Well, at least I think so! What makes it so good is that it should help me solve several problems most start-up authors face, namely:
- How do I get more reviews?
- How do I generate pre-release buzz?
- Ho do I get people to sign up to my email list?
- How can I do that at low or no cost?
Are you excited yet? Do you want to know what it is? Okay, okay! It’s simple:
Create a permanent ARC list.
What’s that, you ask? Let’s start with ARC – Advanced Review Copy. If you want a detailed explanation, have a look at Between The Covers. It’s basically a copy of the book made available to reviewers before the release. Using ARCs to promote your book is a well-known marketing strategy, and other blogs, such as Savvy Writers and eBooks Online or Finish Your Book have posted detailed instructions on how to do that.
Oh, you say. So then what’s so special about your idea?
Glad you’ve asked! The one thing I could not figure out was whom should I send these ARCs? I’ve even started compiling a list of book review blogs, but it turned out that lots of them have gone quiet. It was frustrating to spend so much time looking through their posts to try and figure out if they’re active, if they have a following, and how to contact them. Then it hit me.
I already have reviewers.
I have my own group, who have discovered me, bought Shizzle, Inc and posted reviews. They’ve been asking for a sequel, which means that they are the most likely people to read and review any of my future stories. Eureka!
Get to the point, you say? Okay, okay! Here it is:
If you have written a review of Shizzle, Inc and have posted it on Amazon.com or Goodreads, or both, I will send you an electronic copy of all my future books for free.
I’ve created another MailChimp list using the steps explained in my previous post. To sign up, click the link at the top of the sidebar or click here. You will need to provide a link to your review – sorry, this is the requirement to get on this super exclusive list. I reserve the right to delete any applications without a valid link. I also reserve the right to stop offering subscription to this list, so get in early!
I know what you think, how crazy am I to offer the books for free, in perpetuity. I don’t know if this is crazy or genius – time will tell, I guess. My hope is that it will get me the reviews and the buzz I need to get the momentum going. It’s also a great way to say “thank you” to the people who have taken time not only to read the book, but to help spread the word. Thank you, guys!
The sequel to Shizzle, Inc will be published in May – I will email copies with Uncorrected Proof watermark to the ARC list in April, while the sequel is on pre-order. Let me know what you think of this plan 🙂
Ana Spoke, author 
Awesome. I want to steal this idea immediately and implement it on my own blog. Can I, can I please?
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Yes! All my ideas are there for you to use 🙂
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Not a crazy idea, I think I am Rob Wright, a financially succesful self published horror writer from the UK, has a similar arc mailing list strategy
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Dang it! I thought I was so original 🙂 well, I’m even more excited now! It WILL work!
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Ugh. Ian Rob Wright, not I am
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Lol. I love autocorrect.
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What a great idea! It doesn’t seem crazy as long as you close the list at a certain point. (Duh, but I had to say it.) Very smart way to build followers who already love you and are dying for more.
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Thank you 🙂
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There are quite a few authors who create exclusive groups (be it in Facebook or elsewhere) and offer them previews or first take of their books. It’s a good idea, especially if as in your case you already have a good number of reviews. I imagine if somebody was really crafty they could just appropriate somebody else’s review and just send you the link, but can’t imagine that many people doing that (as you know people don’t always post under their name or might have several accounts they use). Good luck, Ana!
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Thank you, Olga – and dang it! It’s just like that time with Velcro…:-) well, if the big boys are doing it, I feel even more optimistic!
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There are lots of places nowadays that continue to offer free books with the promise of a review, and if you stop reviewing, they stop sending you books. I signed up for RevellReads which requires a link to reviews to stay on their list. NetGalley too, only accepts people who actively review books to receive free ARCs. I think this will be a great idea!
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That’s actually a good idea. As long as those who have reviewed you book have given it more than a daft one line review. It doesn’t happen that much with books as with products but you do get some useless reviews out there.
You’d also have to have a limit on the number of people on your list. If everyone reads the first book gets the second, how will you make a profit?lol
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Thank you 🙂 I’m not going to put any criteria on reviews, other than it has to be yours. And positive – I didn’t say it, but throwing more books at someone who already hated the first one doesn’t make sense 🙂
I guess I will figure out how many is too many once I got them 🙂 so far it’s not a problem 🙂
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I haven’t read the first book yet (got a long list of books to be read) I hope I’ll get a chance to join the list before it closes, lol. Good luck with this in the mean time though, and I’ve just signed up to your mailing list too 🙂
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I saw that – thank you! No stress about the list – I’m all about creating a snowball effect, so won’t close it any time soon. If you want the sequel, just sign up before May.
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This seriously sounds fantastic!
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Thank you, Jessalyn 🙂
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Pingback: The coolest marketing idea yet! – seth andrew burky
Hope you don’t mind but I shared this … Your discovery will most certainly come in handy for me! Thanks!
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Thank you for sharing, Seth – that’s what I do. I’m like a marketing fairy, leaving bits of advertising advice in your inbox 🙂
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