Having a hard time getting reviews?

Yeah, I know what you mean. You thought that when you wrote your book that all those people who encouraged you and said they would purchase a copy and give you a review would have done so already, right? Nope! Well, let's not put all of them in one basket. Most!

Yes siree! Where have all those people gone? All those promises, the constant follow-up and begging family, friends, and co-workers. All those free copies you gave away with the hope and expectation and now ... disappointment. Well, chin up! It makes no sense waiting in vain any longer or continuing to beg or ending up in unnecessary arguments and losing friends and family relations when there are options.

Again, be warned, these options may not all be free, and if they are free, there is certainly a price to pay.

The thing is that authors are not the only people who need reviews. Everyone needs them. From the person applying for a job to the individual or company offering a product or service. Reviews help to build your credibility and visibility. It is considered word-of-mouth marketing, and with the help of technology, it helps to bolster you up the totem pole and separate you from the have-nots. We all know this.

When I am looking to purchase a book online, one of the first things I check is the number of reviews and the type and quality of the reviews. When I am travelling and looking for accommodation, I look at the reviews. When I am seeking professional services, I check people I trust to get their feedback. So reviews are not something to be taken lightly. We all do it, so why not put some effort, time, and financial investment into getting some good-quality reviews to help build you up online and quite possibly increase your sales margin.

GREAT RESOURCES

I was doing a check for reviews for a client of mine and came upon some really great resources that I want to share with you. I also reached out to my personal contacts at Lulu.com in the publishing industry. Lo and behold, they offer a great package not only to help you get reviews, but to get some really cool marketing to 30 million readers! I think it's a great price and I highly recommend them. Yep!

I have posted the links below, so this saves you the time and effort of searching for yourself. Am I a nice or what? Now don't take it for granted.

If you wish to go higher than Lulu, then go for the big shark, Kirkus Reviews. They are top-of-the-line and so is the price. If you're looking for free, Publishers Weekly is also very good, but the price you pay is time - waiting to see if your entry will be selected among the thousands that are submitted. So it's your choice, based on your budget, time, and value you place on your work, as well as how serious you are about promotion and marketing.

Ok, here are the links:

Kirkus Reviews https://

www.kirkusreviews.com/indie-reviews/about/

Publishers Weekly http://

www.publishersweekly.com/pw/corp/submissionguidelines.html

This is a great article that offers a comparison table on reviews. This was shared by my friend Glenn at lulu.comhttp://

www.selfpublishingreview.com/2014/08/top-5-paid-indie-book-review.

And here's the referral link to the review and marketing package by lulu.comhttps://www.

lulu.com/services/internet-marketing/goodreads

Well, this is a mouthful and should get you going and keep you busy for a while. Should you need my professional assistance in preparing to submit your book for reviews, feel free to reach out.

n Corine La Font is a speaker, author, coach, and self-publishing consultant. She is also an award-winning publishing resource in the 2013 Small Business Book Awards. Get a copy of her book at http://amzn.to/TFHQka, Subscribe to her magazine at http://bit.ly/1IDj7pQ.Tune in to her radio programme at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/helpdeskja and check out her website at http://www.helpdeskja.com. She can be reached at corinelaf@gmail.com.