Help CenterThere are multiple different review options you can choose for your book. The biggest difference is the Purchase book options which give you a verified purchase review vs. the other options that give you a review on Amazon but it is not labeled as a verified purchase:
Free Download PDF
The author can upload a PDF that is accessible to the reviewer to read once they begin their review. Free Download PDF reviews show up on Amazon but are not classified as a verified purchase.
Free Download EPUB
EPUB (short for electronic publication) is a popular open-standard file format for digital books that can be read on many popular e-readers.
The author can upload an EPUB file that the reviewer can read once they begin their review. Free Download EPUB reviews show up on Amazon but are not classified as a verified purchase.
PermaFree (This is rare)
"Permafree" on Amazon is a way to make an e-book available for free on other bookseller websites and then have Amazon price match it. This can't be done directly on Amazon, but authors can try these steps to make their book permafree:
- Make the book free on other bookseller websites, such as Apple or Kobo
- Notify Amazon of the price difference by submitting the price match form in the Help section of your KDP
- Amazon will likely price match the book toward the end of the next month
Some say that the system isn't perfect, and it can take a few days or weeks for a book to become permafree.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited (KU) is a subscription service offered by Amazon that allows users to access a vast library of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and comics for a monthly fee.
The reviews given after reading a KU book are not verified in the same way that reviews for purchased books might be, but if you read until the end of the KU book, you can leave a review there. Reviews left at the end of the Kindle Reader/APP or left from "My Digital Orders" are much more likely to show as a verified purchase on Amazon.
Purchase on Amazon Kindle (As a Verified Purchase Review)
When you offer your book as Purchase on Amazon Kindle you are requesting reviews from authors who have purchased your book. Reviewers must have the "Verified Purchase" shown on their reviews in order to qualify for this type of review.
If you select a book as Purchase on Amazon Kindle you must post your reviews on the last page of the Kindle Book or from the digital orders page to ensure they are verified purchase reviews. Even if Amazon offers a book as Kindle Unlimited you still must purchase the book to qualify for this type of review.
Purchase Paper Book on Amazon (As a Verified Purchase Review)
When you offer your book as Paper Book Purchase on Amazon, you are requesting reviews from authors who have purchased your book. Reviewers mush have the "Verified Purchase" show on their reviews in order to qualify for this type of review. If you have both paperback and hardback please choose the cheaper price as the price you enter into the GBR website.
Because there will be shipping delays with this option reviewers have an extra 3 days to submit this review.
If you select a book as Purchase on Amazon Paper Book you must purchase the paper/hardback book on the same Amazon account that you leave the review. You will also be required to submit either a picture of the book cover with a verification code on the cover or you may be required to submit a secret word found only on a certain page of the paper book. Please note that anyone who selects the purchase paper book option after canceling a review for the same book will have to upload a picture of the book with the verification code, as any secret words could have been found in the PDF or EPUB version of the canceled review.
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