Title: How Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically
Subtitle: How to get and use book reviews as part of a biable and ongoing campaign for self-published and traditionally published books
Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Published: HowToDoItFrugally Publishing
ISBN: 9781536948370
Purchase as e-book or paper on Amazon
Reviewed by Carolyn Wilhelm originally for Amazon
I like the writing style of this book as it has some humor.
The author asks, “WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO REACH REVIEWERS ON YOUR LIST? I’m glad you asked.” There is specific and down to earth advice such as: “Don’t say your book is “entitled.’ That’s the wrong word.”
I appreciate the index which makes the book quickly searchable. Put it in the research section.
Reviews have no value if they can’t be trusted. This book is not about how to manipulate the system. It’s about how to up your chances of getting reviews. Howard-Johnson suggests not sending you romance book to a highly literary reader of Russian poetry, for instance.
Terms you have maybe heard but do not understand are covered such ad print-on-demand (POD), sell sheets, industry standard, what metadata includes, how to emulate the process that big publishers use, and what great ratings can do for your book and how to manage them. She explains what Amazon Vine is all about, too. What is a praise page? How to quote with permission, and when is permission necessary?
Should you allow the look inside feature for your book on Amazon? Perhaps there are worries about plagiarizing—but think about it. In stores, people can open and read books. Should you pay for ads or not? What is a digital footprint on search engines? How should negative reviews be handled? What is the Amazon toolbox and how can it help? Do you know how to register a hashtag? How can you get a press pass? Authors want to know.
What is the right category for your e-book on Kindle? What about voting on Amazon? You have a choice to vote helpful (or not). Actually, voting “helpful” for reviews is Karma. What to do if a book is badly written or not worthwhile? What about catalogs — how-tos advantages and disadvantages?
The Q and A section is very helpful and is like having a conversation with an expert.
The author says a great cover design is essential, but it will be more effective if you use a three-dimensional one. She gives access to an offer to her readers — a special price to create one.
Remember, honesty is especially important in a business that abounds with scams.
MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Carolyn has a BS in Elementary Education, an MS in Special Studies of Gifted Children, and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction K-12. She has been providing mostly free educational materials online since 2008. Carolyn is a wife, mom, and grandmother, and an advocate of life-long learning.
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