Are book review blogs effective?

ogaden

Registered
Joined
May 18, 2014
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
I was wondering what everyone thinks of getting your books reviewed by book review blogs / websites. Is this an effective marketing tactic?

If so, how do you go about finding the right blogs to review your book? What do you look for in a book review website / blog?
 

ResearchGuy

Resident Curmudgeon
Requiescat In Pace
Registered
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
5,011
Reaction score
697
Location
Sacramento area, CA
Website
www.umbachconsulting.com
Let me answer your questions with some questions:

How many books do YOU buy and read as a result of reviews on "book review blogs"?

How do YOU find the right blogs to tell you about books of interest to you?

What do YOU look for in a book review site that you read with a view to finding new books to buy and read?

--Ken

I was wondering what everyone thinks of getting your books reviewed by book review blogs / websites. Is this an effective marketing tactic?

If so, how do you go about finding the right blogs to review your book? What do you look for in a book review website / blog?
 

ogaden

Registered
Joined
May 18, 2014
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
How many books do YOU buy and read as a result of reviews on "book review blogs"?

Not that many. However, reviews on Amazon and Goodreads are very useful.

How do YOU find the right blogs to tell you about books of interest to you?

Word of mouth. I'm not sure who told me about the Sunday book review, but I occasionally check it out.

What do YOU look for in a book review site that you read with a view to finding new books to buy and read?

It's reputation and readership size.

My answers do not answer my questions. :) After all, it is only one data point.

I am interested in what everyone else thinks.
 

ResearchGuy

Resident Curmudgeon
Requiescat In Pace
Registered
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
5,011
Reaction score
697
Location
Sacramento area, CA
Website
www.umbachconsulting.com
Ok. I, for one, never look at "book review blogs."

I read and often buy on the basis of reviews in NYTimes and Wall Street Journal; usually read reviews in, and sometimes buy based on reviews in, Analog, Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. I have bought a LOT of books offered/reviewed by Scientific American Book Club and History Book Club. And I am often influenced, for and against, by reviews posted by readers on Amazon (and sometimes am persuaded not to buy a book by positive reviews, and to buy a book by negative reviews, as well as the other way around, as context is critical). Back when I browsed bookstore shelves regularly, I bought a lot of books I first saw in a store. That is rare now.

And in the nonfiction realm, I often am led to books (new and old, in print and out of print) by the notes and bibliographies in books I've read. For fiction, if I like a series novel, I often buy the rest in the series (at least until it burns out).

But book review blogs? No interest in those.

The reason for my questions is that I believe it is important to seek reviews in the places the author values for their reviews. Sometimes that might be influential general-interest publications (like major newspapers or magazines) and sometimes it might be specialized publications (like the fantasy and science fiction magazines, or journals devoted to, say, political science, economics, and so on, whatever the author's topics are).

--Ken

. . . I am interested in what everyone else thinks.
 

ogaden

Registered
Joined
May 18, 2014
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
The reason for my questions is that I believe it is important to seek reviews in the places the author values for their reviews.

I totally agree. Getting reviews for reviews sake on a blog that your audience will never see is pointless.

However, I see a lot of authors using book review sites. In fact, there have been numerous lists compiled on where to get reviews such as: http://www.theindieview.com/indie-reviewers/

They have 318 blogs / websites to get reviews from, that's a lot!

So I was wondering if anyone had their books reviewed on these type of sites which has led to a sale?
 
Last edited:

meowzbark

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 22, 2012
Messages
1,188
Reaction score
142
Location
Arizona
I think book review blogs are important to self-published authors, but not as much for traditionally published authors.

The good thing about the people behind book review blogs is that their review is cross-published to Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, and other sites. It doesn't matter whether the review is positive or negative. What does matter is that when the average reader goes to buy a book, they have reviews to read. Nothing turns me off faster from a book than the fact that no one seems to have read.

When selecting people to review your book, make sure you have read their other reviews. Make sure that they produce quality reviews. For Amazon, it helps if they're a top 500 reviewer (hard to get, I've barely broke 5k), because they have that extra title next to their review which lets other people know that the review should be genuine.

As far as sales, yes. Within the book reviewer community, what other reviewers say about a book makes a difference. I've bought at least 10 copies of books for other people after I reviewed a book and loved it. I've bought books based just on other reviews and I've avoided books based on reviews.

As I said, it won't make a huge impact to someone who is traditionally published. If you have a small publisher or are self-published, then book reviewers can either help get your name out there or squash it.
 

