With the holidays just around the corner I thought we might look at some ideas that may help authors get more reviews. With everyone in good cheer—the holidays may be the perfect time to approach those all-important reviewers!
Provide Reader Copies To Relevant Book Bloggers.
Start getting reviews before the book launches. You can use online tools to find early reviewers, or reach out to relevant bloggers with a pitch on the book. While they can’t review books on retailer sites until release day, they can post the reviews to their websites, blogs, or Goodreads.
Offer Free Copies To Top Amazon Reviewers.
Reach out to Amazon users with a “Top Reviewer” badge who’ve reviewed books similar to yours. They’ve proven themselves to be experienced reviewers — they know what makes a good review, they’re willing to take the time to write a truly helpful review, and they will likely have a quick turnaround on reading and reviewing.
Put Together A Special Holiday Giveaway
Book giveaways can take various forms, including blog tours or contests on your blog or Facebook page. Providing free copies to your most loyal fans in exchange for an honest review can help a new book get traction, plus it rewards them for their loyalty.
Mention Writing A Review In The Back Of The Book
A high number of reviews makes a book more enticing to potential readers. We found that when a book has at least 150 five-star reviews on Amazon or Goodreads, including the number of five-star reviews in the copy increased clicks.
Submit A Book For Relevant Editorial Reviews.
Many genres have publications where authors can submit their books for editorial reviews. Some of these publications require submitting your book months before publication, so plan to do this early!