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Book Publicist Scott Lorenz offers Authors Book Marketing Tips and Techniques on his Blog “The Book Publicist”

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Top 10 Tips for Creating an Engaging Author Website

Who Has the Best Author Website?

By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing

As an author, your website is a brief glimpse into who you are and what you do. In today’s marketplace, readers are looking to connect with their favorite authors, and books can’t promote themselves. Your website is how you attract and maintain readers. So how can you make it more engaging? Let’s take a look at ten suggestions that other authors are using!

Show your book covers

James Patterson Author Website

Visuals are the first thing people see when they open your website, so make them eye-catching! Put your books front and center and let them speak for themselves. Book covers convey the genre, tone, and appeal of your books. They are an easy way to add some visual flair!

Your website designer should pick up on the colors of the book cover and use them in the site.

For example, take a look at James Patterson’s website. The background is kept simple and clean, utilizing the colorful book covers as the key visual.

Share about yourself

Readers want to know who you are! Consider adding an about page that shares some interesting information about yourself. Here are some things you could include:

  • Credentials
  • Education
  • Hobbies
  • Personal achievements
  • Place of residence
  • Cultural background

You can pull your author bio straight from your book or create something unique just for your website. Readers are more likely to connect with authors who share similarities with them, so let your personality show!

Add blurbs from reviews

Julie Orringer

Sometimes other people say it best! Sharing reviews lets potential readers know what to expect from your work. They also add to your credibility, especially when they are from reputable sources such as editorial reviews. When choosing blurbs, keep them short and sharp! Pick ones that encompass the theme or that highlight a key element of your book. Make sure they are different and don’t repeat the same points.

Let’s take a look at Julie Orringer’s website. Before any other information, she shares a review that captures the tone of each tone. Based on a single review, readers who are interested in ambitious and suspenseful stories will probably enjoy Julie’s book The Flight Portfolio. Julie includes reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist and Kirkus Reviews to name a few.

Create a book trailer

Create a book trailer

One very effective tactic to promote and publicize your book is to create a “Book Trailer.” A book trailer is like a movie trailer in that it allows someone to preview a book both visually and via audio. A video book trailer brings the book to life and gives the potential reader a sneak peek at the contents. When we create a book trailer, we’ll include it on the author’s website and we’ll post it on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and use it in the promotion of a book.

Besides attracting readers of a book’s genre and the immediate visual impact benefit, a trailer can actually improve search engine ranking for an author’s web site. The book trailer on YouTube becomes searchable by key words which are carefully selected to attract interest and drive more traffic to the author’s web site or Amazon page.

The website for the “Bad Love” series by Dr. Kevin Schewe features four of the book trailers Westwind Book Marketing created. The trailers are prominently featured on his website and further suggest the series is ‘movie material’ as it has such strong visuals. Check it out at: https://kevinschewe.com/

Add links to buy your books

What is the main goal of an author website? To get people to buy your books! Make it easy for readers to purchase your books by including big buttons that link to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, The Publisher etc. Don’t make people scroll and search for the link. Put it right under or beside the cover.

If you’re searching for additional book retailers to carry your works, check out this list of America’s biggest booksellers. The top ones include Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.

Quote your book

James Clear

An easy way to get people interested in your books is to put excerpts on your website. Sometimes, readers unfamiliar with your work may not want to commit to purchasing and reading a whole book. Readers can decide if they are interested based on your writing style and subject matter. Pick excerpts that are well-written, set the tone for the book, and aren’t too confusing without context.

You could also consider providing a chapter for free, like author James Clear. He offers a download of the first chapter of his hit book Atomic Habits. Much like a free sample given out at your local grocery store, an excerpt gives readers a taste of what’s to come!

Add media clips or logos

Jay Shetty Author Website

Add clips of your media interviews to your website and be sure to use the logos from media outlets as well. Use the podcaster’s photo, their promo piece for the interview anything that is already created you’ll want to repurpose it. Often when a member of the media wants to interview one of my clients they’ll go to the author’s website. They want to hear and interview and for TV they want to see what you look like before they book the interview.

For example, let’s look at Jay Shetty’s site. Right away, the site plays a video. He includes interviews and clips of his podcast. On his press page, he promotes a variety of content that he has been a part of, accompanied by the logos of well-known platforms, such as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The New York Times, Red Table Talk, and more.

