One of the major ways I prepare for every book’s release is by forming a Launch Team made up of Influencers. In the publishing world, Influencer is often used to refer to a reader who signs up to help in the promotion of a book in exchange for a free copy of that book.
An Influencer doesn’t just agree to write a review of the book. Although reviews are a big part of influencing, Influencers do SO much more than review. They share their enthusiasm about the book in countless ways (by recommending the book to their libraries, pinning the cover on Pinterest, taking pictures of themselves with the book, passing out bookmarks, etc., etc., etc.)
We all know how powerful word-of-mouth can be in marketing a book. Influencers are strategic in getting the “talk” going and can help the marketing efforts at the time of a book’s release.
As I form my Influencer teams for each book release, I always ask those who are interested to commit to completing at least 5 influential actions from a long list of suggestions that I give them. Then once they complete their actions, I ask them let me know what they’ve done (usually within a month of the book’s release).
I’ve found that this kind of accountability helps keep everyone on my launch team on the same page and working in a timely manner. I have a Facebook group where I can communicate with my team and where they can also share ideas with one another.
However, inevitably there are always those who join my group of Influencers who end up not liking my book. Obviously, readers can’t predict whether they’ll like a book when they sign up and agree to be an Influencer.
So for those who end up not liking my book, I ask that they do two things: 1. Give their copy of the book to someone they think might enjoy it. 2. Share at least one of the other positive reviews or blog posts regarding the book.
I don’t expect those Influencers to gush over my book when they really wish they could barf over it. Rather than lying, most Influencers who don’t like a book usually opt not to say anything at all rather than hurt the author’s marketing efforts. I ask them to follow the old adage taught to them by their mother: “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.”
Many Book Reviewers also get a free copy of the book (either through Net Galley or the publisher’s book review program). Unlike my Influencer list which I control, I have no say in who gets a review copy of my book.
A Book Reviewer may or may not be a fan of the author. Most often their intention is to provide a helpful review for other readers. They are NOT agreeing to promote the book or author, although indirectly that can happen, particularly if they really liked the book and get excited about it. They may write a stellar review and recommend the book to others.
But a Book Reviewer can also rip the book to shreds if they don’t like it. Their job is to provide a helpful and honest review. They’re often asked to share that review in a number of different places (online bookstores, a blog, Goodreads, etc.).
In other words, a Book Reviewer’s goal is to help the READER make wise reading choices. An Influencer’s goal is to help the AUTHOR with promotion.
As another of my books, Undaunted Hope, draws closer to release time (Jan. 5, 2016), I’m once again in the process of putting together an Influencer Team. I already have some really awesome Influencers on my team, but occasionally I have room to add more. And this is one of those times!
If you’re interested in joining my team, I’d ask that you make sure you understand the difference between Reviewers and Influencers, and that you be willing to commit to doing 5 influential actions. (To find out more about the story, visit my website.)
If that describes you, then email me at jodyhedlundbooks (at) gmail (dot) com and I’ll send you more information. Even though I wish I could include everyone, only limited spots are available!
Are YOU a Book Reviewer, Influencer, or both? What has your experience been like? Do you have any tips for those who might be interested in becoming an Influencer?
Jody Hedlund
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Wow, I’m just a reader. But I’d love to be an influencer. I am a church librarian, so I spend time talking up books to people. And I have found that I have difficulties writing reviews. If I don’t like a book, I don’t finish it, so how can I write a review on a book I didn’t read? And if I love the book, I am too aware of my own writing limitations to write a good review!
I review books on a regular basis for bookfun.org. I also have been an influencer for several authors this past year. I have enjoyed doing both, altho sometimes w/ the review of books, I look at my TBR pile and despair that I will never get them done as soon as promised! So I just keep on reading…
Here’s hoping to be an influencer for one of your books. Thank you for the opportunity.
Such great advice for an avid reader, like me, who both reviews and “influences” on a regular basis. Thank you.
In my post-radio life, I am a regular book reviewer, and I also served on one book launch team this year. I LOVE being able to have time to read again, after four years of no time for that kind of fun, and I adore being able to offer reviews. {In six months, I’ve only disliked two books…felt so sad to write reviews that didn’t glow!} And being part of a book launch team was a delight. I enjoyed the extra interaction with other readers working together to help the author – and I STILL love celebrating with her!
I review every book I read. And let me say that I don’t offer to read a book unless I’m pretty sure I’ll like it. Most of my reviews get either a five or four star rating. Jody writes excellent books and I know that each one from her is going to be excellent.
