Requesting a review for your book is one of the most productive marketing tools to promote your book that you can find. The legitimacy that comes with a good review can do wonders for your sales, so it’s definitely worth making an effort and tracking down some of these online reviewers (bloggers, instagrammers etc.), contacting them and asking them for a favor. The most common way to request a review is to approach one of these book bloggers/instagrammers and write them a so-called ‘review request’. Although this sounds super formal to many people, it is nothing more than an email in which you provide some information about your book and politely ask the person if they would be willing to write you a review about it.
Although this may seem like the easiest thing in the world, the truth is that book bloggers are very busy people. Not only do they receive tons of requests every day, but they also often have to create content for their blogs and other social media sites that they have as a hobby, which means they also have a regular job to worry about. This is why you need to do your homework and research so that the request you write is a really good one: that is, a request that is interesting enough to stand out and that is not too demanding. We’ve spoken to several book bloggers to get their thoughts on the topic and compiled some general rules about how to successfully request a book review.
Below we leave you 7 tips that will undoubtedly allow you to request a review successfully:
1. Do your research before requesting a review
I don’t like indiscriminate bombardment, there are authors who send messages massively to random accounts that they don’t even follow, they don’t know what the content of their profile is, for me the minimum is that they have stopped for a minute to analyze my account and See if it fits your profile. – Maria, Out of pure vice
I think that authors should take some time and investigate the profiles from which they request reviews, since it is not good to send the same thing to everyone, much less if that profile is not in the least interested in the genre of your book. – Kathy, Sweet Readers
Book reviewers are people after all, and each of them has their own preferences. Therefore, before requesting a review, you have to make sure who will really be interested in reading your book. Maybe that super fancy blog that you love so much, with its impeccable design and enviable traffic, is not reviewing the particular type of genre that you have written, and therefore requesting a review from that particular person would be a waste of your time. all. On most websites of this type you will be able to find the necessary information that will allow you to evaluate whether you are dealing with the right critic.
Many of these bloggers will be so busy that they may decide not to accept any more requests, and this will probably be clearly stated on their various websites. They will most certainly also include specifications about what you should include in your application (drafts, covers, publication date, etc.). Checking all of this before you start seo content writing services will save you a lot of time and a lot of hassle.
2. Customize your review request
I just ask that the writer be respectful and not make it obvious that the request is a copy and paste, that the author has at least bothered to put my name in the message and see what I read. – Rocio, Rociombouzon
Whatever you do, never forget that there is a person behind that blog or book account. As such, basic manners and some recognition usually have good results. The idea is this: you are going to ask a stranger to do you a favor, so all you have to do is find out her name and use it when you write the request. This indicates that you respect and value their work enough to have at least skimmed their platform.
If the reviewer in question uses an alias and you can’t find their name anywhere, then you can use that alias for the first approach. However, try to avoid things like ‘to whom it may concern’ or ‘sir/ma’am’ at all costs. Ideally, you should also familiarize yourself with the preferences of the people you plan to approach. Not only will this help you get an idea of their style and tastes – which could be a big help in determining whether or not you should send them such a request in the first place – but it will allow you to craft a much more personal message.
3. Plan everything in advance
The deadline that an author gives me to prepare the review of his book is decisive; since maybe at the moment he offers it to me it is not possible because I have other collaborations. Therefore, if he gives me a long deadline, he is usually more likely to say yes. – Rocio, Rociombouzon
If you’ve put together a long-term marketing strategy for your book (which we highly recommend), then you probably already have the ideal time when you want the review to be published, whether that’s right before the book’s publication to give something advertising, or right after so that people can buy it after reading the review. Whatever your marketing strategy, it’s best to contact the reviewer early. As we mentioned before, book bloggers generally have a tight schedule, so if this review is an essential step in your marketing plan, we recommend you hurry up a bit.
4. Include all the necessary information (and present it clearly!)
Generally, I only get by with the synopsis and the cover of the book, but a first chapter never hurts to get to know the author’s prose in more depth before diving into reading and committing to a review. – Kathy, Sweet Readers
You’ll probably want to include enough information about your book to pique reviewers’ interest and give them a good idea of what they’re getting into, but not so much that it becomes a reading chore. Essentially, what you have to do is a kind of CV for your book. While there are no universal rules for what you should include in your application, most reviewers we’ve spoken to specifically request the inclusion of the book’s cover, a link to the store page where the book is sold, and the synopsis. So if you’re not sure where to start, these three things may be key when requesting a review.
Of course, there are probably more specific things you need to add, depending on the reviewer you’re asking. As we have already mentioned, each reviewer will have their own preferences, so, again, we insist that one of the most important things is to do prior research about the person in question. Put your writing skills into practice and make reading your email as pleasant as the structures and formatting of the text allow. Adding a little personality when requesting a review is a trick that usually works quite well.
5. No is No
Many times people insist on me when my answer is no. With that they only get negative opinions about them, bloggers and Bookstagramers talk to each other about these things. – Rocio, Rociombouzon
If when you request a review, it is rejected, accept it and move on. Even if there is no reason, comment, response or other clear evidence for the rejection of your request. Likewise, if they have some kind of warning on their website stating that they are not making new reviews at this time, respect it. Don’t try to win them over, charm them, or convince them of the particular merits of your book. Simply wait until they catch up on their backlog before asking them for anything.
As we have already mentioned, most bloggers or Instagrammers who dedicate themselves to these things do so in their free time, and therefore it is their decision to accept or reject the requests that are presented to them. Trying to argue with them will only serve to eliminate any chance of them reading your book in the future.
6. Let them do their job
One thing I like, and that sometimes authors forget, is that they give us the time necessary to enjoy the book without pressure. That is, please do not write to us daily asking if we have read your book or not. There are people who can read your book in a matter of hours, but there are others who take weeks or months to provide the best possible quality and honesty in our reviews. – Kathy, Sweet Readers
If a reviewer agrees to read your book, let them do so at their own pace. It’s probably going to take some time: you have to finish the book, reflect on what you’ve read, and then distill those thoughts into a piece of prose. Being a writer yourself, you probably know that this process is long. So whatever you do, don’t send emails asking for updates every now and then. This will only cause discomfort and stress, which could have a negative impact on the review. Trust that if a reviewer has agreed to take a look at your book, he will, unless he tells you otherwise.
7. This would be it!
We hope this article has provided you with some clarification on how to approach these book bloggers or Instagrammers to request a review. If you have tried to get one without success, perhaps you can find some clues on how to increase your book writing service by reading this article. It may seem like a lot of effort, but believe us when we say that a good review of your book is a great incentive when it comes to communication and marketing, and therefore a great stimulus for sales. The effort is definitely worth it. Just remember to do your research before submitting any requests, respect their different rules and timing, and try to make your request stand out as much as you can.
