by Sherrie Wilkolaski
Book marketing takes dedication. Some days you may just not know where to focus your 
efforts, so why not kick your week off with a new marketing task to keep you on track. If you need a little guidance, stop by our blog every Monday and get your inspiration. We’re kicking off a new weekly series to help our authors become more focused on their marketing, without feeling so overwhelmed. Every Monday, tune in for our “Marketing Goal of the Week” and you’re sure to find a tip to get you one step closer to book marketing success!
Marketing Goal: Focus on Book Reviews
Book reviews can do wonders for an author no matter how long their book has been out. This week, set a goal of reaching out to five authors who write in your genre and ask them if they would be interested in reviewing your book.
- Select five books that are similar to your own title, in your genre. Once you’ve identified books that are like your own, then reach out to the author directly to see if they would be interested in reviewing your book.
- Go local. Be sure to take a look at authors in your own backyard. Connecting with writers in your own area will provide you with other resources to help further your writer career and help to promote your book in your own market.
- Offer to provide a reciprocal review. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. By offering to do a book review in exchange for another author reviewing yours is a fair play, and win-win for everyone.
- Include professional reviewers. Reach out to professional book reviewers. There are many who will review books for free. Here is a great resource: http://www.theindieview.com/indie-reviewers/ Be sure to identify reviewers who are interested in your genre. Have patience, it may take some time for the reviewer to get your review done, but you’re getting your book into their pipeline.
- Ask for reviews to be posted on Amazon and Goodreads. When you reach out to reviewers to post their reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Be polite and provide direct links to your Amazon and Goodreads pages, so the reviewer has easy access to your book, once they are ready to post the review.
- Don’t forget to send a thank you. Once you have received your book review, be sure to send the reviewer a thank you and give a shout out to them via social media.
Don’t forget to promote their review on your website and in your media kit. Get in the habit of reaching out for reviews on a regular basis. This marketing exercise can be done for the lifetime of your book.
Post links to your book reviews below and share your success stories!
