Yesterday, we talked about where to find book reviewers. If you missed that post, go back and take a look because I gave you links to book review directories. You will want to access those directories and contact some of those reviewers.
The next obvious question is how do you approach book reviewers?
Some of them have submission guidelines at their websites/blogsites. Check them out and follow them. What genres does the reviewer accept? Does he/she review self-published/independent published books? How do they prefer to be approached—via a contact form at their site or by email? Will they review ebooks? In which formats? Some will accept PDF files. Others use only Kindle or Nook readers. Of course, there are those who read only print books.
Unless the particular reviewer requests otherwise, I generally email a request for a review. I put “Request for Review” or “Request for Review—Cat-related mystery” or “Review Request for Mystery Involving Cats” in the subject line. I start out with the title of the book, what format it is in (print, Kindle, etc.) and publication date. I may say, “Please consider reviewing Cat-Eye Witness, the 2nd in my Klepto Cat Mystery series.”
Then I will provide a brief synopsis of the book and I offer a shortened Amazon link to the book (or you could give the link to the book page at your website), so the reviewer can see your amazing cover. You could post the cover in your email if you want, thus saving the reviewer a step.
It is customary to send a free copy of your book to reviewers. My novels are both in Kindle, so I offer to send them a gift copy. Sometimes reviewers want the print copy and some will agree to take a look at the PDF version.
Make a note of the reviewers as you contact them and then write down their responses. Some won’t respond at all. Others are very friendly and like to communicate with authors.
Most reviewers keep pretty busy reading and reviewing. So don’t expect to see your review posted for several weeks—in some cases, months.
And you can’t always expect a good review, either. Remember, you are asking for a personal opinion. Some reviewers are bound to find fault with your writing, something they dislike about your story or your characters. Some of the bestselling books get mixed reviews. Just look at the blockbuster “50 Shades of Grey.” Book one garnered 21,807 reviews and only 9,575 are 5-star reviews. “The Hunger Games” has a better overall rating with 17,684 reviews. 1,393 are only one, two or three-stars. My various books have received a one or two-star review in the same week they got one or two rave 5-star reviews.
Why solicit reviews? It’s another way to get exposure for your book. Reviews stacking up at Amazon give your book more credibility. Many of those reviewers also post your reviews at their websites or blogsites. They may use Twitter and/or Facebook to bring attention to your book. And so can you. When your book gets a new review, you should go into action Tweeting, blogging, posting it at Facebook and so forth.