ResearchGuy

Resident Curmudgeon
Requiescat In Pace
Registered
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
5,011
Reaction score
697
Location
Sacramento area, CA
Website
www.umbachconsulting.com
Interesting. As a reader/book-buyer I never pay any attention to reviewer rank. And I look for the outliers as well as the preponderance. Some one-star reviews of a book with a ton of five-stars often tell me more than the five-stars, and vice versa.

--Ken

. . .For Amazon, it helps if they're a top 500 reviewer (hard to get, I've barely broke 5k), because they have that extra title next to their review which lets other people know that the review should be genuine.
. . . .
 
Last edited:

cornflake

practical experience, FTW
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 11, 2012
Messages
16,171
Reaction score
3,734
An advantage of (positive) reviews published anywhere is that the author or publisher can quote them -- blurbs -- in promotional materials.

--Ken

Published anywhere? I don't know about anyone else, but I've put books back on the (literal or virtual) shelf because they had sad/junket-level blurbs, or, on occasion, a King blurb, heh.

It's like a junket review on a movie poster. If I see it, I know they couldn't get anyone else to say anything decent, which tends to mean it's crap.

The book situation is obviously different, as every book isn't reviewed, but when I see blurbs like: 'A really good, fast-paced book!" - Bob, Author of Book I've Never Heard Of, Which Also Has No Reviews, or 'It was great!' - Joe, from bookreviewsforyou.com, it's just too pathetic.
 

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman
Super Moderator
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
22,454
Reaction score
4,956
Location
In chaos
If the review blog is read widely by your potential readers then it might be a help. When trade publishers send review copies to national and specialist press they know that if the books are reviewed they'll be seen by tens of thousands of people who are interested in buying books; when we send our books to review blogs, all we know is we're sending a book to some bloke we met on the internet.

I used to run a review blog and in my experience there, most of its readers were people who hoped I'd review their books. I don't think my reviews helped anyone sell any books.

Reviews on Amazon and Goodreads might be useful but from what I remember, Amazon's terms and conditions state that all reviews posted must be original and not published elsewhere--so by sending your books out to review blogs you're not going to get reviewed there.
 

meowzbark

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 22, 2012
Messages
1,188
Reaction score
142
Location
Arizona
Reviews on Amazon and Goodreads might be useful but from what I remember, Amazon's terms and conditions state that all reviews posted must be original and not published elsewhere--so by sending your books out to review blogs you're not going to get reviewed there.

Not true. Plus, Goodreads is owned by Amazon.
 

Rina Evans

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Messages
533
Reaction score
44
Some of them help. Goodreads does, for me. I have review blogs and I post reviews on Amazon. Word of mouth there can be powerful.
 

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!
Kind Benefactor
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 5, 2005
Messages
9,907
Reaction score
1,834
Location
Hiding in my writing cave
Website
www.cathyclamp.com
I'll have to be the voice of dissent here. It might just be the romance and paranormal/urban fantasy genres, but review blogs are hugely influential not only for me as a reader, but for my fans. I have a regular list of bloggers I send ARCs to well in advance of publication. I don't ask for a favorable review. I just hope they'll like it.

The benefit is one of sheer presence. The more blogs that review the book, the more hits on Google/Bing when a potential reader searches, especially in the first month of release. If I go looking for a new author and all I see is a single link to Amazon for the book---but no reviews anywhere else, I won't even bother to click on it. I actually do read the reviews on Goodreads and link to the blogs for a more in-depth review than allowed by the Goodreads text box.

IMO, it's definitely worth the time and effort to find the RIGHT bloggers to review. Some have a huge following---thousands and thousands of unique visitors a month, which makes it worthwhile. At least to me. :)
 

girlyswot

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 1, 2007
Messages
2,227
Reaction score
389
Location
Cambridge
Website
myromancereviews.wordpress.com
I've bought a lot of books based on reviews from bloggers. I have half a dozen or so bloggers whose tastes I know tend to align with mine and whose reviews I trust, so when they like something, that's like a personal recommendation for me.
 

JohnnyGottaKeyboard

Who let this guy in...?
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Messages
2,134
Reaction score
211
Location
On the rooftoop where he climbed when the laughter
I'll have to be the voice of dissent here. It might just be the romance and paranormal/urban fantasy genres, but review blogs are hugely influential not only for me as a reader, but for my fans. I have a regular list of bloggers I send ARCs to well in advance of publication. I don't ask for a favorable review. I just hope they'll like it.

The benefit is one of sheer presence. The more blogs that review the book, the more hits on Google/Bing when a potential reader searches, especially in the first month of release.
I'll join your ranks of dissention. And I'll also second that genrefication may be a factor. For the types of books I like to read (and write), it seems review blogs are essential. Mainly because where else are they discussed?

