Amazon Helpful Votes...

[reviews_and_ramblings]

... what is the mystery under them?

I really don't understand. I know that they are used to rank the review, and probably to rank also the reviewer, better I'm sure they are used for that, but I really don't understand how they are given and by whom.

I have a lot of helpful positive votes, 88% on the total, so I'm very grateful to people who click on "yes" this review was helpful for me, and tried to ignore the 12% of negative votes, but today I notice something really strange. I was the first to review a book, and, even if I shouldn't say it, my review was good, not only since I loved the book, but also since people, publisher and author told me so.

So I posted my review on Amazon, and for a bit I was alone and no helpful positive vote. Then today I received a negative vote... and guys that made me think, since I really think my review was good. So I click on the book and noticed that the same book has now two other reviews, five stars like me, and from two frequently reviewer like me. And they both had two helpful positve votes! Why me not? (pout).

But the most strange thing is when I post a good review, or at least a review that gives an idea of the book, when maybe there isn't even the product description (and this happens often) and I'm the only review, and someone click the helpful negative button... what the hell have I said to make that people click on the negative button?

It's not the first time I discuss this matter with other Amazon reviewers, Jetm in primis, but I read also a blog by Amos Lassen... but I'd like to listen also to my friends opinion, are those votes really "real", are they indicative of a good review or not?

Comments

[valkovalin.livejournal.com]

Hi, Elisa. I know just what you mean. As a reader, I tend to vote helpful on the Amazon reviews that give me information and the ones like yours where I can tell the reviewer put time and energy into crafting the review.

Then I would try to write the same type of reviews that I would find helpful, and I'd get negative votes. Like you, I couldn't help wondering, what is the reason for this?

I think that Jules Jones explained it well. Amazon has become such a weird place with "gangs" of reviewers following each other around the "cyber-playground" and manipulating each other's review rankings.

Do you remember when Amazon changed the ranking system recently and some reviewers got promoted while others got demoted? That was Amazon's attempt to combat the manipulative tendencies of the voters. But I think that sort of thing is built into the system by now and can't be eradicated.

It's also like what Jordan said: it's anonymous. So you can have a bunch of sullen teenagers voting against every review that looks thoughtful and well-crafted simply because they like tearing down the creative stuff. Since it's anonymous, they can do it with no repercussions.

Also, you never know. Sometimes we're moving so fast through cyberspace that we click the wrong button! I've done this before -- clicked not helpful when I meant helpful.

I almost never go to Amazon any more or post reviews. I often don't think to post reviews because I'm reading more and more ebooks, which aren't represented on Amazon.

Never mind the reviews. It's the traffic statistics for your review blog that matter.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for all the kind words.

> Never mind the reviews. It's the traffic statistics for your review blog that matter.

And have you seen this month? I'm almost in awe, and also a bit scared... but I really love my LJ.

Elisa

[valkovalin.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. I think you set the highest standards for reviewing in general and not just m/m. I've learned a lot as a reviewer just seeing what you do!

And the statistics? Oh, wow, Elisa! You've increased your montly traffic by more than FOUR TIMES what it was one year ago! That's absolutely fabulous! Many congratulations. You deserve it for all your hard work. :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, but it is also so scaring, now I have perfomance issue ;-) Is there a viagra pills for reviewers??? Elisa

[valkovalin.livejournal.com]

Oh, ha, ha, ha! I hadn't thought about that! Now the pressure is on ...

It's the same thing that the author Dan Brown must be going through as he's about to bring out the sequel to The Da Vinci Code after waiting for six years. They're timing the book release with the movie release of Angels and Demons, and they're predicting that it will be the biggest book promo ever -- bigger than Harry Potter.

Viagra for reviewers? I love that!