By Sogi Chukwuanu
It’s launch day. You’ve spent the past few months (or years) working on your book, and you can’t wait for your audience to make a purchase and, more importantly, leave a glowing review. But hours roll into days and days into weeks, and all you get is… silence.
It’s a classic Catch-22 situation. You need people to buy your book and leave good reviews. But in order to convince them, you need to display positive reviews. So, where do you get these reviews from?
In this blog post, we’ll examine how to get book reviews for your book and why they’re so important.
Why are book reviews important?
According to the latest statistics, 95 per cent of consumers read online reviews before purchasing a product. It’s pretty much the same for readers. A book review provides your potential readers with three crucial things: the what, the why, and social proof:
- The what explores the very essence of your book. The information it contains and how it could potentially solve the reader’s problem.
- The why identifies the reasons your readers will want to either purchase and read your book or chuck it in the Did-Not-Finish (DNF) pile.
- Social proof is perhaps the most important of all. A solid review tells potential readers whether the book delivers on the promise it conveys in the blurb.
Needless to say, you’ll want each review to speak highly of your book and convince readers that it’s worth their time and financial investment. Here are a few benefits that demonstrate the power of a good review:
- It increases your visibility: Many online book retailers tend to organise books by ranking, displaying the ones with a high number of 5-star reviews first. Even Amazon provides an option for consumers to filter their search results by the number of stars each book has.
- It increases sales: Getting a positive review, whether on Amazon or on a popular website, lends a book credibility. It’s a go-ahead – a stamp of approval from people who have consumed your book and benefited from the value it provides. So, it goes without saying that this social proof will direct more readers to your book, and ultimately, increase sales.
Where to get book reviews from
There are three major demographics that could provide you with a solid book review: bloggers, other authors, and of course, consumers on Amazon. Let’s examine how to extract reviews from each of these sources:
How to get bloggers to review your book
Book bloggers are professional reviewers who read books and publish comprehensive reviews on their websites. However, they often specialise in specific genres and niches, so it’s important to research and find bloggers within your niche.
For instance, if you’ve written a book on personal finance, a blogger who reviews horror novels would be an unsuitable match.
Beyond genre, it’s also important to ask yourself two key questions when hunting for book bloggers:
- Is the site active and credible? A book blogger who hasn’t published any reviews in the last few months might be a red flag. It could mean that they either lack a consistent audience or may no longer be offering review services. In the same vein, if the reviews on their website look shoddy, they could very well detract from your book’s credibility, rather than add to it.
- Are they currently accepting pitches and queries? If they aren’t, you want to move on to other available options.
Once you’ve found the right book blogger(s) and confirmed that they’re both active and open, you can then pitch your book to them. Here are a few tips to help you get a quicker and more favourable response:
- Read the review policy very carefully: Reading the review policy not only ensures that you uncover all the finer details but it also makes the reviewer’s job considerably easier. This way, you’ll be providing them with a well-prepared pitch that requires less effort to evaluate. It also prevents them from spending unnecessary time on queries that don’t fit their requirements anyway.
- Keep it concise: Reviewers are always on the lookout for the next good book. However, while they may be avid readers, this doesn’t mean that they want to spend hours poring over a query. Keep your pitch short, informative, and straightforward.
- Never send out bulk pitches: Bloggers can easily tell when you’re sending out a generic template. Personalise each email and keep it as specific as possible by mentioning a particular aspect of their blog which makes them the best fit for your book.
Bear in mind that most review sites often have large To Be Read (TBR) piles, so it may take a while before you get a response or an actual review.
How to get authors to review your book
Reviews from authors – particularly those with a large platform – are a great way to mark your book as credible and noteworthy.
If you already belong to a network of authors, it’s worth leveraging these connections by reaching out to them and asking for an honest review of your book.
However, if you don’t, you’ll want to reach out to some popular authors within your genre and pitch to them as you’d pitch to a book blogger.
Make a list of all the books that either inspired your book or deeply impacted your life. Next, reach out to the author for a book review, telling them specifically what you loved about their book and how it inspired or impacted you. If they’re a more well-known author, you may get a much quicker response by reaching out to their publicist or assistant.
How to get Amazon reviews for your book
The most organic way to get Amazon reviews for your book is through readers who have already purchased it and are willing to share their thoughts and opinions.
However, if you’re looking to attract more reviews, here are a few options worth considering:
Create an advance reader team
As your book launch draws close, you could recruit keen readers to join your advance reader team. You’ll have to send them your new book before launch day and ask them to review it when it hits the shelves. However, the free copy you hand out cannot be contingent on a good review. It has to be their honest opinion, free of any bias or incentive.
Leverage social media platforms
Social media is an extremely powerful tool. That’s why it’s such an integral part of our Bestseller Book Launch Campaign (find out more about how to launch a bestseller here). By leveraging a holistic social media strategy, you can increase the visibility of your book to potential reviewers.
Actively engage with readers and book reviewers on social media. Respond to comments, participate in discussions, and express genuine interest in their opinions. Building relationships with this demographic can increase the likelihood of them considering your book for review.
However, it’s important to remember the golden rule: no spamming. Social media is about building connections and fostering relationships, so focus on creating meaningful interactions that can lead to reviews and recommendations.
If you’d welcome high-level support along your book publication and launch journey, hop on a free Clarity Call with us to find out how our team of experts can help.