I've bought more than a few books off review blogs and put many more on my TBR list (which is impossibly long at this point).
 
Last edited:

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman
Super Moderator
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
22,454
Reaction score
4,956
Location
In chaos
I wonder if this is a genre thing.

Also, some blogs are better than others, which is worth considering.

I'd suggest that everyone be wary, and I'll change my advice. Avoid the smaller blogs which are read mostly by writers, and focus on the bigger blogs which have a good reputation in your chosen genre.

Does that fit better, do you think?
 

ogaden

Registered
Joined
May 18, 2014
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
I wonder if this is a genre thing.

That is what I was just thinking.

I think like all marketing tactics to truly test its effectiveness it simply has to be tried.

Assuming this is valid marketing channel, what other factors would you determine to contact a book reviewer:

  • Genres covered
  • Number of books already reviewed
  • Website Page rank and Alexa rank (traffic)
 

veinglory

volitare nequeo
Self-Ban
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
28,750
Reaction score
2,933
Location
right here
Website
www.veinglory.com
Some blogs are certainly better than others. The number that influence a significant readership is fairly small IMHO.
 

meowzbark

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 22, 2012
Messages
1,188
Reaction score
142
Location
Arizona
I wonder if this is a genre thing.

Also, some blogs are better than others, which is worth considering.

I'd suggest that everyone be wary, and I'll change my advice. Avoid the smaller blogs which are read mostly by writers, and focus on the bigger blogs which have a good reputation in your chosen genre.

Does that fit better, do you think?

Possibly. Romance + YA genres have huge online followings.
 

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman
Super Moderator
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
22,454
Reaction score
4,956
Location
In chaos
They might well have huge online followings: what I wonder, though, is what proportion of those followings is readers, and what is writers?

(That feels all sorts of wrong as far as grammar goes. Sorry.)
 

ResearchGuy

Resident Curmudgeon
Requiescat In Pace
Registered
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
5,011
Reaction score
697
Location
Sacramento area, CA
Website
www.umbachconsulting.com
FWIW, the monthly Blog Bytes column in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine reviews mystery blogs. That suggests their importance to readers of that genre -- an importance probably mirrored in other genres, regardless of whether I happen to read them or not.

And I fixed up your grammar below . . . <giggle>.

--Ken

[Edited in this response.] They might well have huge online followings, though I wonder what proportion of those followings is readers and what proportion is writers?

. . . .
 

Celeste Carrara

practical experience, FTW
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
591
Reaction score
48
Location
NY
Website
www.celestecarrara.com
I write erotic romance - paranormal, new adult, and contemporary. I have had some of my books reviewed by blogs in my genre. I have not noticed an increase in sales because of a favorable review on any of those blogs.

When I've done blog tours where no review was given, I did notice my book sales increase and more people adding my book on their "to read" shelf on Goodreads. So, for me I use the blogs (without reviews) as a way to get my name out there to readers in my genre. I use a blog tour company to do my blog tours.

As a reader, I don't get my book recs from a blog. I find books through word of mouth from friends that read the same genre as me. Also, through friends on Goodreads reviews of books they liked.

So, because of that, Goodreads is where I turn to as an author to get reviews for my books. It has proven to be the best way for me to get reviews. I just wish they would put those reviews on Amazon too ;)
 

Polenth

Mushroom
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 27, 2007
Messages
5,017
Reaction score
735
Location
England
Website
www.polenthblake.com
I wasn't that picky when I send out review requests. If the blog was well-presented, gave a range of star ratings (so not all positive) and liked the sort of book I had, I sent a request. It was quicker to do that than to spend time faffing about trying to find out their readership numbers.

For my short story collection, I got zero response. For my novel, I had three responses and two reviews. Both of them crossposted the reviews in various places. One blog I found through the indieview list. One I found by looking around genre book blogs (I also followed all the links I found on those blogs, to find other blogs).

It's hard to know if sales are linked to reviews. I think a few sales were likely to be connected. That's only directly afterwards though. In the long term, I was left with reviews on Amazon and/or Goodreads, which is where readers often check. I'd do it again for a new novel. I wouldn't bother for shorts.
 
Last edited:

Arpeggio

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 24, 2011
Messages
355
Reaction score
5
For my short story collection, I got zero response. For my novel, I had three responses and two reviews. Both of them crossposted the reviews in various places.

I'm interested to know how many you contacted to get that response? I'm glad it worked for you.