Share book awards

Patrick Asare

Book awards are a great way to position yourself in the industry. One of the reasons to go after book awards is to tell people you’ve WON a few. Don’t be afraid to show off your accomplishments! Much like logos, book awards are easy to recognize and add visual flair. They show that people appreciate your work and that it is worth reading. Additionally, readers may seek out the winners of specific awards if they are looking for a certain genre or topic.

Let’s look at Patrick Asare’s website. He displays five awards for The Boy from Boadua, including the Literary Titan Book Award and the International Impact Book Award. Pretty impressive right?

Create a backlist of your books

Emma Davies Author Website

Much like a portfolio, a backlist provides readers with the full extent of your work. You never know what will connect with someone, and an older book may have a resurgence. In addition, people who have read your other books will recognize them and be more inclined to check out others.

Take a look at Emma Davies’ site. Right on the home page, she displays a variety of her works, as well as including a books tab in her menu.

Utilize a mailing list

A mailing list is a great way to interact with your readers on a regular basis. You can keep them up to date on new releases, your next projects, promotions, and other updates. It’s been said that with a list of a few thousand avid book buying fans an author can live quite well. If you are not collecting the email addresses of your readers, you are missing an opportunity.  Many mailing lists are simple to sign up for, just input your name and your email.

Here are some sites that offer free plans for mailing lists:

For other examples of strong author websites, check out one of my articles on the topic where I’ve benchmarked some of my favorite author websites here.

The bottom line: By utilizing these ten tips, as seen by the success of many popular authors, your website will intrigue readers and keep them coming back for more.

~~>> #Authors - Get a Website that SELLS your books! Book Publicist Scott Lorenz offer 10 Tips to Keep Readers Engaged! #iartg #writingcommunity #writing Click to tweet this article to your friends and followers! 𝕏

About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.

Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing at https://www.WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award-winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.


How TikTok Transformed a Self-Published Author into a BESTSELLER

TikTok Transformed a Self-Published Author into a BESTSELLER

By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing

TikTok has become a major hot spot for influencing in a range of different fields. When it comes to the literary world, influencers use this digital platform to promote different books and authors in the TikTok community known as BookTok. Read more about BookTok and its benefits in an article I wrote here.

BookTok’s influence has been taken to the next level with “The Shadow Work Journal,” written by Keila Shaheen. This journal is a spiritual guide based on the concept of “the shadow self” by psychoanalyst Carl Jung. It is meant to help readers acknowledge and repair their deep-rooted emotional wounds. The debut, self-published book is now a bestseller thanks to TikTok. So how exactly did Shaheen rise to BookTok fame?

An Influencer’s Influence

TikTok influencer Kohn Glay (@girldadsos) played a critical part in the book’s success. Glay passionately promoted Shaheen’s work, telling his viewers that they needed Shaheen’s workbook to shepherd them in their spiritual journey. Glay’s viewers began to purchase Shaheen’s journal directly through TikTok Shop. According to The New York Times, “Shaheen went on to sell more than a million copies,” of which almost 700,000 were sold through TikTok Shop.

Targeting the Audience

Shaheen promotes shadow work on her TikTok profile with aura cleansing and sound healing, as well as leading viewers through some of the exercises in her journal. The escalation of Shaheen’s sales further proves a point that I made in my article on BookTok, which is that “many users, especially the younger generations, are drawn to organic promotions directly from their source rather than traditional advertising.” TikTok users want to see videos that are short and straight to the point.

If a video drags on baiting the audience for too long, they’ll lose interest and scroll. TikTok influencing is about catering to short attention spans, which is why influencers like Glay were so effective in their promotion of “The Shadow Work Journal,” diving right in at the beginning of his videos to get people hooked on the topic.

Not only was Glay strategic about his marketing, but his endorsement of Shaheen’s work is authentic and real. It is evident that he truly cares about his viewers discovering shadow work in order to better themselves, and this is what made his influence so impactful.

TikTok Sells

As stated in The New York Times, Shaheen has made history with TikTok “by fully harnessing its potential not just for marketing, but for direct sales.” Glay’s viewers were directly influenced by his videos on Shaheen’s work, which caused them to switch tabs and purchase it immediately through the app. This is a true testament to the ability TikTok has not only to market and promote, but to actually sell a book. With over 1 billion users, TikTok has the potential to not only reach a wide market, but its rapid and convincing format has proven to convert leads to meaningful sales.

