Support for Indie Authors discussion

I'm working on publishing a book next month. Right now I'm in my pre-launch phase where I've been reaching out to bloggers etc. However, I also want to reach out to authors and writers to review the book as well.

The thing is, I'm totally confused on how I would get this process to work, when the book isn't even released. If the pre-launch is set up through Kindle for example, can the reviewer leave a review prior to the launch date or do they have to wait for the release date? Is goodreads an option? Please help.

How do you set get reviews or set up before launch? I appreciate any advice.

Reviews can't be posted to Amazon until the book is officially released. If the book is on Goodreads, reviews can be posted before and after release by Goodreads members :).

Marie Silk wrote: "Reviews can't be posted to Amazon until the book is officially released. If the book is on Goodreads, reviews can be posted before and after release by Goodreads members :)."

Thank you!!

I got ten or so reviews on Goodreads before launch, and on launch day I did a social media blast letting people know that Amazon was open to reviews, and a lot of people cross posted.

As an author I recognise the importance of pre-release reviews.

However.

As a reader I really mistrust them!

I'm about to do the same thing. I was thinking about going live on Amazon, but not doing any release events. That way I can have a handful of reviews tucked in before I do the social media blast part. Not sure if it will work, but I'm gonna give it the college try!

Jane wrote: "As a reader I really mistrust them!"

Why do you mistrust them?

To the OP, contacting bloggers and asking them to read and review your books is a route you can take. You can do that manually, like using The Indie Review for finding bloggers that fit your book, or you can hire someone to do that for you. The blog tour company I use offers email blasting like that on top of things like blog tours and a NetGalley co-op. So far that's where my reviews and Goodreads ratings have come from, NetGalley.

I'm doing a book blitz prior to release (also through the tour company) and a blog tour just after the book's released. I'm also manually knocking on doors as it were, asking if bloggers would like to review. I've had the least success that route so far.

Thanks for the great info! What blog tour company are you using?

C.L. wrote: "I got ten or so reviews on Goodreads before launch, and on launch day I did a social media blast letting people know that Amazon was open to reviews, and a lot of people cross posted."

How did you get the reviews on goodreads?

Melonie wrote: "I'm about to do the same thing. I was thinking about going live on Amazon, but not doing any release events. That way I can have a handful of reviews tucked in before I do the social media blast pa..."

It doesn't hurt to try. That's the only way you'll see if it works.

Donna wrote: "Jane wrote: "As a reader I really mistrust them!"

Why do you mistrust them?

To the OP, contacting bloggers and asking them to read and review your books is a route you can take. You can do that m..."

Thank you for this information. What is a book blitz?

I am as lost as you are. My book will be released on Amazon in 2 weeks to 4 weeks but what I did is building a website where I can sell it too. So I put it in pre-order there for Aussie readers and friends. By the time it will be on Amazon I hope they will be able to review it.
All January, I will knock on doors hoping the press release I worked on will give me some publicity.

I'm about to release my 6th book, and as always, I'm overwhelmed as to where to begin. I. too, would like to know what a book blitz is.
What is the advantage of pre-orders? (I've never done them)

A book blitz is a marketing blitz. Either a blog tour or other advertising means to improve visibility on your books.
As for the advantages of pre-orders, why people have a chance to buy your book before it is out! Have a following, or even friends or family that will buy it? Having them pre-order your book before it releases can improve it's ranking right out the gate. At least, this is how the big 5 publishers use it. I don't know if we KDP authors get the same benefit.

I always wondered this. People can leave reviews on Goodreads before the books released as long as it's listed here on Goodreads. I suppose if Amazon has it listed with a date of it's expected release then you may be able to leave reviews although I don't know how Amazon works in that regard.

I know it's good to have a good amount of reviews before a books release but your right, how does one go about getting them? Well if you have an e-mail list then chances are these are your first readers and likely reviewers. You could send them the book for free although some may be so loyal and fans of yours that they will wait to purchase the book. This also works if you have a street team. A street team helps you promote your work so of course any time you have a new work they will be the first to read and leave a review.

Also doing a book launch on Facebook wouldn't hurt either. It's funny that I can list these things yet I don't have them and Facebook launches haven't been all that helpful but I am not going to let that stop me as I will keep trying and make the most of the lists and fans I do have and look for other ways similar to get reviews.

Donna wrote: "Jane wrote: "As a reader I really mistrust them!"

Why do you mistrust them?

To the OP, contacting bloggers and asking them to read and review your books is a route you can take. You can do that m..."

I mistrust pre release reviews because I have read many that are clearly fictional when you read the book for yourself.

if you need somebody to do a blitz for you and help with your release please contact me with the details of your book at [email protected] :) I'm happy to help. Maybe we can work together going forward as I am setting up a business. we can help each other

AskTamaraBrown, Writer reducing taxes wrote: "How did you get review on Goodreads?"

Netgalley, mostly. I also did a review alert through Xpresso Book Tours, and some of my beta readers left reviews, too. The Netgalley ones keep coming, too. I've gotten ten reviews in the last couple of weeks and I have 46 total ratings on Goodreads. I have 18 on Amazon.com, and another 8 on Amazon.ca.

C.L. wrote: "AskTamaraBrown, Writer reducing taxes wrote: "How did you get review on Goodreads?"

Netgalley, mostly. I also did a review alert through Xpresso Book Tours, and some of my beta readers left review..."

Thank you. I will check out Netgallery. However, I wanted to know how do you post the book to goodreads for a review? Right now it's in pre-order on Amazon.

AskTamaraBrown, Writer reducing taxes wrote: "C.L. wrote: "AskTamaraBrown, Writer reducing taxes wrote: "How did you get review on Goodreads?"

Netgalley, mostly. I also did a review alert through Xpresso Book Tours, and some of my beta reader..."

There's a button to add a book manually if it hasn't automatically populated. Usually goodreads takes Amazon feeds and makes listings itself, though.

Melonie wrote: "Thanks for the great info! What blog tour company are you using?"

Xpresso Book Tours. She's been great so far. My book blitz is at the end of the month and the blog tour is coming up at the end of next month.

Thanks, Donna. Netgally is above my pay grade.