Support for Indie Authors discussion

The best way to get more reviews is simply to wait until more readers read your book and post more reviews.

I finished contacting like 300 bloggers yesteday. (Yes, 300!)

Like 5% of them answered me and decided to review my book. So I'm counting with 15 incoming reviews.

Owen wrote: "The best way to get more reviews is simply to wait until more readers read your book and post more reviews."

That and write more books.

Nancy wrote: "I just launched on 6/3, but I've already garnered 9 reviews on Amazon as well as here. A couple weeks before I launched, I set up a LibraryThing giveaway for reviews, I've contacted some bloggers, ..."

This information is sooooo helpful Nancy, thank you so much!! I signed up for LT and claimed my author page, can't wait to check out their giveaway system. Thanks again!

I think my comment on here got deleted for some reason... Does anyone know why?

I'm totally frustrated about getting reviews. I went through a process of contacting chick lit bloggers, and only got a handful of responses, mostly from people who were willing to feature the book on their site, but not review it. Huge waste of time. I even wrote a heartfelt letter at the end of my book, pleading with the readers for reviews. I know several hundred people have read the book, based on the KDP pages read, so how come nobody reviews it? Whenever I read an independent book without many reviews, I make an effort to put something up.

Maybe when I have some more free time in another few months, one of those nonreciprocal review site will be a good idea...

Hey guys,

This is my first post here :).

Anyway, reviews are difficult to get. In my limited experience (I write Paranormal Romance) the best way to get them is to have your book up for free. Usually when you first publish it. And I know that sounds crazy, because how do you actually sell anything? I think it's only a reasonable strategy if you have multiple other books published too. Usually works the best for a first in series, which I'm sure almost everyone here has already heard before. But it's still true :).

Personally, I'd rather give away my work for free and use the time I would have spent contacting people to write more. A new book is definitely the best form of marketing, at least it has been for me. I guess that might be different for each writer.

Of course, I'm not someone making money hand over fist either. Just my two cents!

A.F.B. wrote: "I have some reviews on Amazon, but that's about all so far. I did a GR Giveaway, but neither recipient reviewed it.

At the moment, if any one see's my Goodreads details, on google, it shows a no ..."

Guys, we have a spot for requesting reviews. Please keep this to your experiences getting reviews to help others on the process.

Has anyone gotten many reviews from Net Galley?

Annabelle wrote: "I'm totally frustrated about getting reviews. I went through a process of contacting chick lit bloggers, and only got a handful of responses, mostly from people who were willing to feature the book..."

Welcome to the club.

C.L. wrote: "Has anyone gotten many reviews from Net Galley?"

I've had two reviews from NetGalley - one from a 1-month "experiment" last November and one from the current 3-month period. Fortunately both very positive reviews... (wipes sweat from brow.)

I did the whole "LibraryThing" giveaway last month in the hopes of giving a few copies away in exchange for some reviews and I had 35 people sign up. Of those 35, about 15 replied to my offer to send the book to their kindles. Of those 15 that got the book...NONE have left a review. I guess I wouldn't do that again. Just wanted everyone to know what didn't work for me!

Grace wrote: "I did the whole "LibraryThing" giveaway last month in the hopes of giving a few copies away in exchange for some reviews and I had 35 people sign up. Of those 35, about 15 replied to my offer to se..."

Sometimes it takes longer than a month for people to read the book. The lady who sends reviews to my blog is a Netgalley reviewer, so they are a legitimate company.