Self-Publishing Wednesday Webinar:
Book Reviews: The Cornerstone of Marketing
Your Self-Published Book
Bill Van Orsdel (303) 974-7845 [email protected]
Before we get started…
Checklist: ü You are planning to or have already self-published
your book
ü Your ebook and print formats are on the “same” Amazon™ sales page
www.WaveCloud.com
Disclaimer: this site is not affiliated with or funded by Amazon.com. Amazon is a trademark of Amazon.com Inc. or its affiliates.
A word from our sponsor
www.WaveCloud.com
• WaveCloud is an Author Services platform
and an ebookstore
• Helping writers become successful
authors is our #1 priority
• Not a “How To Do” but a “What To Do”
• Watch this webinar: Book Reviews –
The Cornerstone of Marketing Your
Self-Published Book
Bill Van Orsdel WaveCloud CMO
Key Points
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Reviews are a subs6tute for “Trial”
Reviews come before marke6ng (un6l 12 – 24+)
Reviews can drive discoverability (@ 100+, “Also Bought”?)
Review sourcing requires strategy & 6ming
Many sources: Amazon™, Goodreads, Blog Tours, F & F …
Review the reviewer BEFORE asking for reviews
Follow basic e6queWe when reques6ng reviews
Why does this matter?
www.WaveCloud.com
Awareness
Interest
Trial (Considera6on)
Purchase
Support (Catalog
Purchases)
Referral (Word of Mouth)
Reviews!
Why does this matter?
www.WaveCloud.com
• Book reviews can be a substitute for “Trial” • Awareness à Interest à Trial à Purchase
• Build Social Proof • “Someone else liked this, I’ll probably like it too”
• Convert visits to your Amazon.com™ sales page to book purchases • Every bounce “costs” you money, directly or indirectly
• Amazon™ promotes books that convert, not bounce
• Factors into your sales ranking. (- Jon Fine, Amazon™)
Ready to blow your first $1K? We hope you’re not….
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• Do not start driving traffic to your Amazon™ book page until your reviews
are in place
• Minimum of 12, stop trying after 24
• After 100, you may experience an Amazon™ “Also Bought” boost, aka
“Discoverability”
• Other marketing is okay, just don’t drive traffic to conversion until your page
is “complete”
Strategy & Timing
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• Make book available for sale on Amazon™ • (and make sure book sales page is “finished”)
• Strategy: • Most valuable, finicky, attitude-filled reviewers FIRST. Friends and
family LAST. • Ask for the review to be posted on Amazon™, Goodreads, and
Barnes & Noble • Timing:
• Longest runway reviewers asked first à typically your Amazon™ reviewers
• Place friends and family at the end of the queue
Sources for Reviews
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• Amazon™ reviewers (you have to dig for these!) • Book bloggers, (Google “Author Title Review”) • Paid blog tours, (Google “Romance Book Blog Tour”)
• i.e. • http://www.blognation.com/directories/book-review-blogs • http://www.enchantedbookpromotions.com/ • http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/
• Goodreads reviewers (Review Group) • https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/78683
• http://www.theindiereview.com/indie-reviewers/ (330+ Reviews listed) • Readers (you are using back of the book links, right?) • Social media platform(s) • Friends & Family • Professional connections (Nonfiction books!)
Sources: AMC Tool
www.WaveCloud.com
Expect to spend a lot of 4me
Review the Reviewers
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• They reviewed other books specifically like yours • And gave them good ratings!
• They are accepting books for review
• They are accepting self-published books
• They are highly rated reviewers (Top 10,000)
Find them at:
• BookReviewBroker.com $$, OR
• www.AuthorMarketingClub.com review grabber
• (Better, but much more work involved and $105)
Review Request Etiquette
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• Offer your book in their preferred format
• Consider a couponing strategy (Smashwords)
• Your book is free to them (including shipping)
• Don’t give your book (doesn’t show up as purchase)
• Ask for an honest review (templates abound)
• Ask for posting on Amazon™, Goodreads and Barnes & Noble
• Decline requests for payment (run away politely)
• Expect your paperback to be a “used” book
Final Recommendations
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A. Reviews are a substitute for “Trial”
B. Reviewers come before marketing (until 12 – 24+)
C. Reviewers can drive discoverability (@ 100+, “Also Bought”)
D. Review sourcing requires strategy & timing
E. Many sources: Amazon™, Goodreads, Blog Tours, F & F …
F. Review the reviewer BEFORE asking for reviews
G. Follow basic etiquette when requesting reviews
WaveCloud Self-Publishing Wednesday Webinar Series:
www.WaveCloud.com
• Enjoyed this webinar? WaveCloud has more online! Additional webinars
can be viewed here: WaveCloud Webinars
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to learn more about, or tell us what you think at
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