Bending the Rules of Becoming a Bestseller

Shaheen signed with publisher Simon & Schuster after her book became a bestseller. She was able to reach this point solely because of the way the app launched her into success. Agent Albert Lee of United Talent Agency told The New York Times, “It breaks all the rules of what makes a best seller,” because the book was self-published by an unestablished author with no expansion beyond the United States. Shaheen is a prime example of the truly revolutionary things TikTok is doing for authors.

For advice on jumping on the TikTok train, check out David Alan Arnold’s Facebook Group called How to Grow on TikTok. He is the author of Help From Above as well as the Deadliest Catch helicopter cameraman, and he has 1.8 million followers on TikTok (@davidalanarnold). “I will show you the good and the bad,” Arnold says, “Let’s help each other grow.”

The Bottom Line: Start growing a profile on TikTok now! Use the app to your book’s advantage, and you could be the next author to go from debut to bestseller.

How #TikTok Transformed a Self-Published #Author into a #BESTSELLER #BookTok #indieauthors #writerscommunity #bookmarketing #selfpub #writerslife #iartg #ian1 Click to tweet this article to your friends and followers! 𝕏

About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.

Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing at https://www.WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award-winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.


The Author’s Checklist

The Author’s Checklist

By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications

If you’ve written a book and are ready to publish it, you may be wondering what to do next. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled this handy author’s checklist to help you navigate through the publishing phase and beyond. By following it, you can set your book up for unparalleled success.

Choose the Right Title

There’s no denying your title can make or break the success of your book. It’s what will attract readers and get your book noticed. If you’re unsure of how to name your book, I encourage you to check out my award-winning bestselling book, “Book Title Generator: A Proven System in Naming Your Book.” I implore you to consider all options in the quest for the perfect book title. From using numbers, alliteration, idioms, and keyword research, Book Title Generator covers them all.

It’s packed with solid tips and tricks that will help you craft the best title for your book.

Get a Compelling Book Cover

The truth is readers and media members will judge a book by its cover. That’s why it’s important to ensure your cover is professional and ideal for your target audience. Fortunately, there are plenty of incredible book cover designers on websites like Book Covers for All and Killer Covers. It’s a good idea to visit some bookstores to get some inspiration for your cover. Also, don’t forget to check out my article on the “46 Book Cover Designers to Create Your Best-Selling Cover.”

Ask for Feedback

As a writer, it’s easy to spend hours upon hours trying to perfect your writing. While your opinion of your book matters, the feedback of others can be invaluable. Ask friends, family, acquaintances, and those in the industry to give your book a fresh set of eyes. Not only are they likely to help you catch typo and grammar issues, but they might also give you some ideas on how to tighten up and improve your book. In the end, trust book professionals when it comes to the make-or-break decisions.

Hire an Editor

By hiring an editor, you can receive professional feedback on your book. Before you commit to one, however, make sure you check out their portfolio and references. Not all editors are created equal, and you want to ensure the one you choose has the skills and experience to set your book up for success. Take a look at my article on “How Editing, Copyediting, and Proofreading Make Your Book Shine.”

Figure Out Your Target Audience

Target audience refers to the people who will buy and read your book. Think about your genre and theme to determine who they might be. Make sure the Amazon categories you select are relevant and focused about the topic and genre and not general in nature. Once you nail down your audience, you’ll find it easier to promote and market your book.

Design a Book Marketing Strategy

Before you publish your book, think about book marketing. Will you create a standalone website for it? Do you have plans to promote it via Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets? Or will you host book signings and mail review copies of your book to members of the media and potential reviewers? When it comes to book marketing success, having a plan that you execute well is just as important as the creativity that went into writing your book.

Consider a Literary Agent

There are many benefits of working with a literary agent. Depending on the agent you choose, they can pitch your book to their known publishing contacts and give you a competitive edge. Many publishers will only work with agents because they ‘vet’ the books and ‘weed out’ the books that are not a good fit for their publishing house. To find the right agent check out my article about “How to Sign a Top Literary Agent” on my blog Book-Publicist.com.

Decide Whether to Use a Distributor

A distributor delivers books to retailers. Since most libraries and bookstores won’t usually accept sales pitches and books from self-published authors, a distributor may be worth exploring. By working with one, you can bridge the gap between you and large audiences.

