Saturday's Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts

HOW TO GET BOOK REVIEWS—THE FIVE MYTHS

By: Shelley Hitz

Getting reviews for your book is an essential part of the publishing and marketing process. However, there are many misconceptions authors have regarding book reviews.  In this post I address the 5 common myths about getting reviews for your book.

Myth #1:  Customers Don’t Read Reviews

Reviews are important and research has actually shown they do impact buying decisions.  A research study conducted by Dimensional Research showed that 90% of customers reported reading positive reviews online impacted their buying decisions. In the same way, 86% of customers said reading negative reviews online impacted their buying decisions as well.

Tip:  Make sure you don’t ignore this important step of getting honest reviews for your book.  They have more impact than you may realize.

Myth #2:  Anyone Can Post Reviews on Amazon

As an author, it is important to understand each retailer’s terms of service regarding reviews.  For example, Amazon prohibits authors from reviewing a competitor’s book that would be seen as a “directly competing product.”

Tip:  Even though “directly competing” authors are unable to post reviews for you, you can ask them for endorsements. You can then put these endorsements in the beginning of your book as well as in the “Editorial Reviews” section on your sales page.

Myth #3:  You’re Going To Spend an Arm and a Leg on Review Copies

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Read the full article HERE!

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If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again:

1. Top 5 Ways Authors Can Use Instagram - She Writes http://ow.ly/M3GPO
2. The 5 Reader-Hooking Features Every Author Website Needs - She Writes http://ow.ly/M3Hi9
3. Seven Keys to Building Relatable Characters Plus a Giveaway of ROOMS by Lauren Oliver http://ow.ly/M3Hro
4. How 7 Literary Authors Collaborated to Launch a Box Set | Jane Friedman http://ow.ly/M3HEi
5. Persnickety Pronouns (Part 1) http://ow.ly/M3HKU
6. Using Examples to Learn Beat Sheets | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author http://ow.ly/M3HPu
7. Fiction University: Day Seventeen: Strengthen the Foreshadowing and Reveals http://ow.ly/M3HVZ
8. Writer Unboxed » What Do Your Readers Know and When Do They Know It? http://ow.ly/M3I2y
9. 7 foolproof design tips to crush your book cover design | Creativindie http://ow.ly/M3I9w
10. Beyond “Mobile Friendly” – Three Strategies to Move Faster Than Google | SociableBlog http://ow.ly/M3IhM
11. How to Spot a Rights Grab by Helen Sedwick — The Book Designer http://ow.ly/M3IB8
12. More Marketing Time: How to Procrastinate Your Way to Success | Social Media Examiner http://ow.ly/M3IK7
13. The Writer Diaries: Song for a Scene - A Case of You http://ow.ly/M3ISb
14. Karen Woodward: The Uncanny In Fiction http://ow.ly/M3IX2 Have you ever had the feeling, upon waking, that your dream had followed you?
15. 10 Tweets You Should Never Send | Molly Greene: Writer http://ow.ly/M3Kvv
16. Amazon Advertising Services for Indie Authors, Yea or Nay? | Lindsay Buroker http://ow.ly/M3KMF
17. Increase Blog Traffic & Subscribers: 8 Tips! | Molly Greene: Writer http://ow.ly/M3KWR
18. 4 Facebook Poll Tools for Your Social Media Strategy - Jeffbullas's Blog http://ow.ly/M3L2z
19. Sales - The State of B2B Sales Messaging [Infographic] : MarketingProfs Article http://ow.ly/M3Laz
20. How to Blog Effectively When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed : @ProBlogger http://ow.ly/M3LgM
21. 7 Ways to Increase Your Social Media Traffic: Infographic http://ow.ly/M3LxJ
22. Check, Recheck, and Then Check Again - Books & Such Literary Management http://ow.ly/M3LNl
23. Self-Promotion Sucks...Because You're Doing It Wrong http://ow.ly/M3M7F
24. How To Get Book Reviews – The 5 Myths - Training Authors for Success http://ow.ly/M3Moa

Happy writing and running, Kathy