Positive book reviews are key to book sales. They help you market your work, climb the bestseller lists, and generate interest in your future work. You may wonder how, as a first-time, unknown writer, you can get the positive book reviews and positive feedback that convince people to give your book a chance. Here are some tips to get positive book reviews that will work for writers in any genre.
Start with Your Beta Readers
Before you print and publish your first book, work with beta readers to get positive book reviews. In this article, we’ll talk about how working with beta readers can lead to better positive book reviews.
A beta reader is a reader who reads your book before it’s published. They can suggest changes and novel approaches before you finish your final draft.
Why should you take this step? It is the best way to get a preview of what readers will think of your book. It’s a low-cost way to know what you may want to change before you publish the book in its final form.
The best beta readers are those who regularly read in your chosen genre. They know what fellow readers are looking for, and they’re aware of what’s going on with the writers and trends in that genre.
What Positive Book Reviews Can Do for You
Beta readers are not editors. They won’t offer advice on plot structure, wording, spelling, or other in-depth critiques. What they offer, instead, is the eyes of a typical reader. That’s the typical reader you want to reach.
Sending your book to a beta reader is the final test of your book’s readability. The reader can tell you if the plot is solid, if the characters appeal, and if others who enjoy that genre are likely to want to read it. Beta readers may not be publishing or writing experts, but they are experts in knowing what the average reader wants.
Where to Find Beta Readers for Positive Book Reviews
- Critique Circle: This online gathering of writers features profiles of thousands of beta readers who are eager to lend their eyes to new and upcoming writers.
- Critique Match: This free service offers beta readers who read each other’s manuscripts.
- Scribophile: Join this site to get access to writing groups, beta readers, and discussion forums.
- Critters: A writer group that specializes in finding beta readers for fantasy, horror, or science fiction writers.
Tips for Working with Beta Readers for Positive Book Reviews
Make it clear that you don’t only want positive feedback and positive book reviews. You want an honest assessment of your book’s strengths and weaknesses. Specifically, you want to know how regular readers of your genre might react to the story, characters, and writing. Beta readers are invaluable. They can give a realistic appraisal of your book.
When you approach a reader to ask for their help, follow these guidelines.
- Don’t send a first draft. Revise and polish the manuscript before sending it to a reader. Send a revised version that’s almost publication-ready.
- Pitch the novel or nonfiction book to make it exciting. Make it short and intriguing. If you’ve written a marketing book blurb already, use that.
- Include some sample pages.
- Work with readers who enjoy your genre. Don’t send your historical fantasy to a beta reader who mostly reads serious nonfiction, or vice versa.
- Be sure the reader you choose represents the general run of readers of your genre.
- Ask what format they prefer. While sending a digital PDF is easy for you, many beta readers prefer reading books in print. Yes, it will take time and money to send several print copies, but go with their preference.
- Discuss the fee payment. Some beta readers work for free, but others require payment. The payment size can vary.
Get a Good Collection of Critiques
How many should you have? Try to get a minimum of three beta readers, but not more than seven. You want a thorough assessment, but you don’t want to be overwhelmed with information.
Prepare a Professional Review Kit for Positive Book Reviews
If you want reviewers to take your book seriously, you must present a professional image. Your review kit is a key part of your outreach, so be sure it shows you and your book in the best possible light. Your review kit should include:
- A digital file of your book’s cover art
- Printed version of your book’s cover in full color
- Press release announcing your book’s launch
- Short cover letter introducing yourself
Before you can get positive book reviews for your book, you need to get the attention of book review editors, book bloggers, book podcasters, and others who can give you the positive feedback you want. Start by presenting a professionally prepared review kit. Be sure to have copies of the book on hand to send to reviewers who express an interest in reading it. You’ll need print and digital copies that you can get out to them right away.
Use Your Email List or Social Media Followers to Build a Positive Book Reviews Team
Positive book reviews can launch your book into bestseller status on some e-book platforms. A well-planned flood of positive reviews on or before your launch day will give you a powerful boost. To get this started, tap into your team.
You’ve spent time building an email list or a social media following. You can also tap into your friends, family, past clients, past readers, and professional network. Come up with a list of 25 to 100 people who would be willing to write a review of your book in exchange for a free, pre-release copy.
Give each person on your list a set of specific instructions. Tell them when you want them to post the reviews and where. These reviews don’t have to be long. They should be concise and aimed at the type of reader you’re trying to attract. Give them a specific date you want the positive book reviews to appear, and schedule an email reminder a few days before launch day as a reminder. Ideally, you want the reviews to appear on your book launch day or the day before.
Submit Your Book for Rewards
Industry recognition is one of the best ways to drum up positive feedback for a self-published book. Winning an award can help you gain recognition, make more sales, and generate interest from reviewers. Some also pay a small fee to the winner, but their real value is in creating interest, excitement, and favorable reviews.
- IndieReader Industry Awards: This award company offers book reviews and runs the IndieReader Bestseller List. It holds a contest for the best new independent book each February with an award of $150.
- DBT Literary Awards: Digital Book Today has been in business for over 15 years. You can send a book by the October 10 annual deadline. Winners receive a digital emblem they can use in marketing and a $40 award.
Take a Creative Approach to Getting Positive Book Reviews
Positive feedback is critical to getting your book noticed. With a creative, multifaceted approach, you can get your book noticed by reviewers and readers. Start with beta readers, present a professional image, and use your following to create reviews that appear on your book launch date. Do you want to work with a printing company that always gets positive reviews? Contact Dazzle Printing.
