How To Get Blog Reviews

A few writers have asked me recently for advice about how to get their books reviewed on blogs. I’ve found myself copying and pasting the same advice from email to email, so I thought it might be helpful to post it here, for more new writers to see.

 

Step One: Figuring out which blogs you should approach

I use the following criteria:

1. The blogger’s voice/style. If I like the way they write – if it makes me think the two of us would get along well over coffee, that we’d have lots to say to each other and have great conversations – I’ll approach them. You can tell this by reading their reviews – especially of books you’ve read too.

2. How many comments does each post receive? If the posts get few comments, the readership/engagement is likely to be low. If each post gets over 10 comments, my interest is more piqued. Over 30, I’m hitting it for sure.

3. Number of registered followers. Not all blogs have this, but on some you can see how many people are networking with the blogger. Over 300 is good. Over 1000 is great. Similarly, you can follow the blogger’s link to their Twitter account and see how big their following is. Over 1000 is good. Over 10,000 is phenomenal.

4. Awards on their page. These awards are passed from blogger to blogger, and basically they don’t mean anything about quality. But they mean that the blogger is a good networker. Often, one great blog review will lead to a few more if other bloggers’ interest is piqued.

5. Review policy. Most book bloggers have this – it’s a page on their site where they say what kind of books they like to read. You want to make sure yours is a good fit.

 

*Note: You don’t need the blog to meet all these criteria. Personally, I find #1 & #5 the most important. But I do look at the rest.

 

Step Two: The Approach

Once you’ve decided you’d like to approach a blog, I find a simple formula works. Send an informal email where you:

(a) compliment the blog

(b) suggest your book for their review

(c) let them know you’re available for an interview or guest post even if they don’t have time to read your book

The compliment should be sincere (you’re approaching blogs you like, after all) and specific. Basically, you’re letting the blogger know that this isn’t a form request, that you’re querying them specifically.

 

Step Three: The Follow-Up

Stay in touch with the blogger. Connect on Facebook and Twitter. Value your relationship with them – consider them an amiable colleague. These people are the publicity of the future.