Marcia Greer Shares Amazon Reviews Ideas

Thank you to today's guest blogger Marcia Greer. As many of my blog subscribers know, I am big on getting reviews to help market books--but not paid reviews.  You will find more on getting reviews including how to get reviewed by going through the back door of some of the big review journals in The Frugal Book Promoter. And still more information like a list of major review journals on my Web site at http://howtodoitfrugally.com/reviews_and_review_journals.htm.

How to Get Your Book Reviewed On Amazon

As an author who aspires to be successful and well known, there is no better way to gain potential readers than on Amazon. A properly reviewed book on the world's biggest online retailer will give you the publicity you need. However, it can be difficult to get your book reviewed if you’re self-published or don’t have a literary agent. Yet, if you employ the help of some useful little tips, then there is no reason why your book won’t be reviewed well by hundreds on Amazon!

Look at the Top Reviewers on Amazon
One of the best ways to get your book reviewed is to look at the list of top reviewers on the website. These consumers take their "job" very seriously, and many have reviewed upwards of seven thousand products! If you contact several and offer them a copy of your book, then they might be willing to review it. However, keep in mind that they’re not being paid, and that this is an honest program. Top reviewers are the best for a reason. Their trusted and real feedback can influence the average buyer into purchasing a book or product.

2) Contact Book Blogs
Another great way to get your book reviewed on Amazon is to contact top book blogs. You should contact blogs that fit the demographic of your intended readers. Ask the owner of the blog if they would be willing to review it on their website and on Amazon. This is a great way to get additional coverage, and a review from a trusted critic. Be prepared to ask several blogs, as many might not respond. If you’re persistent and polite, then they should eventually say yes if your book appeals to them.

Give it Away!
Why not consider giving your book away for a weekend, or even a whole week? You’ll have an increase of readers who adore finding free things. Anyone who downloads the book could be a potential reviewer. You will be opening up your book to a wider audience, and that can give you the coverage you need. If thousands of people end up positively reviewing the book, then giving it away for free during a limited time is more than worth it.

As you can see, there are several ways to get your book reviewed on Amazon. The key to success is to be creative with your approach. You want your book to be positively reviewed by many people. However, that cannot happen if nobody knows it exists. You need to create buzz if you want your book to become a best seller. Popularity isn’t difficult if you’re willing to seek it out in unexpected places, like the Amazon top reviewer list!

Marcia Greer is an English teacher and writer who writes all about literature and authordom. Her most recent work is a piece for aspiring English teachers on The 10 Best Online Masters in Education Degree Programs For 2014.

-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.