Book reviews are important in book marketing and can help
self-published authors succeed. Continue reading to find out how to get book
reviews.
What Exactly Is a Book Review?
A book review is a brief summary of a book that analyzes its
content, style, and quality. Book reviews can range from casual observations to
in-depth scholarly analyses. Book reviews can be found on book review blogs, in
magazines and newspapers, and in academic archives. Book reviews are sometimes
shortened into blurbs by publishers and printed on the front or back of a book
cover. Book reviews can help increase book sales and pique the interest of
potential readers.
Book Reviews and Marketing
Having your book reviewed can make a big difference;
positive feedback can propel a book to the top of best-seller lists or, at the
very least, help a new book find an enthusiastic audience. However, if you're a
first-time author or an indie author self-publishing, it can be difficult to
find people to read and write about your work. However, because this is an
important part of any book release's marketing strategy, it's critical to reach
out through multiple channels, whether to professional reviewers and book
bloggers, other writers in your network, or your readers.
3 Reasons Book Reviews Are Important
Getting reviews can significantly impact the success of a
new book. Here are a few things to think about:
1. Book reviews raise an author's profile. Some book review
websites prioritize books with a high number of positive reviews. Online
bookstores frequently arrange books by ranking, displaying books with a high
number of five-star reviews first.
2. Potential readers benefit from book reviews. When it
comes to deciding what book to read next, readers are spoiled for choice. A
good book review saves the reader time by assuring them that purchasing your
book will not be a waste of their time.
3. Book reviews help to sell books. A positive review in a
popular magazine, newspaper, or website lends credibility to a book and can
increase sales. A positive review by a well-known name, such as a well-known
author or publication, can also be printed as a blurb on the cover, attracting
readers.
The Best Way to Get Book Reviews
Here are a few methods for obtaining book reviews:
Utilize customer feedback. Every new reader has the
potential to be a reviewer. Encourage customers to leave reviews on the
websites of book retailers. Some authors choose to include a review request at
the end of their book. You can also use social media to request that your
followers leave online reviews.
Contact book bloggers. Book bloggers are professional book
reviewers who publish their work online. Look for blogs that review similar
books to yours. Ascertain that it is an active blog that accepts queries (at
least one review published within the previous month). Create a personalized
review request and explain why you'd value their honest feedback. Be courteous,
direct, and succinct. Include your author bio, book description, contact
information, and the publication date of your book. Before submitting your
request, make sure to read the reviewer's review policy, as it may include
specific requirements.
Make use of your network. If you're in a writing group with
published authors or have a college professor who's a writer, ask them for
recommendations on reviewers they trust or for an honest review.
5 Ways to Get Book Reviews
Obtaining reviews entails more than just pitching your book
to reviewers. Consider the following suggestions:
1. Stay away from review services. Review services allow
authors to pay people to write book reviews for them. Many major bookstores
have cracked down on review services, and some see the practice as unethical.
Look for a free book review website instead. There are numerous establishments
willing to write a genuine, honest review.
2. Track down unrequited pitches. If you pitched your book
for review and haven't heard back from the reviewer after a week, follow up.
Your request for a review may be accepted, rejected, or ignored by the
reviewer. Regardless, remain polite and professional—you want to keep in touch
in case your next book requires reviews.
3. Allow reviewers to have a blurb on the cover design.
Blurbs help sell your book by providing a one-sentence summary. They also
provide the reviewer with publicity. Incorporating blurbs on a book cover
benefits both the author and the reviewer.
4. Consider negative feedback with a grain of salt. Every
author must accept that they will not receive all positive reviews. Even great
books receive negative feedback. Request that a peer read a negative review and
tell you whether it's worth your time. If the reader expresses legitimate
concerns, do your best to address them. Ignore unnecessarily harsh or unkind
reviews.
5. Read the review policies thoroughly. You are better off
not sending out random copies of your book to reviewers. The majority of book
reviewers adhere to a strict review process that includes a detailed review
policy. Some reviewers, for example, prefer that authors send them a physical
ARC (advanced review copy), whereas others may prefer a digital manuscript.
Allow for the reviewer's preferences.
