Book Reviewer Do’s and Don’ts
- The reviewers who are the most overwhelmed are the ones who say they’ll review ALL genres and also don’t have a clearly defined review policy. They’re typically new to all of this. I’d suggest approaching reviewers with very specific genres listed & who have clearly stated (from the spreadsheet) how they want to be contacted.
- Personally email each reviewer. They know when you’re sending a broadcast email, and a little personal touch goes a long way. Use their name if you have it.
- Let them know you’ve done a little research on them & why you’d like them as a reviewer. (Check out the email sample first paragraph to see what I mean.) Check out a review or two on their site to determine their style.
- Consider giving value first, to establish a relationship with the reviewer. This could be as simple as giving them a shout out on social media and linking to their site.
- Always be considerate of their time and expertise. Politeness goes a long way, and the reviewer is doing you a favor.
- Take a quick look at the review policy page (almost always listed on the spreadsheet) just to make sure they haven’t changed anything. Always follow what’s on the review policy page.
- If the book reviewer doesn’t review your genre, don’t send a request.
- Don’t attach your book file (in any format) unless the blogger/reviewer emails you back and requests it. A few reviewers will tell you to attach your book file to your initial email, but that’s rare. If they did, it’s listed on the spreadsheet.
- Set up a follow up system on your spreadsheet so you know when to check back in with the reviewer. If you haven’t heard back from the reviewer after your initial email, check back with them in 2 weeks. Many reviewers will not even reply to an email if they don’t plan on reviewing the book. (I think it’s because they really don’t want to say no. Plus, they’re all pretty busy fielding requests.) You can ask for a response in your initial email if you prefer knowing their yes or no answer right away. (See email templates.)
- Basic stuff: be sure your book asks readers for a review.
- Basic stuff: your email subscribers may be willing to review your book if you send them a free copy. Alternately, you could give them special bonus content if they pay for the book and then write a review. A lot of authors treat their email subscribers like their street crew – they get all the insider bonuses.
- Many reviewers shut down new requests temporarily until they can get caught up. Check back with them. Many of them will continue offering guest posts, feature articles, cover reveals, and/or author interviews, even if they’re not currently doing reviews.
Some reviewers request more info than others. What to include in your request if they don’t specify:
- Your name
- Book title
- Book blurb and/or synopsis
- Genre
- # of words/pages
- Book release date & requested review date
- Formats available
- Publisher name or if self-published
- Links to your book on Amazon, Goodreads, other sites
Email & form templates
Always follow the rules for what your reviewer specifically requested. Sometimes they don’t request anything at all – here are some quick & customizable templates that you can use when they don’t have any specific requests. It still requires that you take a quick look at their website to find a review you like & get a feel for their review style, so you will still need to do just a bit of personalization for each message you send. Copy/paste the text into a Word file or Google docs & customize there.
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Email request (a little more personal):
Subject line: Request for review
Subject line: Collaboration request
Subject line: Request to review [Book name]
Dear [Reviewer’s first name here],
I recently read your review on [Other book name here] and was so impressed by how you [described the author’s style, pointed out the main character development, talked about the plot points]. I thought you might be interested in reviewing my book, [Your book name here], because it’s similar to [Other book name here]. [OPTIONAL] It’s already received [# of 4 and/or 5 star reviews] and people seem to really like it. Here’s a quick description:
[Insert brief, interesting book description]
My book is listed on [Amazon, Goodreads, etc – provide links] OR My book’s release date is [date] and if it works for your schedule, I would love a review by [date]. The book is [# of words/pages] and it’s in the [genre].
I can provide whatever format you request: ePub, mobi, paperback, or PDF. In addition, I’ll link to your blog post or Amazon review on my website and email newsletter. I would also be interested in writing a guest post or doing an interview, if you would like. Based on what I’ve laid out here, I’d love if you could reply back with a simple “Yes, I’m in!” “Maybe, I have more questions!” or “No, thanks though!” This will make the process quick and easy for both of us. : )
Thank you for your consideration!
[Your name here]
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Email request (just the facts):
Subject line: Request to review [Book name]
Dear [Reviewer’s first name here],
I recently read your review on [Other book name here] and was so impressed by how you [described the author’s style, pointed out the main character development, talked about the plot points]. I thought you might be interested in reviewing my book, [Your book name here], because it’s similar to [Other book name here]. [OPTIONAL] It’s already received [# of 4 and/or 5 star reviews] and people seem to really like it. Here are some quick facts:
Genre:
Book description:
# of pages:
Publisher or self-published:
Release date:
Book links (if released):
Formats available:
I’d be happy to link to your blog post or Amazon review on my website and email newsletter. I would also be interested in writing a guest post or doing an interview, if you would like. Based on what I’ve laid out here, I’d love if you could reply back with a simple “Yes, I’m in!” “Maybe, I have more questions!” or “No, thanks though!” This will make the process quick and easy for both of us. : )
Thank you for your consideration!
[Your name here]
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Form request:
Thank you for your consideration of my book, [book title], for review. I read your recent review on [other book name] and really like what you said about [xyz].
My book is in the [genre]. It’s [# of pages] and [will be published/was published] on [date]. Here’s a quick description:
[Synopsis]
I can send whatever format you prefer, whether it’s paperback, epub, mobi, or PDF. I might also be interested in writing a guest article or doing an interview. I’d love to talk books with you!
Based on what I’ve laid out here, I’d love if you could reply back with a simple “Yes, I’m in!” “Maybe, I have more questions!” or “No, thanks though!”
Thank you for your consideration!
[Your name here]