
Get people talking about your book, because nothing sells books better than word of mouth. Most authors do not have a marketing background and often take the wrong approach when it comes to marketing, falsely assuming that any review is a good review. Embark on getting quality book reviews.
While the author is looking for publicity the reader must also be considered. Readers buy a book for the enjoyment of experience, to read a book, not to be forced to analyze the creation then wrack their brains trying to come up with a suitable review. And major newspapers rarely review a self published book. Getting quality book reviews is an uphill battle.
5 Tips for Getting Book Reviews
- Start with local papers and magazines: use the ‘home-town’ angle. Approach magazines that focus on the same special-interest subject area as your book.
- Develop a press release to accompany your book: name of your publishing house, the book’s ISBN, number of pages, price, additional ordering information such as website
- Pick the right reviewers. You need a reviewer who likes to review your type of books
- Query the reviewers: find out the requirements, a paperback or an e-book.
- Hardcopy: offer both versions, the PDF and the print copy.
- Follow up. Don’t harass the reviewer, gently follow up, after a few weeks, to see if they have written the review.
- Thank the reviewer: a simple, common courtesy shows that you appreciate the time and effort someone else took to help you.
- Be willing to give away books.
“Linda has published fifteen books. She blogs about the publishing world, posts useful tips on the challenges a writer faces, including marketing and promoting your work, how to build your online platform, how to get reviews and how to self-publish.”