Why Editorial Book Reviews Matter PDF Free Download
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Why Editorial Book
Reviews Matter
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Featuring:
Desireé Duffy
at
WriterCon 2024
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Featuring:
Desireé Duffy
at
WriterCon 2024
Why Editorial Book
Reviews Matter
Editorial book reviews
Consumer reviews (Goodreads, NetGalley)
Customer and verified reviews on Amazon (and other retailers)
Influencer or social media reviews
Author endorsement or promotional blurb
TYPES OF
BOOK REVIEWS
An editorial book review is a professional evaluation of a book. It is
written by a professional reviewer, editor, or critic, often for publication
in newspapers, magazines, literary journals, or websites that have a
reputation for such reviews.
Unlike customer reviews, which are typically subjective and informal,
editorial reviews are usually more analytical and structured.
Editorial reviews are valued for their expertise and are often influential
in shaping public and critical opinion. They can be useful in a book’s
promotion for this reason.
WHAT MAKES AN EDITORIAL
BOOK REVIEW DIFFERENT?
Use on the back cover as a blurb or praise
Posted to an author’s or publisher’s website
Quoted on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retail sites as an editorial review
Quoted in a book’s press release
Used in backgrounders, one sheets, bookmarks or other marketing materials
Shared with bookstore buyers, librarians, and in B2B promotions
Shouted-out on social media
WHERE DO YOU USE
EDITORIAL BOOK REVIEWS?
Credibility: Provides a trusted, professional evaluation of a book.
Visibility: Increases a book’s exposure in the market.
Influence: Helps shape public and critical opinion.
Marketing: Enhances promotional efforts with authoritative endorsements.
Guidance: Assists readers in making informed purchasing decisions.
Library & Retail Decisions: Influences acquisitions by libraries and bookstores.
WHY EDITORIAL BOOK
REVIEWS MATTER
Traditional publishers often get these reviews
Small presses and indie presses sometimes can help
Hybrid presses have varying degrees of helping authors secure editorial reviews
Marketing and PR firms often can help
Authors can get them on their own
Timing is critical…such reviews should be sought months prior to book launch
HOW DO YOU GET
EDITORIAL BOOK REVIEWS?
Advanced reviews should be sought 6 to 3 months in advance of release
Many sites that offer editorial reviews have specific cut-offs
Many review sites need the advanced reading copy (ARC) several months prior to release
Remember, the reviewer needs time to read the manuscript and write the review
Professional review sites like Kirkus often charge more for expedited reviews
An editorial review can also be used to identify issues with the manuscript prior to release
Give yourself plenty of time
WHEN SHOULD YOU GET
EDITORIAL BOOK REVIEWS?
It’s okay if your ARC is unfinished
It is common for ARCs to be sent out before final proofing
A professional book reviewer will forgive minor typos
While the manuscript is still going through final revisions, it can be getting reviewed
ABOUT THE ARCS
Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus is one of the most well-known and respected sources for book reviews, offering critiques of books
across a wide range of genres. Their reviews are often seen as authoritative and are used by publishers,
bookstores, and libraries.
Publishers Weekly
A leading trade publication in the book industry, Publishers Weekly provides in-depth reviews of upcoming
books, covering everything from literary fiction to non-fiction, children's books, and more.
Booklist
Published by the American Library Association, Booklist offers editorial reviews that are highly regarded by
librarians, educators, and book professionals. Their reviews are concise and aimed at helping librarians
make purchasing decisions.
The New York Times Book Review
As part of The New York Times, the Book Review section is a prestigious platform for editorial reviews,
often featuring well-known authors, critics, and public figures offering their insights on a wide variety of
books.
LIST OF SITES OFFERRING
EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Library Journal
Similar to Booklist, Library Journal is a key resource for librarians and library professionals, offering
editorial reviews that focus on helping libraries build their collections.
Books That Make You
This platform provides editorial reviews with a focus on books that inspire and impact readers. It features
reviews, author interviews, and book recommendations across a range of genres with special “hearted
reviews” given to the top 10% of submissions to help exceptional titles stand out.
