Getting Reviews

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One thing all authors want? Reviews. But getting them can be hard, especially if you’re new and relatively unknown.
I don’t have hundred of reviews for my books. Fact is, many of the authors who are regular visitors here have far more reviews than I do. I know this, but I still know a few methods to get reviews.
1.Use Google Docs to create a form for people to sign up to help you with your blog tour and make one of the options a review of your new release. Offer them a PDF or MOBI copy. This is an easy way to get exposure, a review, and a blog feature all in one.
2.Ask authors you’re acquainted with if they know good reviewers. Chances are they do, and the reviewers they know are probably awesome.
3.Search blogs and other sites for reviewers. Fact is, there are COUNTLESS book review blogs out there, which means you can find an infinite amount of bloggers/reviewers to ask for a review.

TIP #1:Check their guidelines to make sure they are accepting books for review, what genres they accept, what formats they like, whether or not they’ll post the review on Amazon and Goodreads, and how they treat reviews. Every reviewer and review site is different. 

TIP #2:Send an email with a blurb, all information they ask for, and the file if they need it. Then wait to hear back. It could take 2-3 months before you get a review. 

TIP #3:Check out Manic Readers. Sign up for free, add your book(s) to your profile, and request a review. You’ll be able to select from a long list of reviewers in the depot.

TIP #4: You can also try The Indie View's reviewer list. (Thanks, Lidy!)

Image from Wikimedia.

If I can get someone to read one of my books on the toilet, I think I've succeeded as an author. :P

4.Check out Goodreads. There are many groups for authors and readers in every genre. Many of these groups have a forum for authors to request reviews. Submit your info to these in the form of a comment or a new topic.

TIP #4:You may not get anyone interested or you may get many. Make sure, before you send a copy of your book, that you reiterate the genre and length to make sure they are fine with it. 

TIP #5:Don’t send your book to just anyone who wants to review it. I got a request from someone in a Goodreads group who said he wanted a swap for his book that is about...get this...bad reviews he's given authors. Um, really? No thanks!

5.Submit to Amazon Top Reviewers. Go HERE and check out reviewer profiles for ones that sound like the right fit for your book. Check under their contact info and send a polite email. Make sure to give them the blurb and all the relevant information about your book (length, genre, etc.), tell them you’ll give them a free copy, ask them to let you know if they are interested and thank them for their time.

TIP #6:Read some of their reviews to see if you like them.
 

QUESTION: How do you get reviews?