How to Reach Out for Reviews
When you want to buy something, what do you trust more: the ads or the reviews? The reviews, right? With modern-day technology available to consumers, reviews have become equally as important as marketing and advertising. Advertisements will let consumers know about a product, but reviews will be what makes them decide whether to actually buy it. This is true for novels as well. Readers, like all other consumers, want unbiased and honest opinions about what they’re buying. That’s something they can only get through trusted reviewers.
As we’ve stated previously, using a website like Netgalley is a great way to find reviewers with influence. However, you should always do some additional digging and find bloggers, reviewers, readers, and press outlets to reach out to. The first step to doing this successfully: do your research. You need to make sure you’re reaching out to blogs, readers, and press outlets that relate to your book and/or genre in some way. You likely won’t have much luck if you’ve written a romance and you’re reaching out to bloggers who primarily review suspense novels.
You also want to have either a digital file of your book or some physical copies handy that you can send to these outlets if they’re interested. Offering them a complimentary copy of your book is a great incentive to obtain a review and a great marketing strategy to engage directly with their following. As we’ve said before, though, we’re writers, not PR experts. So for those unsure of how to make contact with these platforms, here are some templates to get you started:
Bloggers or Amazon/Goodreads reviewers
Dear [INSERT REVIEWER NAME],
I discovered your work at [where you found them] and thoroughly enjoyed your review of [name of book]. I recently wrote a book that appeals to a similar audience, [name of my book]. If you think you might be interested in reading it and perhaps reviewing it, I’ll gladly send you complimentary copy. Thank you so much for your time.
Best Regards,
[Author Name]
[Your website]
[Your social media links]
Readers (to put at the end of your book)
Thank you for joining me in telling the story of [x and y characters]. I hope they touched your soul the way they touched mine.
If you loved the book and have a minute to spare, I would really appreciate a short review on the page or site where you bought the book. Your help in spreading the word is greatly appreciated. Reviews from readers like you make a huge difference.
Thank you!
[Author Name]
[Your website]
[Your social media links]
Press Outlets
Dear [INSERT JOURNALIST NAME],
I really enjoyed the piece you did on [date] in [name of publication]. I think that [cause] is very important.
I recently published [name of book], which is very relevant to [name of cause] [link to Amazon or major retailer].
[List your qualifications, i.e. why you are an expert on a given topic.] I would be happy to send you a review copy to possibly include in your next [piece name].
Best,
[Author Name]
[Your website]
[Your social media links]
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