Every author will face a bad review for his book, sooner or later. You might have a perfect book, but there is always a reader who will think differently.
If you think that a good editor and translator will help you to change the audience's opinion, you are wrong. Your book is an investment, you paid an illustrator, editor, and beta readers, but still, this is not enough to be a bestseller. You got a bad review.
What do I consider a bad review?
1 star on Amazon.
2 stars on Amazon.
Receiving bad reviews doesn't mean that your book is a pile of rubbish.
The reasons for bad reviews might be different:
It could be an act of revenge. Someone doesn't like you and he will spit at your book.
The reader doesn't like this genre, yet he read and reviews.
It could be trolling. Such people exist and mark many books with bad ratings, just to make a mess.
It might be compensation. If you give an author a bad mark, he can do it for you too.
Does a bad review have an influence on sales or ratings?
With a few bad reviews, your rating will fall, but it doesn't mean your sales will decrease. I have seen many books with excellent reviews but the audience is still passive.
A bad review is also a marketing tool. People will ask, what is disturbing and intriguing in this book, to piss off the reader?
A bad review can show you the way how to make a book better, and what is missing, and it could be constructive criticism.
When you receive a bad review, this is like an egg on your face. I see you are furious, frustrated, and angry, but it doesn't represent your audience's view in general.
Opinions are various. It is impossible to please everyone. Some books will be a thrill to readers, but another group will think that are not good, for the same reason.
For example, I like to read horror and thrillers. I love provoking scenes and I don't mind violence. If I see a dull thriller with a well-known scenario, I will think that is banal and boring and it will not capture my interest.
Some readers don't like swearing, erotica, and vulgar scenes. They will judge the book if there is too much sex or violence.
I received 4 bad reviews on Amazon, two were for bad editing, and the other two were out of topic.
Also, I received bad ratings without reviews. Those are the act of trolling. The worse thing is when someone did not read your book, but still, will judge it. Some people will insult you on a personal level, just to fulfill their frustrations.
Writing is not easy and some people might be jealous. They will leave a bad review for the same reason, as an act of envy. Maybe they wanted to write but they did not have the courage and patience to publish their books.
Your book is your product. Head up. If you were on the stage, you would wipe an egg from your face and continue to sing.
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