I talk a lot about the importance of getting book reviews. Yet, this seems to be an area of book promotion that is sorely neglected by authors. Perhaps it is because they don’t understand what I mean by book reviews. Another very real possibility is that they can’t afford to send out review copies.
Those of you who publish with a pay-to-publish company and some of you who self-publish have invested a lot of money in your books. All you see at the onset of your career as an author is the money flying out the window and your lifestyle (such as it is) in jeopardy due to your silly idea that you should become a published author. What were you thinking? Now, here you are facing more and more expenses and with no sign that you’ll ever get even a minimal return on your investment.
The idea of sending out 100 or even 10 review copies seems like a huge expense with no guarantees. You figure it could cost you anywhere from $100 to $1,000 or more in expenses and losses. Perhaps you had a review at a friend’s website and saw little benefit. So you are gun shy when it comes to getting more reviews.
The other problem I mentioned is more of a stigma. Authors don’t look beyond the concept of prepublication reviews in the prestigious Library Journal, etc. But that isn’t what I am proposing to you—not at all.
Do you subscribe to publications (magazines, newsletters, etc.) within a particular niche? If your book is nonfiction and related to a specific field, you are most likely familiar with several publications on that topic. I mean, the scope of magazines and newsletters is HUGE. If you write fiction, you probably subscribe to magazines that either publish works in that genre or that discuss the genre. Do these magazines/newsletters ever publish book reviews? Most likely some of them do. If they do, so do the myriad of others in this category—those you aren’t even aware of. And many of them care not whether the book (if it is a decent book) was published by a traditional royalty, name publisher or if it was created on a farm out of cornhusks.
I’ve had my publishing/book promotion books reviewed in dozens of niche publications over the years. And I believe that the expense of sending books for reviews was definitely offset by sales because of the reviews. But reviews aren’t only about sales. They are also about exposure—having your book, the title and your name before your audience—your potential readers.
Certainly, book reviews are not the only activity you should pursue, but it is important piece to the gigantic promotional puzzle that you must start working as soon as you become a published author.
Book Promotion Opportunity
I have a promotional opportunity for an author who is currently pursuing or who has in the past pursued reviews in their niche for their books. I’m in the process of interviewing authors for my upcoming book on book promotion. I need those who pursue book reviews. I’d also like to talk to authors who are doing affiliate marketing and others with unique promotional activities going on. PLFry620@yahoo.com.