I’m also an enfluencer and I love doing that as well. Looking so forward to Jody’s next release!
I am an influencer!I’m all about helping an author promote a book. I use Facebook, instagram, Twitter, and I will leave a review on all the book selling outlets the author wishes me to. I have been a beta reader as well. I’d love to be an influencer on your street team as well. 🙂
I am both and influencer and a reviewer and I love doing both!
I started off as a reviewer, but then got so excited about the books I was reading that I just naturally told everyone and posted and blogged about them, so I turned into an influencer. Now, I am more intentional about it, but it is driven by a love for books and authors and a desire to encourage them.
I’m both. I read my first book by you last year through a free book from The Book Club Network (www.bookfun.org) and I’ve loved each of the books that I’ve read of yours since. Your name was added to favorite author’s list that I mention on my fb page (Pat G Moore). When someone mentions a book or asking for good Christian authors’ names then I pull out my list and what type of books each author writes (historical, suspense, Amish, romance, etc). I also post reviews to Good Reads, Amazon, Christian Books, B&N, Deeper Shopping and when its an author that uses BCN then I leave reviews there. I don’t do Twitter. I will be glad to leave reviews anywhere else you would prefer.
I would be honored to be a part of your team. I also take bookmarks to the two Christian Book stores in town. Also to my favorite indy. bookstore. They sell used and new books.
I am an Influencer for many authors, if I read a book and am not duly impressed with the author,I usually remain a book reviewer.
SAs an influencer I share, on Social Media various things about the book,I’m active on Pinterest and I have a Book review Board plus boards for authors I influence and also I am active on Goodreads reviewing and recommending books.
I have read and critiqued friends’ books at their request (a couple pre-publication, one after), reviewed them on my blog and Goodreads, and promoted them there and on Facebook, so I guess I could say I have been an influencer, though not quite as extensively as what you’ve described.
I love to read and to discuss what I have read, so I do review most of what I read on my blog. While I don’t believe in ripping books to shreds in reviews, I do believe in honest reviews. If every review I read on someone’s site is all rah-rah gushy enthusiasm, I tend to mistrust that person’s perspective. I’ve read books based on others’ positive comments and been disappointed. And I have had people read books on my recommendations and tell me they appreciate my honest reviews. So for all those reasons, I want to be careful in what I say about books.
I’ve read “ripping” reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, so I know what you’re talking about there. But when I am thinking about a book by an author I have never read before, I do look at negative as well as positive reviews. If a negative review is just ranting, I ignore it, but sometimes a not-quite-thrilled review can be very helpful while not turning me away from the book.
I would hope that some of those non-ranting but less than positive reviews would be a help to authors as well. For instance, a recent book by a popular, successful author was written from an omniscient point of view, which is fine – I love being inside the thoughts of the characters. But it was confusing in this book because different sections would start with “he,” “she,” or “they,” and it would be several sentences in before I could discern which character(s) were the subject. A few reviews I saw mentioned the same thing, so hopefully that writer would see those not as a criticism but as a note to work on clarity next time, because anything that confuses the reader interrupts the flow of the story. That kind of critique wouldn’t turn me away from a book.
Even a critique of being “poorly written” wouldn’t turn me away from a book (unless every review said that) because I have read that critique on books that I have loved, and I have wondered why the reviewer didn’t “get it.”
But I’d prefer choosing a book after reading an honest, rational review rather than being disappointed by a book whose reviews were all glowing but which had serious flaws.
I am both an influencer and a reviewer. The author and book dictate which role I play. If I like the author and genre they write, I will volunteer as an influencer. However, if I am not familiar with the author or publishing house,I do not generally take on that role. I will review for unfamiliar authors, but it is an honest review. I try to find something positive to say even if I don’t care for the book. Being honest does not mean being negative or mean spirited. Be careful with your words as an influencer or reviewer. They are out there for the world to read.
This blog was helpful & I appreciate the clarity of your explanation. I would be interested in being an influencer for your book(s) now or in the future. I have only been an influencer one other time and unfortunately I was caught off guard, the author had made a change by leaving the Christian genre and I was not aware of this change before agreeing to be an influencer. In addition, I didn’t care for the book- so I posted the book’s release on my facebook page and pinterest, told my friends what the book was about …beyond that, I kept my opinions to myself. I’m glad to know I handled it fairly well, at the time I felt bad I didn’t post reviews, but I didn’t want to ‘hurt’ the author. I had previously enjoyed so many of books written by the author.