Book Reviews Count More Than You Know

I'm always amazed at the little energy that some book authors put into book reviews and comments from readers. Often it doesn't take much on their part but it can have some large pay offs in terms of visibility in the marketplace and book sales. One thing is for certain--book reviews do not happen whether online or in print publications unless someone works at it. Most frequently that "someone" is the author who has the greatest interest and passion for their book and the contents.

Here's a recent example for you with the largest online bookstore on the planet, Amazon.com. The Golden Compass movie has brewed a controversy and a ho-hum appearance in the box office despite millions of dollars of advertising and well-known actors. At the recommendation of an editor friend, I picked up Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware's book, Shedding Light on His Dark Materials. Follow this link and you will go to the page on Amazon. Scroll down and you will see the book released in mid-September. My review posted in early December was the first one about this book. This week another review was added but often my reviews are the only one on the page for a book and in particular if the author is not working at gathering book reviews. While I am not one of Amazon's top reviewers, I have posted over 170 reviews about many types of books.

I recommend you read Steve Weber's excellent guide Get your book reviewed on Amazon and boost your sales. You will learn some of the inside information about what can result from Amazon reviews. It will possibly stir you to action in this area.

Anyone can write one of these So you'd like to…guides on Amazon. I wrote one called So you'd like to…Publish A Book, Insight From An Editor. If you look at the little graphic that I've added from this page over 500 people have downloaded this guide since I created it in January--which equates to great exposure in my view. It's another marketing strategy to consider and add to your plans for 2008.