Book Blurbs: How To, When & Why To Get Them
Pre-Publication Blurbs Can Make All The Difference In Book Sales
Book Reviews and Blurbs are an integral part of your book marketing plan
Here is a How-To and a Why to Get Blurbs and Who to Ask
There are three kinds of book reviews:
Book Industry Blurbs / Reviews
Pre-pub Blurbs / Book Reviews
Post-pub Blurbs / Book Reviews
In this post, part of the countdown to launch series, (Get Your Book Seen and Sold pubs 9/25/23 but is available for sale today!) I focus on pre-publication reviews and specifically Blurbs.
What is a Blurb?
In the simplest terms, a blurb is a quick, few words of endorsement for your book. A blurb can also be a piece of a longer review.
As a reader, you may have noticed those little sentences / phrases that you see…
…on the back cover of books.
…in the first interior pages of books.
…on a book’s Amazon, B&N and other online retailer pages.
…on an author’s website.
Those short one or two lines about the book, hopefully positively recommending the book, is a blurb.
You would expect to ask for reviews or endorsements AFTER your book publishes but actually, the time to get endorsements is well BEFORE your book publishes.
Why are Pre-publication Blurbs important?
The pre-pub blurbs can be placed on YOUR book’s Amazon, B&N, et al online retailer’s page. Endorsements help readers make the decision to buy your book.
Blurbs gathered ahead of publication can be placed on your book’s back cover, front cover, or beginning inside pages of your book
Blurbs can be put into an “endorsements one-page” ( a media kit item) that can be shared with media whenever you pitch yourself, your book and/or your expertise.
Blurbs can be added to your website ahead of publication so that when you DO publish, potential readers can read why other readers love your book and be motivated to buy a copy.
We are talking about legitimacy, excitement, buzz, and other’s reader’s suggestions to new readers to buy your book.
Another great reason to gather blurbs ahead of publication date is because it lightens the load for launch day book marketing. A big piece of promotion will be done.
HUGE TIP: You can ask your blurbers to post a review (quoting their own blurbs) on launch day to your book’s online retail sites: Amazon, Bookshop, Bookbub, B&N, etc.
How do you get a blurb?
You ask!
On April, 6 months pre-pub, my co-author Julie Murkette and I put together a list together on excel of people that we would like to ask for a blurb.
I created a “landing page” using the online platform/resource, Trello, that allows a would-be blurber to:
Download the galley of the book (a pdf of an ARC - advanced readers copy)
Submit a blurb by filling out 4 fill-in the blank questions: Name, Email, Attribution, Blurb
On May, 5 months pre-pub, I sent an email to the list on my excel spreadsheet with the link to the landing page. The Trello software stored the blurbs and attributions. It even notified me when someone had submitted a blurb.
Here are pics of my Trello Blurb page:
Fantastic Blurb Tips:
A. You don’t have to ask family and friends! That’s right, you don’t have to bug your family and friends for a blurb! Julie and I focused on colleagues who we knew would be interested in our book. Some of our would-be blurbers were friends but most were not.
B. The blurb collection process is ongoing. You can (and should) continue to ask for blurbs all through the pre-publication and the after-publication process.
You can never have enough blurbs.
C. What is in it for the blurber?
For the blurber, the benefits are two-fold - they get to see an advanced copy of your book but also, you will be providing promotion for them. By asking them how they would like to be attributed, you are promoting their book, business, etc. For example, one of our blurbers, an author of several books, shared this blurb:
(Get Your Book Seen and Sold)… Demystifies book marketing and publicity with helpful worksheets, charts, and exercises. A great guide to gaining readers and harnessing attention for your book. — Kelly Simmons, author of 9 novels sold in 12 countries www.kellysimmonsbooks.com
Wherever we promote/sell the book, potential book buyers will be introduced to Kelly Simmons, Author of 9 novels AND how to find her on her website. Win, Win.
BTW, Kelly’s books are awesome and she did an interview with us on the podcast if you are interested in tips on agents and getting your books published!
D. Add an Endorsements Page to your media kit
As mentioned above, be sure to create a media kit item that lists the blurbs for your book. Endorsement pages can be added to every media pitch you send and to review copies you send to media for mention, interview or story.
If you want to see an example of an endorsements page that could be part of YOUR media kit send me an email at wjcwolk@gmail.com.
Finally, if you are ready to market your book and have questions or need instruction on how to get started, I offer book marketing coaching one-on-one.
Here is the link to sign up for an hour.
Thanks for reading and add any questions you have on blurbs. More fabulous book promotion tips coming up in the countdown series.