While you might think ads, book signings, or a price drop would be the biggest influence on your self-published book sales, the reality is that book reviews make or break your profits. A good review offers the best type of social proof that your book is worth buying. You can ask friends, family, fans, and professional reviewers to rate your book, but the experts at Self-Publishing Relief know another effective way to build brand recognition and book sales: Review books by other authors! It might seem counterproductive, but there are good reasons why you should review books by other authors.

Why You Should Review Books By Other Writers

There is one important caveat: Only write reviews for books you can honestly say good things about. Trashing another writer’s work will rebound back at you, with readers and other authors viewing you in a negative light. But writing a candid, pleasant review for another author’s book can be a win-win for both of you. Here’s why:

Positive Trade-Offs: If someone approaches you for a book review, you can offer to trade a review for a review! Or you can ask other writers to review your book in exchange for you reviewing theirs. If you’re positive and supportive in the reviews you write, other authors are more likely to be positive and supportive when they review your self-published book. And by reading the works of other authors, you’ll also gain insights that can improve your own writing!

Better Community Connections: Other authors are not your competitors; they are your colleagues! Making connections in the writing community by reviewing other authors’ books will help you grow your network. Engaging with the broader writing community shows that you are professional, active, and capable of building an audience. You’ll also be supporting other writers by boosting their morale and providing valuable insights into their work.

Increased Name Recognition: If your author name is on multiple websites as a book reviewer and as a writer, you’ll be more searchable and draw more attention to your own work from readers, agents, and publishers. Readers who see your reviews of other books may be enticed to check out your writing as well. It’s a budget-friendly way to effectively cross-promote and access audiences you otherwise wouldn’t reach.

While having your name out there is a great way to rank higher in online searches, you don’t have to accommodate every book review request that comes your way. A half-hearted, inaccurate review would be unfair to the author. When you do agree to write a book review, offer the author the same attention and energy you’d want someone to give your own book.

If you’re ready to self-publish, but navigating the complex process on your own seems daunting, Self-Publishing Relief can help! We’ll walk you through every step, handle the technical busywork, and guide you in creating a self-published book that you’ll be proud to put your name on. Schedule your free consultation today!

Question: What are your favorite genres of books to review?