A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Yay! You Got Some Good Reviews, Now What Happens? When do the increased sales start?


 

It is Tuesday. Time to tall turkey. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.

Today's topic addresses book reviews. Why are they important and what they will do for you as an author. And why a lot of reviews do not turn immediately into a lot of increased sales.

Why you should care about reviews:

  • Reviews get the news out about your book. Even bad reviews can result in publicity that brings out book sales.
  • Some bookstores (e.g., the Barnes and Noble chain) usually check out book reviews before stocking a book from an independent publisher (which is a hard-to-get agreement to begin with); in my experience, the minimum required is 25 good (4-5 stars) reviews.
  • There are a significant number of people who will buy books based on reviews.
  • Good reviews can bring you opportunities for consultation, workshops, and interviews -- which, in turn, can sell your book.

Why do reviews not turn immediately into a significant boost in sales:

  • Reviews get posted wherever the reviewer would like to post them. In some cases, they may be posted in only esoteric places. Ask the reviewer to also post the review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads.
  • Potential readers -- those you want to reach -- may not be reading the places your reviews are being posted. if you are writing about a niche topic, then the reviews need to be done by those niche reviewers.
  • The word may not be getting out. It is not up to reviewers to get the word out. It is up to you, the author, to get the review results out. Share your reviews everywhere you can: on your blog, on your website, on your social media platforms (Twitter, Face Book, Instagram. etc.). 
  • Too much time may have elapsed since the review came out. Book buyers who read reviews may be receiving the newest set now, and yours may not be among them. So, make sure you are constantly seeking new reviews and make sure that old reviews continue to circulate (you will need to take responsibility for that).
  • Pull out all the best quotes from your reviews and upfront them on your home page.
  • Periodically update your press release with new review information and distribute the press releases again.
  • Look for where you can share new reviews -- or endorsements -- or endorsements pulled from reviews. Are there newsletters, magazines, local media that would print or include a blurb from a great review? Check it out. 
  • Use good reviews to tempt bloggers who review books to review your book, too.

The bottom line is that reviews are indeed important. The more the better, However, if no one reads 90 of your 100 reviews, the "more" does not matter. You have to make sure to spread the word about your reviews over and over and over and over again. Once or twice is not enough.  

Lesson for today's Tuesday talk: Getting a review is only the first step. Spreading the word about the review is critical--and that responsibility belongs to the author.




Read more posts about publishing HERE.




The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 18 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

                             

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 in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book?
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Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25)
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