Figure Out When to Publish

Contrary to popular belief, the holiday season isn’t the best time to publish your book. If possible, publish your book at any other time. January, February, and March are ideal because the weather is usually colder, and people are stuck inside with more time to read. If you are deciding to publish in December or January, choose January because you’ll have a new copyright date. If you publish in December, it’ll look one year old in January even though it’s only been out one month.

The Bottom Line: Remember, pilots use checklists before each flight and authors need a checklist before they hit “publish!”

If you’ve #written a #book and are ready to #publish it, you may be wondering what to do next. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled this handy #author’s #checklist to help you navigate through the #publishing… Click to tweet this article to your friends and followers! 𝕏

About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.

Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://www.WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.

Would you like help promoting your book?

If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?

Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!


How Authors Use Instagram to Sell Books

Authors Use Instagram to Sell Books

Find out how Instagram is helping authors increase visibility and earn more money.

By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing

Instagram has over 1 billion users. So, it’s no surprise that many authors are using the platform to sell their books. With an established Instagram account, they’re able to build strong relationships, drive interest, and boost sales. If you’re an author who would like to use Instagram to your advantage, check out the Instagram accounts listed below. Follow them and engage as you like. They can give you a good idea of how authors are using the one of fastest growing social media platforms.

1. James Patterson (@jamespattersonbooks)

The New York Times bestselling author of The Kennedy Curse and The 20th Victim loves to repost pictures of children enjoying his books. His account is also full of giveaways, announcements about upcoming releases, and inspirational quotes he lives by.

2. Dan Brown (@authordanbrown)

Dan Brown posts about his virtual story times as well as photos of his life in New England and yellow lab, Winston. He also features occasional quotes from some of his top books like The Lost Symbol and The Da Vinci Code.

3. Janet Evonovich (@janetevanovich)

From the moment you look at Janet Evonovich’s Instagram, you’ll notice plenty of color. She fills her profile with bright and cheery photos of Hot Six, Twisted Twenty-Six and other recent books she wrote. There’s also a lot of details about book signings and new releases.

4. Malcolm Gladwell (@malcolmgladwell)

Malcolm Gladwell’s latest posts are all about his book Talking to Strangers. His Instagram is also packed with photos of him on Jimmy Kimmel Live, NPR Radio, Book Tube, and other places he’s been interviewed.

5. Jon Krakauer (@krakauernotwriting)

While Jon Krakauer’s posts of his political views, travels, and adventures are interesting, his catchy description is particularly noteworthy: “I write books for a living. Been toiling in the writing factory for more than 35 years. Not writing is way more fun.” Some of his most popular books include Embrace the Misery, Gates of the Arctic, and Living Under the Volcano.

6. Mitch Albom (@mitchalbom)

Mitch Albom, author of Finding Chika and The Next Person You Meet in Heaven is an avid user of the Instagram story feature. He posts short stories to promote his interviews, podcasts, and Say Detroit, a non-profit organization he started to support underprivileged people in Detroit.

7. Tony Robbins (@tonyrobbins)

Tony Robbins’ Instagram is nothing short of inspirational. It’s filled with powerful quotes by him and information about non-profits he believes in. He also scatters several funny memes throughout. Robbins wrote The New Money Masters and The Path.

8. Jay Shetty (@jayshetty)

On Jay Shetty’s Instagram, you’ll find sayings from his current and upcoming books like Think Like a Monk. Here’s one that really stands out: T.I.M.E Daily Routine: Thankfulness, Insight, Meditation, Exercise.

9. Joanna Gaines (@joannagaines)

Joanna Gaines, author of Magnolia Table and We are the Gardners uses her Instagram account to share lifestyle photos of her and her family. She keeps it pretty personal and makes it easy for followers to get a feel for the everyday happenings in her life.

10. Dashama Konah Gordon (@dashama)

Since Dashama is a “happiness expert” in addition to author of Journey to Joyful, her profile features positive quotes, pictures of her practicing yoga and meditating, and a story Q&A session where she answers her follower’s questions. She posts frequently new videos of various activities in the most incredible settings.

The Bottom Line: Use Instagram to grow and expand your audience.

How #Authors Use #Instagram to Sell #Books #socialmedia #instagrammarketing #insta #bookmarketing Click to tweet this article to your friends and followers! 𝕏

About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.

Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://www.WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.

