The following is a guest post from Dana Lynn Smith, The Savvy Book Marketer, author of Monday's giveaway book How to Get Your Book Reviewed. She graciously offered this post so you can receive a taste of what the winner of Monday's book giveaway received. By the way, the winner is Toby Lynne. Congrats!
As I emphasized Monday, this is a must have for those of you marketing a book. As long as I've been in this business, I have to admit I'll never look at book reviews the same again . . . or underestimate their need in our quest to be successful authors. ~Hope
7 Reasons Why Reviews Sell Books
by Dana Lynn Smith, The Savvy Book Marketer
Book reviews are a powerful marketing tool for books of all types. Not only do they bring books to the attention of people who might never have heard of them otherwise, but they provide "social proof" that the book is valuable, and help the reader determine if the book is a good fit for them.
Reviews, customer testimonials and endorsements are a critical element in any book marketing plan. Here are seven ways that reviews sell books:
1. Readers discover new books by reading reviews in book review websites, online reader communities, literary journals, newspapers, magazines, newsletters and other places.
2. Bookstore buyers and librarians base many of their ordering decisions on reviews in the major book review journals. A review in a major publication like Library Journal can result in a thousand or more orders.
3. Reviews posted on online bookstores encourage sales once potential customers land on your book page. Reviews can be the tipping point that causes customers to click the buy button.
4. Endorsements, testimonial quotes and review excerpts are terrific promotional tools for your book cover, website and other promotional materials.
5. If you are seeking a book distributor or seeking a traditional publisher for a self-published book, reviews can help establish the value of the book.
6. When you are soliciting media coverage or speaking engagements, book reviews help show that you are an authority on your topic and your book has been well received.
7. Good reviews can close the sale for customers who are hesitating about buying your book, or choosing between several similar books.
Whether you are promoting a new book or one that's been out for a while, be sure to have a strategy in place for getting book reviews, endorsements and testimonials from a variety of sources.
Excerpted from How to Get Your Book Reviewed, by Dana Lynn Smith, available at www.GetBookReviews.net. Dana is a book marketing coach who helps authors and indie publishers learn how to sell more books through her how-to guides, blog, newsletter, and private coaching. Learn more at The Savvy Book Marketer.
3 comments:
Usually when I'm looking for a particular book to buy it's because of a review that I've read. Even an author whose work I know, I will usually read some reviews of a new work before spending money on it. Reviews are very important in selling ones product.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Hope, you are so great about providing details. Thank you for including the excerpt from this author and her wonderful book.
I do read the reviews and summaries in the online library descriptions. I keep lists of gift ideas for family and friends from reading reviews online and in print.
Now I will add getting book reviews to my to-do list, assuming I actually finish this book.
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