Timely Tips from Armchair Interviews: Tip 1
Thousands of new books are printed every year–and new authors see their titles in print. Some of these books are from small- or medium-sized publishing houses, others are published by the ‘big boys’ in New York, and still others are published by the author themselves.
The thing that all authors have in common is the need for PUBLCITY! How do they get it? This regular column will give Armchair Interview members some tips and techniques on how to get that interview or review. The dos and don’ts, so to speak.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Andrea Sisco at andrea@armchairinterviews.com
How to Snag That Coveted Interview or Review for Your Book
July 18, 2007 Tip #1
If you’re looking for an online review, peruse Google or other search engines for review websites that provide authors book reviews. Study the sites carefully and look for the following:
– Does the site look professional? If it doesn’t, chances are it’s not going to be a popular site–and that means your review won’t be widely read. Is it worth the time, postage and a book?
– Are the graphics good? Good graphics are like an invitation to a party. The ambience is inviting and so you decide to stop in for a moment and end up staying. Usually a site visitor arrives to check out the site or a review for a particular author–and they stay because the site is interesting and inviting. Your chances of being read go up. And if you’re read, your book has a better chance of being purchased.
– Is the layout readable? If there are misspellings throughout the site, that doesn’t speak well to the level of professionalism you want when someone is reviewing your book. If they can’t spell, can they write a review? If they’re not careful about the site content, will they be timely in posting your review?
– Are the reviews well written? If the review is not well written, it’s not going to garner momentum and excitement and people probably won’t buy the book. After all, what would someone know about recommending a book if they can’t even write well.
– Who are the reviewers? If you don’t recognize any names, Google them. Often reviewers will write for several sites. That will not only give you some information about the reviewers, but often times it will lead you to new sites that you can request a review from. And that’s a good thing.
– Does the site offer a way to buy your book? Do they provide the authors website links so readers can go to the site and click through and purchase a book? Is the site an affiliate of Amazon or Barnes and Noble? If so, you have a better chance of selling a book. People are impulsive, if a ‘way’ to buy is readily available, chances are better that they will. If they have to search online for it or go to the bookstore, you may have lost them. Amazon or Barnes and Noble websites are one more place for a reader to gather information about your book and make a purchase decision.
Next time: Follow the Damn Rules! You won’t want to miss this tip. It’s probably the number one reason authors lose a review or interview.