So sad, #GROK gets it.... others do not understand....
Hey Joseph — yeah, the reviews/ratings bottleneck is one of the most frustrating realities for indie authors, especially when you're in KDP Select (KU) and running Goodreads giveaways. You're doing everything right strategically, but the system itself stacks the deck against you in some painful ways. Let's break down what's happening, why it's so common, and some practical workarounds to help build momentum without breaking Amazon's rules.The Core Problems You're Facing (You're Not Alone)
Amazon's "Verified Purchase" Lock
Amazon strictly limits reviews to verified purchases (direct buyers) or certain Kindle Unlimited borrows (but only if the book was actually read a meaningful amount — many KU readers skim or drop off, so Amazon doesn't always count them).
Free giveaway winners (Goodreads, Amazon Giveaways, ARC copies) are explicitly blocked from reviewing on Amazon.
Result: A book can have hundreds of downloads/reads but zero reviews on Amazon, killing visibility (algorithm hates low-review books).
Lazy/Non-Committal Buyers
Many readers love the book but never return to leave a review — it's human nature (time, forgetfulness, intimidation).
Studies show only ~1-3% of buyers leave reviews on average — for indie authors, it's often lower without aggressive prompting.
Cross-Platform Fragmentation
Great point about sales/reviews being siloed (Amazon, B&N, Apple, Kobo, etc.). Readers on one platform rarely cross over, so you miss the "social proof" snowball.
Your solution — the TerrorStrikes.info/reviews page — is brilliant: centralizing reviews from everywhere creates a "review hub" that builds credibility fast. People see multiple positive comments from different sources → more trust → more buys → more momentum.
Send CINOs/RINOs a monopoly money message vlog!
This tells them more than you just hanging up on their Calls, use their postage-paid reply to envelopes against them!
more in attached vlog.
#GOD, gave us all #FreeWill.
Some, can, do, choose #EVIL.
While #Jesus said TURN THE OTHER CHEEK he did NOT say ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE CONTINUALLY ABUSED.
He also said, there are TIMES, "those who have a garment should sell it and obtain a Sword" not to be confused with, nor contradictory to, #CONTEXTmatters, "turn Swords into Plowshares!" EACH has its legit TIME AND PLACE. The ISSUE for US, knowing the difference WHEN OR WHICH APPLIES.
But, again, SOME CHOOSE EVIL, and EVIL at times will not be reasoned with, appeasing makes matters WORSE, that EVIL must be CONFRONTED!
"Only thing necessary Evil prevail, good peoples do nothing!" BURKE - not direct from the #Bible but #BIBLICAL all throughout the #CONTEXT.
https://tinyurl.com/ChristiTutionalist
From email to #EdBonderenka (of https://tinyurl.com/YAHArchives) YAH Show (@WAAMRadio @WAAM1600 #Michigan (and we are (long standing tradition and history behind) #Michiganians NOT FOWL #Michiganders (we are NOT invasive like Canadian Geese chasing our Children around Playgrounds/Parks))) and others following my call into YAH today....
As I said on YAH, I complain about SUSAN COLLINS (and, yes, some others, glad CORNYN is now GONE, go @KenPaxtonTX) but if I were in ME right now I would be ENTHUSIASTICALLY supporting her re-election (better at 80% (as I said, or as you/Ed said at even) 60% than any Democrat who I agree with 0%)...
There is MICRO and MACRO as well as short, medium, long, term STRATEGY has to be looked at. As most know I am webmaster for https://udmi-rtl.org (Life). I WILL NOT vote for a supposed PRO LIFE DUMBocrats, as you(Ed) pointed out on your YAH Show, to do so it would be a Vote for Nancy PIGlosi or HACKJOB Jeffries (and other PRO BABY MURDER leadership) to control the ...
#Michigan #Conservative #Constitutionalist Activist (sums it up)
MORE about what you may want to know about me, via writings (and more detailed BIOs on those sites too (http://tinyurl.com/JLenardDetroitExtendedBio))...
B4IN (2014-????): JLenardDetroitB4INArticles - https://tinyurl.com/JLDArticles
RedState (2008-2017) https://tinyurl.com/RedStateJLD
SSCE (Super Simple Computer Enterprises, my Computer company and Private posts sites by extension - 1980's - early 2000's) https://web.archive.org/web/20110530024904/http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-catagories.html (this lists other authors posted on my site too, my Articles are clearly marked and you can choose the LIST BY AUTHOR ("L" Lenard) to find just mine if you like.
vlogs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkdRA7aHCzR4xcS1WsMnJjg/videos
(and what YouTube banned at) https://www.brighteon.com/channels/jlenarddetroit
MORE... MORE... MORE.... http://tinyurl.com/JLenardDetroitExtendedBio
#MORONicans sat and allowed the very #DESTRUCTOcrats that started the #Fires #Trump and #MAGA were swept into Office in 2024 to put out.
Idly allowed Keys to the #FireTruck to be handed back to the #Arsonists!
more in: https://beforeitsnews.com/u-s-politics/2026/11/midtermsshift-real-analysis-2632212.html
I was on THE SYNTHETIC ECHO discussing #AI...
https://podmatch.com/playepisode?epi_id=1793706510864458fc3b1f689