Foreword Reviews
Focused on indie and small-press books, Foreword Reviews offers editorial reviews that are trusted by
librarians, booksellers, and readers looking for new and unique voices in publishing.
Midwest Book Review
A respected platform that offers editorial reviews of books across a wide range of genres. Known for its
thorough and professional evaluations, the reviews are written by experienced critics and provide
insightful analysis of a book’s content, style, and significance.
LIST OF SITES OFFERRING
EDITORIAL REVIEWS (Cont’d)
The Black Château Family of Brands
https://www.booksthatmakeyou.com
Black Château (BCE) is an award-winning marketing
and public relations firm that specializes in promoting
authors, books, personality brands, and creative
individuals from around the world with a full
spectrum of services.
The company developed the proprietary Author
Network, an integrated marketing and public
relations retainer designed for book launches.
Additionally, Black Château offers a full-service array
of marketing and public relations services including
author platform building and branding, website
development, self-publishing support, editorial
services, SEO, public relations, social media, and book
trailer production.
Black Château is proud to be a virtual, family
company with office locations in Southern California,
Oklahoma, and everywhere the team roams.
Unifying motto: We believe in storytellers.
Books That Make You (BTMY) is a multi-media
brand that engages the reading community and
promotes books through its website, radio show
and podcast, social media channels, Webby Award-
winning newsletter, and bookish events like The
Beach-Bound Book Bash and Jingle Book Books.
The Books That Make You website had 44,000
active users (according to Google Analytics) last
year and received 282,210 unique pageviews in Q2
2023. The newsletter has over 25,000 subscribers.
The Instagram has 22,000+ followers and the
Facebook Pages and Groups have 11,000+
followers combined. The YouTube Channel has
4,000+ subscribers, 335,200+ channel views since
inception, and some individual shows receive
12,000+ views. Advertising drives numbers into the
millions of impressions and 10,000+ click-throughs
for listicle Articles. Giveaways and Social Media
impressions reach 23,000+ for many posts.
The BookFest®, an award-winning biannual bookish
adventure for readers and writers alike and was
created by The Black Château team. It is
livestreamed and free-to-attend event that happens
in spring and fall. Authors, celebrities, literary
agents, and publishing industry experts speak in
Conversations, Panel Discussions, Keynotes, Special
Sessions and in Live Author Chats.
The BookFest® videos are curated on the website
and on the Books That Make You YouTube Channel.
Videos are viewed thousands of times during and
after each event, with views reaching over a
335,000+ since inception. The BookFest Awards,
Virtual Booths, Speaker Pages and featured Books
can also be found on The BookFest Website which
had 152,000+ website views for the most recent
event. There are over 8,400 email subscribers and
the most recent event had a social media (Meta)
paid and earned media reach of 875,000+ and 2.3+
million article impressions.
https://www.blackchateauenterprises.com https://www.thebookfest.com
Black Château:
#BlackChateau #BCE
https://www.facebook.com/BlackChateau/
https://www.instagram.com/black_chateau_/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-chateau
Email Signup:
https://www.blackchateauenterprises.com/signup/
Books That Make You:
#BooksThatMakeYou #BTMY
https://www.booksthatmakeyou.com/
https://www.youtube.com/c/booksthatmakeyou/
https://www.facebook.com/BooksThatMakeYou/
https://www.instagram.com/books_that_make_you/
https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPd2ogxCa/
Email Signup:
https://www.booksthatmakeyou.com/newsletter-for-readers-and-book-lovers/
The BookFest:
#TheBookFest #TheBookFestFall2024
https://www.thebookfest.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1479386785747748
https://www.instagram.com/the_bookfest/
Email Signup:
https://www.thebookfest.com/signup/
Links &
Hashtags
Jingle Books and Beach-Bound Book Bash
#JingleBooks #BBBB
https://www.facebook.com/groups/479675643278858
https://www.facebook.com/groups/472804910877260
The Authors Porch
https://theauthorsporch.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theauthorsporch
https://twitter.com/theauthorsporch
https://www.instagram.com/theauthorsporch/
https://www.youtube.com/@theauthorsporch
https://www.pinterest.com/theauthorsporch/
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