You will hear it time and time again that the best way to build interest in your book is to get reviews. That’s true. However when you are new on the block there are methods you can use to help you get those reviews. But through my experience, it has been bad. Every. Single. Time.
Authors who’ve already flown high into superstardom say it’s good to have reviewers read your book and post it in their platform. Now that’s a good idea… Helps when they’re your friends too. See if they’re not your friends, they sometimes make excuses why they won’t read your book. This didn’t happen often, but you can see how off-putting that can be.
No, the more common thing that would happen to me is that they would agree to read my book and except a copy and then….. Nothing. That’s the end of the story. You give them a free copy for them not to uphold their end of the bargain.
Now mind you. I’m no dolt. I know you have to read their terms and I do every time. And I always check if it says they can refuse and stop at any point and some do. And what they also say is that if they quit partway, they will inform the author. They also say sometimes they just lose track of it in the piles they have so just follow up. And when I did…. Nothing. The story ends again.
So what does this mean? Nothing. At the end of the day one reviewer stated was that we are not entitled to their reviews. We are not at their beck and call. WE as the authors are not to boss them. They’re right. But where they fail to be is when they get on their high horse because you call them on their own stipulations and they refuse to fulfill something they created. After a countless number of attempts I only managed to get own review while the rest rejected me, ignored me, or accepted the copy and never wrote to me again.
Now I think, how else can I get reviews? Pay for one? Hahaha, well now this is how you get phony reviews on your dollar and people who throw out random words that sound like they read it but they only read the back cover, the first five pages and the last five at the end. It becomes clear when they make a statement about who’s your main character and get it wrong. And if by chance one of those pay methods have a free option on an “official” channel. Guess whaaat? You’re not getting a review—PERIOD! It says you have to wait longer like 10 to 12 weeks. It’s been three years for me. It’ll come through soon. Watch.
How do I get reviews? Give it away for free? Sure. Sure. Sure! That’s a SURE fire way to have hundreds of people come by, take a copy and run off. Your fault for expecting one without stating you’d like one. And even if and when you did—it’ll all be on good faith. It’s like hoping after you build someone’s house you hope they’ll pay you even though you two sign no contract that they do.
How do I get reviews? Try giving it to “official” channels that will show it to interested people. Sure… Oh, wait. They still won’t because they don’t have to because they can quit partway. Or the more likely ending is since you can’t promote it beyond what you’ve been doing, and the channel you gave it to won’t promote, just paste it in chronological order before other request come through, you fall into the abyss again and no one reads it.
How do I get reviews? Wait and see. People will come… Sounds stupid right? It is. No one knows you exist. So all you’re doing is hoping a miracle comes along and you are a hit through word of mouth. A thing that isn’t a common occurrence.
How do I get reviews? Ask friends and family………………………………………………..
Then HOW do I get reviews? Guys… I have no God damn idea. I really don’t. All those things sound good on paper, but in my experience, none of those things have done anything for me. The reviews I have now are a result of all that. Most of which are obvious. Only five are genuine.
So. Since I didn’t help, I suggest you guys find those who can.
Authors who’ve already flown high into superstardom say it’s good to have reviewers read your book and post it in their platform. Now that’s a good idea… Helps when they’re your friends too. See if they’re not your friends, they sometimes make excuses why they won’t read your book. This didn’t happen often, but you can see how off-putting that can be.
No, the more common thing that would happen to me is that they would agree to read my book and except a copy and then….. Nothing. That’s the end of the story. You give them a free copy for them not to uphold their end of the bargain.
Now mind you. I’m no dolt. I know you have to read their terms and I do every time. And I always check if it says they can refuse and stop at any point and some do. And what they also say is that if they quit partway, they will inform the author. They also say sometimes they just lose track of it in the piles they have so just follow up. And when I did…. Nothing. The story ends again.
So what does this mean? Nothing. At the end of the day one reviewer stated was that we are not entitled to their reviews. We are not at their beck and call. WE as the authors are not to boss them. They’re right. But where they fail to be is when they get on their high horse because you call them on their own stipulations and they refuse to fulfill something they created. After a countless number of attempts I only managed to get own review while the rest rejected me, ignored me, or accepted the copy and never wrote to me again.
Now I think, how else can I get reviews? Pay for one? Hahaha, well now this is how you get phony reviews on your dollar and people who throw out random words that sound like they read it but they only read the back cover, the first five pages and the last five at the end. It becomes clear when they make a statement about who’s your main character and get it wrong. And if by chance one of those pay methods have a free option on an “official” channel. Guess whaaat? You’re not getting a review—PERIOD! It says you have to wait longer like 10 to 12 weeks. It’s been three years for me. It’ll come through soon. Watch.
How do I get reviews? Give it away for free? Sure. Sure. Sure! That’s a SURE fire way to have hundreds of people come by, take a copy and run off. Your fault for expecting one without stating you’d like one. And even if and when you did—it’ll all be on good faith. It’s like hoping after you build someone’s house you hope they’ll pay you even though you two sign no contract that they do.
How do I get reviews? Try giving it to “official” channels that will show it to interested people. Sure… Oh, wait. They still won’t because they don’t have to because they can quit partway. Or the more likely ending is since you can’t promote it beyond what you’ve been doing, and the channel you gave it to won’t promote, just paste it in chronological order before other request come through, you fall into the abyss again and no one reads it.
How do I get reviews? Wait and see. People will come… Sounds stupid right? It is. No one knows you exist. So all you’re doing is hoping a miracle comes along and you are a hit through word of mouth. A thing that isn’t a common occurrence.
How do I get reviews? Ask friends and family………………………………………………..
Then HOW do I get reviews? Guys… I have no God damn idea. I really don’t. All those things sound good on paper, but in my experience, none of those things have done anything for me. The reviews I have now are a result of all that. Most of which are obvious. Only five are genuine.
So. Since I didn’t help, I suggest you guys find those who can.
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