Getting
authentic customer book reviews is, in my view, more difficult than writing the
novel. Need an honest view of how to get customer reviews for your books? Well,
the reality is, some seemingly infallible strategies simply don’t work. My
personal experience has yielded the following results from trying many
different strategies at getting book reviews.
Put
a Note in Your Book Asking the Reader to Post a Review after Reading
Asking for Reviews at the End of Your Book |
I
left a note in the back of my book asking for a book review, but as other
authors are likely doing the same thing, the person who purchased your book is
likely to turn a blind eye, and so far has yielded no reviews.
Email
Customers on Amazon who Read your Genre
I
went through Amazon reviewers who leave copious book reviews. I am careful to
find a fan of the genre that I write in (ie, thrillers). I also looked for customers
who posted reviews on a book that exhibits my book under ‘people who brought
this book also brought...’
For
every fifty emails put out, I got two responses. I was lucky one of the
responses resulted in a book review. Most book reviewers are busy and get
inundated with requests for book reviews. Care is needed here that you do not spam.
Send
Free Copies of Your Book to Book Review Magazines, Newspapers or Magazines
Dealing with Issues in Your Book
I
sent my books to several book review magazines with the possibility of getting
a book review. None resulted. I also sent a copy to the local papers. The book
reviewer, after promising to take a look, decided he was suddenly too busy.
I
emailed magazines that deal with issues in my book. A Hard Lesson for example,
features a dyslexic pupil. I emailed PATOSS, a magazine that focuses on
learning difficulties. They are going to do a mention of my book in the back of
their magazine. I also emailed psychology magazines asking for a review on the
Shuttered Room, inspired in part by Eric Berne’s Games People Play, a
psychological textbook. Results are pending.
Do
a Free Book Giveaway on Goodreads
I
sent about 20 hard copies of my books to winners of Goodreads giveaways and
have garnered around 4 reviews from the giveaways. Some of the winners may not
read your genre, so there is the risk of readers being mismatched with the
genre of your book. However, Goodreads has proved a more successful method of getting book reviews, although it is costly in ordering and despatching hardcopies.
Do
a Free Ebook Giveaway Promo on Amazon
This
has proved to be the worst strategy for getting reviews. After giving away
thousands of books, I have received 2 honest reviews. A third review was given
by someone who obviously hadn’t read the book as he/she uploaded within hours
of posting and left several other reviews within hours. Dishing out novels on free
giveaways may not attract the serious readership of paying customers.
But
the Biggest problem with Amazon’s giveaways is that the Kindle device does not
allow the posting of reviews on Amazon, only a star rating on Goodreads. For
this reason, I would never do a free promo on Amazon again. Potential paid
uploads of my ebook have been sacrificed in free uploads.
Do
a Countdown Deal on Amazon
I
did a countdown promotion of one of my thrillers. Sadly, only one giveaway is
permitted on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk per 90 days. Again, no reviews but at
least I received some royalties on uploads. Again, text reviews cannot be
posted directly from the Kindle. Purchasers are likely to be averse to sign in
to their Amazon account to leave a review from a laptop or tablet after uploading
a book on a countdown deal.
Put
an Ad in the Newspaper Telling People about Your Free Book Promotion
I
put an ad in the local paper, appealing for book reviews. Although I got some
uploads, no reviews resulted. This might be due to the fact, again, the Kindle
does not permit the posting of reviews on Amazon, only a star rating on
Goodreads.
Sell
Your Books on Ebay
I
sold a few copies of my thrillers on Ebay with a note asking for book reviews,
but no reviews have resulted.
Sell
Your Books on a Market Stall or Car Boot
Again,
I have sold a few copies of my thrillers at car boots and stalls. Got some
pledges from customers to leave a book review, but again, no reviews have
resulted from this.
Give
Copies of Your Book to Charity Shops
I
have given numerous free books to my local charity shops. No reviews have
resulted so far.
Give
Copies of Your Book to Libraries
I
have donated copies of my books to my local library. They have been on loan a
few times. Early days yet, but no reviews so far.
Give
Your Book Away from Your Blog
I
have posted an article on this blog enabling people to receive my novels free
via email in whatever format they prefer. I have posted this link on Facebook,
Twitter, Goodreads and Amazon. Early days yet, will get back with results.
Doing an Author Talk Might Garner Book Reviews |
Conduct
a Book Talk
I
am doing a book talk on Tuesday July 8 at Coventry Central Library. Will get
back with the results.
Give
your Ebooks Away on LibraryThing
I
haven’t done this yet, as I don't meet the criteria, but you can email recipients free
digital copies of your book in their preferred format.
Conclusion
of Getting Book Reviews on Amazon or Other
I
have published books for 3 years and getting book reviews has proved extremely
difficult. So far, I have a handful of book reviews on my thrillers after
giving away thousands of books. The worst strategy in my experience is doing
free promos on Amazon. The Kindle does not permit the posting of a text review
onto Amazon itself, only a star rating on Goodreads. Most people don’t want the
rigmarole of signing into their Amazon account via computer or tablet and
writing a book review. It is understandable.
Selling
book on carboots, Ebay and market stalls has again been unsuccessful, as has
sending copies to magazines and newspapers. Goodreads giveaways has been the
most fruitful so far, but some Goodreads members may not leave a review on
Amazon itself. Emailing avid readers on Amazon who possess a reading profile
similar to your genre has yielded a review, but is very time consuming. As to my
book talk, I will get back with the results.
Ways of Getting Book Reviews
There
are many other strategies for getting book reviews and will try others in the future.
Waiting for book reviews is like waiting for the kettle to boil. Don’t watch it
for a while and reviews may miraculously appear. To date, reviews have been few
and far between.
This
is not to say that trying these strategies at getting book reviews will result in
the small success described here. All it takes is the issue of the book to the right
person. Sometimes, it seems to be down to sheer luck. In my case, hope must spring
eternal.
A Final Thought on Getting Book Reviews
You can pay for book reviews, such as Kirkus Reviews and high profile book blogs, but I am against paying for reviews for books. For this reason, I have not tried this strategy and therefore cannot provide feedback on this avenue.
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