Episode Title:

The Smart Publishing Impact Series – Episode 49: Amazon Reviews, Decoded: The Number That Unlocks Visibility

Episode Summary:

Amazon reviews aren’t just social proof—they’re leverage.

In Episode 49, Renée Lautermilch, Chief Editor at Smart Publishing, breaks down exactly how Amazon’s algorithm evaluates reviews, ratings, and conversion rates—and what that means for your book’s visibility.

How many reviews do you really need?

Does star rating matter more than volume?

When does the algorithm actually start working in your favor?

Renée walks you through the three critical thresholds (25, 50, and 100+ reviews), explains why conversion—not just review count—drives visibility, and reveals how the “flywheel effect” starts to build real organic momentum.

If you’ve ever wondered why some books seem to take off while others stall out, this episode connects the dots.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why Amazon reviews are directly tied to visibility

• The psychological power of social proof

• The 25-review credibility threshold

• What changes at 50 reviews

• Why 100+ reviews can trigger the algorithm flywheel

• Why 4.5 stars is the sweet spot

• How recency impacts ranking

• Why review quality (not just quantity) matters

• The difference between lifetime sales and sales velocity

• How to front-load review acquisition during launch

Quote to Remember:

“Reviews don’t cause visibility. Conversion causes visibility—and reviews increase conversion.”

Mentioned in This Episode:

smartpublishingservices.com – courses, blogs, and publishing resourcesConnect with Renée Lautermilch on Facebook – she’s the only one in the world

Email: [email protected]

Coming Up:

Episode 50 — a milestone episode you won’t want to miss.