nice to th
u/SacredPinkJellyFish
In my experiance: For shareing links on social media: * You will recieve one freebie download for every one thousand likes * You will recieve one paid buy for every ten thousand likes Fo
u/sknymlgan
I’ve never sold a single copy.
u/Close2You
Totally normal—most free downloaders don’t leave reviews. Try adding a friendly note at the end of your book asking for honest feedback. You can also reach out to book bloggers or ARC readers
u/Aggressive_Chicken63
> Indie authors use ARC services to get reviews We have to pay for that, right?
u/Rommie557
Free downloads *very* rarely turn into reviews. Like less than. 01%. Those files sit on devices for months at a time, along with all of the other downloaded freebies that those readers hoard,
u/dragonsandvamps
If you need reviews, using ARC readers is a better way to accomplish this. ARC platforms have a higher rate of return than getting people randomly off of social media, but both work. Free do
u/SporadicTendancies
I too read a lot of Indi books. I'm one of those bottom-feeding hoarders mentioned in another thread - I grab free books in my genre as market research. If it's genuinely a good book, 5 star
u/Odd_directions
This confirms my own experiences, although I seem to have been lucky in this regard, with 20 (majority positive) reviews after only 400 sales or so. It's annoying, though, that there's no rev
u/authorbrendancorbett
Yes - BookSirens, NetGalley, BookSprout, genre / audience dependent as well. That, and contacting bloggers in your genre offering a free copy for a review.
u/nycwriter99
Put a link to a reader magnet inside your book that encourages people to go over and download it in exchange for their email address. That starts your relationship with the reader. Then follo
u/hairyback88
I probably get 1 in 100 - 200 free downloads. 
u/[deleted]
[removed]
u/cherismail
You’re lucky if 5% of your readers leave a review.
u/cpmh1234
One of my books priced at $2.99 has about 500,000 KENP reads and 575 orders. Total of 266 reviews. Another I put up for free, 449 orders and 7 total reviews. People don’t often review free
u/CoachWriter
I used book sirens, it's a very good price for getting quality reviewers
u/JayGreenstein
I can tell you exactly why you’ve gotten no response, but after all the work you’ve done, and the emotional involvment, it’s going to sting, so take a deep breath. Look at the opening lines,

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