Would you like help promoting your book?

If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else? Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!


Authors Want Reviews? Use NetGalley For Ultimate Book Marketing

Authors Want Reviews? Use NetGalley For Ultimate Book Marketing

by Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing

“Reviews are a third-party endorsement of your work. They give the potential buyer assurance the book they may buy is worthwhile.” Scott Lorenz, Book Publicist

“We are still trying to get reviews. It is worse than pulling teeth though. Unfortunately, I used up the reviewers I could threaten bodily harm to with my first book!” Exasperated Author

One of the most difficult things to do is to get people to read and review your book to help get the buzz going. How would you like to get your book into the eager hands of reviewers, bloggers, members of the media, librarians, booksellers, and educators before it was published? Ever wonder how some books have 50 reviews the day of publishing? Want to know the tricks of the trade? One way is through NetGalley and their 450,000 readers.

NetGalley is a service that allows authors and publishers to get reviews of their work before and after it is published. Members get galleys before others, read books digitally, share feedback, and become part of a reading community. There are also built-in benefits beyond the review, including advance promotion (more about that on their website: https://www.netgalley.com/

“What an author will get from NetGalley, but may not always welcome, are reviews that are about as truly independent as can be,” said Tom Barry, author of Saving Jay and When the Siren Calls.  If you can’t handle the truth or someone’s version of the truth don’t do it!

“We work with over 400 publishers, indie authors and small publishers who are incorporating NetGalley into their marketing and publicity activities,” says Kristina Radke of NetGalley. We work in all genres, and the formats we support are ePub (converted to Mobi for Kindle devices and apps) or PDF.”

The reach is often beyond the NetGalley platform. “NetGalley does encourage its reviewers to post outside NetGalley, on places such as a personal blog, Amazon or GoodReads. It does not, however, guarantee or require this to happen,” says C.E. Kilgore, a self-published author of Science Fiction, Space Opera, and Contemporary Romance.

Check out The Science Fiction Writers Association who have a special rate with Net Galley. https://www.sfwa.org/what-is-sfwa/netgalley-application/

“NetGallians are not only strangers but staunch supporters of good fiction, like Templars defending a holy artifact,” says J.S. Leonard, author of Modern Rituals. “They care only to support excellent writing.”  One thing Leonard discovered with NetGalley are his “superfans,” those individuals who read the book, love the book, and tell everyone they know.

“NetGalley is so huge, your books are getting listed next to some pretty big name titles, and that can sometimes do wonders at getting your book noticed.  It’s a great chance to discover new authors and for authors to be discovered by new readers,” said Melissa Pearl, author of The Elements Trilogy.

“NetGalley is about marketing for authors/publishers, in addition to connecting with readers, and we have to keep in mind the game of trying to reach as many readers as possible,” said Keary Taylor, author of The Eden Trilogy, The Fall of Angels Trilogy, and What I Didn’t Say.

Corrin Foster of Greenleaf Book Group says that their publishing firm uses NetGalley for nearly every title that they publish as a way to reach active and influential reviewers. “The NetGalley community is fair and transparent with their reviews, responsive to collaboration, and an invaluable resource for generating early reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, blogs, and social media which carry a lot of weight with general consumers. We value our relationship with NetGalley and their members very highly,” says Foster.

Some authors believe NetGalley is costly, but as a book publicist, I can attest to the fact that the cost of soliciting, shipping and following-up is pretty costly in terms of money and time too.  Author C.E. Kilgore is concerned that the site has little reader/reviewer vetting process.

NetGalley admits this, but they believe that publishers and authors know best the readers who are most useful for them. When a reviewer requests a book, the author or publisher can accept or decline the request after reviewing their profiles. The price for a listing range from $399 to $599 for six months with the higher fee including a marketing boost and newsletter placement.

Want to save money? NetGalley works in partnership with the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association). They have a NetGalley program that makes it very easy for small and self-published authors to participate at a discount. Click here for more information: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/netgalley.

The Bottom Line: NetGalley is a great way to obtain pre-publish reviews and is yet another resource available to authors and publishers to reach a community of avid readers.

#NetGalley is a great way to obtain pre-publish #reviews and is yet another resource available to #authors and #publishers to reach a community of avid #readers. Click to tweet this article to your friends and followers! 𝕏

About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.

Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://www.WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.

Would you like help promoting your book?

If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?

Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!