So you want to be a reviewer?Ecclesiastes 9:10 extols us to give our best efforts to anything we put our hands to.
Here are twelve tips to guide you as you set out to write a quality review:
1. Do not write a sales pitch! Your readers are sticking around to hear your opinion. Be honest. That is what they expect from a review and what they are hoping to find. You need to deliver.
2. Use keywords. SEO is crucial for getting your review seen and read by a wide audience. Give attention to your choice of keywords. Use them cleverly and you will build traffic.
3. Link up! Use links in your review that lead to the author’s page, the purchase page(s) and any other relevant places.
4. Follow the rules! Here at The CWA Review Crew we expect our reviewers to write a thorough review, following the procedures that we have outlined for them within our private group. When you join any review program you need to be vigilant to follow their rules and craft a review that meets or exceeds their expectations.
5. Be kind. An author, creator, or publisher trusts you with their product. Not everything will be a “winner” to you. Try to think of who might love it, even when you don’t. Balance your review so it is not fake or unkind. Bottom line: It’s okay not to like everything, it’s not okay to hate on the creator.
6. Don’t spoil the ending! Be diligent to describe the plot, but don’t go overboard. Details are important, but if you give too many readers may not feel the need to experience it first-hand.
7. Follow the law! Use a disclosure on every review you write.
8. Be personal, but professional. EDIT before you publish. Poor writing, grammar and sentence structure reflect poorly on the product you are trying to present and you. Emoticons, texting language (lol, rotfl, etc.) are not professional language for a review. Do you have a favorite word? (For example: repeated use of the word “like”)? If so, pull out a thesaurus and add find some adjectives. Whatever you do, don’t rush the review. Take the time to write and re-write your post until it sparkles.
9. Don’t bore your reader with unnecessary information. If your review is too long your reader may abandon your review half way. Keep it simple and stay within the length boundaries provided in your review criteria.
10. Don’t blow smoke. Never make false claims about a book or product. It’s great if you love it, but be realistic about why. Don’t elevate the value or contents above what they truly are. This will only create frustration should they purchase and not get the same results. It will also make you look like a fraud.
11. Use social marketing to widen your audience. After you have posted a review at your blog or website, remember to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and any other social media you participate in. Let people know your review is there so they don’t risk missing it.
12. Never let your enthusiasm die. The most important aspect of being a reviewer is remembering why you decided to be one in the first place. In most cases you signed up because you love books, you want to try new things and share about them. Keep that sense of adventure alive in your review. Your energy, passion and enthusiasm will inspire your readers the most.
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might . . .” Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)
Here are twelve tips to guide you as you set out to write a quality review:
1. Do not write a sales pitch! Your readers are sticking around to hear your opinion. Be honest. That is what they expect from a review and what they are hoping to find. You need to deliver.
2. Use keywords. SEO is crucial for getting your review seen and read by a wide audience. Give attention to your choice of keywords. Use them cleverly and you will build traffic.
3. Link up! Use links in your review that lead to the author’s page, the purchase page(s) and any other relevant places.
4. Follow the rules! Here at The CWA Review Crew we expect our reviewers to write a thorough review, following the procedures that we have outlined for them within our private group. When you join any review program you need to be vigilant to follow their rules and craft a review that meets or exceeds their expectations.
5. Be kind. An author, creator, or publisher trusts you with their product. Not everything will be a “winner” to you. Try to think of who might love it, even when you don’t. Balance your review so it is not fake or unkind. Bottom line: It’s okay not to like everything, it’s not okay to hate on the creator.
6. Don’t spoil the ending! Be diligent to describe the plot, but don’t go overboard. Details are important, but if you give too many readers may not feel the need to experience it first-hand.
7. Follow the law! Use a disclosure on every review you write.
8. Be personal, but professional. EDIT before you publish. Poor writing, grammar and sentence structure reflect poorly on the product you are trying to present and you. Emoticons, texting language (lol, rotfl, etc.) are not professional language for a review. Do you have a favorite word? (For example: repeated use of the word “like”)? If so, pull out a thesaurus and add find some adjectives. Whatever you do, don’t rush the review. Take the time to write and re-write your post until it sparkles.
9. Don’t bore your reader with unnecessary information. If your review is too long your reader may abandon your review half way. Keep it simple and stay within the length boundaries provided in your review criteria.
10. Don’t blow smoke. Never make false claims about a book or product. It’s great if you love it, but be realistic about why. Don’t elevate the value or contents above what they truly are. This will only create frustration should they purchase and not get the same results. It will also make you look like a fraud.
11. Use social marketing to widen your audience. After you have posted a review at your blog or website, remember to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and any other social media you participate in. Let people know your review is there so they don’t risk missing it.
12. Never let your enthusiasm die. The most important aspect of being a reviewer is remembering why you decided to be one in the first place. In most cases you signed up because you love books, you want to try new things and share about them. Keep that sense of adventure alive in your review. Your energy, passion and enthusiasm will inspire your readers the most.
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might . . .” Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)
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