Connecting Readers and Writers discussion

Help needed!
Does anyone know *how* to promote reviews?
I have many books out there, and many genuine reviews *from real reviewers*. Problem is, I don't know how to spread the word.
Any advice appreciated!

Margaret wrote: "Help needed!
Does anyone know *how* to promote reviews?
I have many books out there, and many genuine reviews *from real reviewers*. Problem is, I don't know how to spread the word.
Any advice app..."

Hey Margaret!

The reviewer is the one who does the promotion. In other words, reviewers need to have social voice. Unfortunately, todays social noise is deafening. I own a company that does reviews, and I find that what authors believe to be enough reviews is not.

If you are self published, you need more social reviews and buzz than you presumed. Publishers assign agents to authors who give away book after book after book. That comes at a cost to the author. The author pays full price typically for those books to be handed out, yet there is no guarantee that any reviews will be left. Shades author stood in Times Square and handed out 100,000 copies of the book. That’s why it was a success. 100000*1%=1000 voices that were like, OMG this book is awesome. Now, I’m not saying to invest in 100,000 reviews, but I think you get the drift.

Feel free to contact me.

Best,
Darryl

Margaret wrote: "Help needed!
Does anyone know *how* to promote reviews?
I have many books out there, and many genuine reviews *from real reviewers*. Problem is, I don't know how to spread the word.
Any advice app..."

Margaret,

An author and their publisher do not solicit reviews, they promote the book. Reviews will follow.

The best promotional tools, according to the books, literary magazines, classes, and seminars that expound upon the subject:

A website, dedicated exclusively to the book and its author, and designed and maintained by a professional in the field.

A blog, professionally written and consistently updated by the author.

Public presentations and book signings at book stores, libraries, book clubs, and sponsored literary fairs and conventions.

Business cards, push cards, thank-you cards, and bookmarks - designed specifically for the book being promoted and its author. To be handed out and posted at all book-related events.

I hope this information proves helpful.

Jim

Jim wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Help needed!
Does anyone know *how* to promote reviews?
I have many books out there, and many genuine reviews *from real reviewers*. Problem is, I don't know how to spread the wor..."

Jim,
Yes websites, and strong social presence online and offline need to work in unison. Branding and marketing go hand-and-hand. It’s a full time job unto itself.
Publishers hand out books. Reviews on the other hand have visual appetite for potential purchasers. A book with 500 4 star reviews vets attention. While a book with 10 reviews can be passed up. A potential reader before buying wants to know about the book. I know that I do, and I bet you do too. One of the key things I’m after is how the story and characters flow. I’m also after the deeply written reviews both bad and good. Content interest also plays a major factor here as well. Slow development of plots and wordy character development for me is, yawn. Strong story development with equal character screams buy for I. Would you not agree?

Darryl wrote: "Jim wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Help needed!
Does anyone know *how* to promote reviews?
I have many books out there, and many genuine reviews *from real reviewers*. Problem is, I don't know how to sp..."

Darryl,

My greatest contribution to promotion is probably that I allow the marketing representative and publicist, assigned by the publisher to promote my novel, to do their job and stay out of their way.

I demonstrate my appreciation for the time and effort that they expend on my behalf by following up on every lead, provided by them, ready to professionally deliver a well-prepared presentation with book-signing pen in-hand.

Darryl wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Help needed!
Does anyone know *how* to promote reviews?
I have many books out there, and many genuine reviews *from real reviewers*. Problem is, I don't know how to spread the wor..."


Thank you, Darryl. There is so much effort involved in marketing. You are right in that I did not realise *how many* reviews are needed to make an impact.

Jim wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Help needed!
Does anyone know *how* to promote reviews?
I have many books out there, and many genuine reviews *from real reviewers*. Problem is, I don't know how to spread the wor..."

Thanks, Jim. I have a Twitter and a Facebook account, and I blog quite often. I'll look into all the other things you've mentioned. Never thought about business cards...