Book reviewers and bloggers can not only give you great reviews but can introduce you to their audience — sometimes a very LARGE audience!
There are literally thousands of bloggers who either occasionally review or mention books, or who review books by the boat load. Getting a mention on a popular website such as the Huffington Post or on Darren Rowse’s Digital Photography School could catapult your book sales over the moon.
The BIG SECRET here is doing your research, finding out what blogs/websites are appropriate for your book and then contacting the site owners and letting them know about your book. You have to let bloggers know about your book and ASK for a review or mention.
You may be approaching a small blog owner or reviewers that have “top 500 reviewer” status beside them on Amazon. You may be approaching a “Sci-Fi Magazine Reviewer,” or Kirkus Reviews editor. These are the reviews that experienced authors covet and dream about. These are the reviews you have to really work for.
What’s the work?
- First you have to FIND a review blog or a niche blog that might give you a review.Be very careful to match the potential reviewer with the genre of your book. It is an absolute waste of time to approach a reviewer who only reviews fiction books when you are pitching a non-fiction book. Ditto with niches and sub-niches. Take a look at what the reviewer has done before. If your book fits into the Romance – “Erotica niche” and the reviewer has only published reviews that fit into “Clean and Wholesome,” save your time and the reviewers time by NOT contacting them..
. - Create a list or database with the reviewers name, their website URL, the types (niches) of books they review and their email address, or link to their on-site form. If you can, also determine what formats the reviewer prefers (paper, PDF or e-book).
. - IF the reviewer accepts your book, send it to them, in the format they request and then WAIT. Make a note of the date you sent your book in your database.
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Be PATIENT.The reviewer is undoubtedly busy, not only with their own life but with a stack of books to review. It could take them six months to get to your book, they may change their mind and not review your book at all, OR they may write the review tomorrow and forget to tell you. Don’t bug them, just wait. While you are waiting, contact OTHER bloggers, take MORE action marketing steps and keep on writing more books.
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- First you have to FIND a review blog or a niche blog that might give you a review.Be very careful to match the potential reviewer with the genre of your book. It is an absolute waste of time to approach a reviewer who only reviews fiction books when you are pitching a non-fiction book. Ditto with niches and sub-niches. Take a look at what the reviewer has done before. If your book fits into the Romance – “Erotica niche” and the reviewer has only published reviews that fit into “Clean and Wholesome,” save your time and the reviewers time by NOT contacting them..
Should you follow up?
- If the blogger is of special importance to you a gentle inquiry after two months wouldn’t hurt. Be sure to check their blog FIRST to see if a review is already there … it would be VERY embarrassing to ask them if they still plan on reviewing your book only to find out they already have!
The PAY OFF
Though there is a LOT of hard work involved. There is also a pay off.
Book Reviewers may review your book on their website (blog) OR on Amazon, Goodreads or any of the other BIG book, or BIG review sites.
You have no control over WHERE they post their reviews. What you DO have control over is that once the review is published, you can use this information on your own website, in your Amazon Author section or in your advertising. Make sure you let potential buyers know that you got a review on Kirkus or Sci Fi Magazine or that Bill Gates loved your book.
I’ve developed and maintain a list of over 500 active book bloggers and reviewers that regularly review books. This will get you started, but you still have to do your homework. Visit the reviewer site, find out what genre and format the reviewer wants, and contact them via e-mail or though their on-line contact form. You will find the Directory of Reviewers HERE.
Don’t stop there. Do more research to find niche specific blogs that might mention or link to your book. If a blogger is a major influencer in your area, consider sending them a paper version of your book and let them know it is available on Kindle. Be sure to ASK for a mention and link on their blog or in their newsletter.
Is the pay off worth it?
I think so. The minute I see a book has been reviewed by Kirkus or a Top blogger I pay MORE attention. I know that even smaller blog reviewers create links back to my website, or my Amazon sales pages. These links are permanent and continue to sell books for me for YEARS. What started as a small blog could turn into a major player and YOUR link is there!
The fact that I can use some reviews in my advertising and on my author page is another big benefit especially if I have challenges getting reviews from Amazon purchases.
Time Saving Tip:
Do you have a Virtual Assistant? Depending on their level of English and their marketing knowledge, this is a job that you can turn over to them partially (have them do the research and create a short list of potential bloggers) or in full.
What about YOU? Do you think this is worth all the work? What is YOUR reaction when you see a book with a top reviewer you are familiar with? What is YOUR experience pitching to Review Bloggers?
Book Reviews are critical to your book’s success.
Be sure to read the entire How To Get More Book Reviews series:
How To Get More Book Reviews: Your Website
How To Get More Book Reviews: Social Media
How To Get More Book Reviews: Author Groups
How To Get More Book Reviews: Facebook Groups
How To Get More Book Reviews: Reviewer Blogs
How To Get More Book Reviews: Amazon Reviewers
How To Get More Book Reviews: Purchase Reviews (this method is legit)
Another GREAT Article: Asking for Book Reviews
Check out my list of recommended Books on Getting Book Reviews
When going on one of the blogs that you have listed…and there is just very basic info in their contact info section…is that where i am requesting them to do a review? For example Book fan…just has name, email, website and comment. In the comment area….do I ask for review after I’ve given them all of the info that they want, or is that the obvious? i feel a little confused! Thanks so much Melanie!
Hi Heather,
Since you need to keep your email as brief as possible, I’d actually START by requesting a review. Say something like, “Hi NAME” (if you can find one) if you can’t find a name…
“Hi there, I found your book review blog in the Book Review Directory and having read your guidelines, I am requesting a review. My book, NAME OF BOOK is a SciFi Fantasy, similar to Anne McCaffrey’s Dragon Series. It is about (add 2 – 4 lines here. KEEP IT SHORT).
A bit more info here … your name, website URL, Amazon URL, email address, phone number.
If you need more information, or would like a review copy of my book (PDF or mobi file), please email me here:
your email address.
Thanks for your consideration.”
Heather, you might want to spend a bit more time refining your approach. The idea is to keep it short and easy to read. Reviewers get a boat load of mail and if it takes more than two minutes to read, they will file it for “later,” and never get back to it. MAKE IT EASY.
Hope this helps.
PS. I hope you noticed that if in the synopsis section, you click on the Reviewers Name, you sometimes get a lot more information. The information we have in the database depends on what the review has given us.
Thanks Melanie!!!