Books: Ways To Bring In More Product Reviews For Authors

Books: Ways To Bring In More Product Reviews For Authors: A product review is important to build an author’s credibility and visibility. Credibility and visibility are two important marketing aspe...

Ways To Bring In More Product Reviews For Authors

A product review is important to build an author’s credibility and visibility. Credibility and visibility are two important marketing aspects that can bring success to your business.

Reviews are feedbacks or reports about certain products, services, and events etc.

The purpose of gathering reviews is to build credibility and also to know what people think of your products or services. Product Reviews are important because these show you your consumer’s perspective, and with their critical comments, you will be able to find ways to improve your products and services.

Today, Blogging is becoming a popular marketing tool for most people, who want to expand their business throughout the cyber world.

What is a Blog? A Blog is a virtual journal in which a series of posts are displayed on web pages or blog sites. It is arranged in a chronological order, usually from the most recent post to the oldest. Blog sites are also an advertising media wherein you can post images, videos and write-ups about your business.

Nowadays, there are many websites that offer free blogging services. One of the most popular and widely used by bloggers is Wordpress.

Wordpress offers an open source blogging software with free hosting which you can utilize in creating a blog site. Posting and customizing blog pages in Wordpress is easy and fast. Aside from being user friendly, it can also be customized by adding themes, fonts, headers, widgets and you can also personalized your URL for a budget buy.

However, if you are not a do-it-yourself person, you can also hire someone to make your very own website. You can search through employment websites to find the right person to complete your project. Try looking through Odesk or Elance, these are well known websites where employers and contractors meet to do business.

Once you have set up your blog site, you have now added visibility to your business and thus, expanding your marketing media.

Additionally, building credibility is also very important. The most effective type of blog you can create to build credibility is a product review site. This is a compilation of reviews from clients and customers through blog posts or commentaries, by video or audio testimony. By having them post their testimonies and experiences about your products, others will be able to see your credibility and performance.  

It is important to get product reviews from people who have bought your products. This is also one way to let them know that you care about their thoughts and satisfaction. In gathering product reviews, it is essential that you ask the basic important information from your clients. These components will add to the gravity of the review and also give a feeling of reliability.

First and foremost is to get the full name of the person giving the product review. Second, ask where they are from, specifically what city and state. Lastly, inquire about what kind of profession or occupation they have. Asking for the following information, will make the product reviews in your blog site more trustworthy and honest.

The product review blog site you have created in Wordpress will become your business’ marketing asset. Utilizing and maximizing your marketing asset will hopefully result in increased financial returns.

On the other hand, the question is how will people reach your blog site and increase the number of your product reviews? Having a blog itself will not be effective unless people are coming in and post reviews in your site. One way of gathering more reviews is by gaining natural or organic traffic through Google, or other search engines.

If someone is looking into checking reviews about you or your products, Google is highly likely to be the first place they would put in their search query. Since your blog site is now in existence, once your name, company, or product is typed into Google, the person searching will be able to find your review site on the list.

Another way to gain more reviews is through feedback forms. You can distribute forms to your buyers and ask them to input their thoughts about their experience, or to give testimonies regarding your product. It is more efficient to ask to fill in feedback forms after seminars, conventions and or workshops, because it will give you more leverage in getting responses from people. Lastly, you can do it yourself by asking people personally to type in your laptop or IPods, their reviews.

In this way, you can capture more feedbacks from every customer you have.

Along with these ways in adding product reviews in your blog site, always keep in mind to ask for and include the three essential pieces of information needed. These are the full name, the city location and the occupation of the person giving the review.

Finally, once your product blog pages are overflowing with good reviews, it would be an effective place to advertise your products. When a lot of people post positive blog reviews, others will also visit and check your products, which will convert into increased sales.

Increasing your visibility and achieving a credible reputation towards your buyers is an important aspect to bring further sales for your business. In this case, your marketing asset, which is your self-capture blog site will now be converted into your financial asset that will eventually lead to your business success.

Also, if you want to increase the traffic for your website, consider search engine optimization and further information regarding this is readily available on the web. There are also link building systems such as SEO Link Monster

Book Discovery

Video about discovery of Books discussed by Matteo Berlucchi from Anobii at the London Book Fair, Digital, Minds Conference

First Visit To The London Book Fair – What To Expect

First Visit To The London Book Fair – What To Expect 

My visit to the London Book Fair on Tuesday 17th April was interesting. It was my first visit, so I was not quite certain what to expect. Despite my train arriving 45 minutes late, I had a pleasant time wandering around the Fair. 

As a newbie I was somewhat shocked, by the number of stallholders/employees more interested in looking at their mobile phones than attempting to talk with me, and this was prevalent throughout small and large stalls. What a wasted opportunity and demonstrated a lack of commitment from people who clearly would have preferred to be elsewhere. Owners had invested substantial funds in the stall, books and promotional materials. 

When I asked what a firm did and offered authors, some employees were unable to answer basic questions and had to refer to colleagues and told me that I should have made an appointment three months ago. 

I spoke to one author who had taken a stall to promote her series of books, it was also her first time and she said that that she had wished that she hadn't, as it had tied her to one locations with little opportunity to promote her books to others who were there. 

I then asked at the enquiries desk where would I find literary agents and was directed upstairs. This was a closed area for those that had pre-arranged interviews. All I wanted was a general chat about what they do and what services they offer. A lady did helpfully explain the system, however as this was my first time made me realise that I needed to have planned my visit.

It had been my intention just to have a general look around and talk with people. There were also many talks being given and as my time was limited, decided to explore and would in future use it as a learning opportunity. 

Before going, I had considered putting my titles in the new title section. The stand was located at the farthest point from the main entrance. Save for an Author who was promoting and signing her books, there was no-one in sight, either to answer questions, or to monitor the shelves. I may have picked the wrong ten minutes to view. No-one was looking at these books either.

There were some really helpful people and I picked up a lot of information leaflets, which I read on the four hour journey home. 

One such booklet was the "My Fair Planner" for the Frankfurter Buchmesse Fair in Frankfurt in October (www.book-fair.com) 

It outlines that you will meet the entire industry in one place (when they are not on their phones) and will introduce you to new trends and business fields and there is "no better place" for learning and networking. 

They suggest a seven step plan to: 

1. Find out what is on offer and what is of interest to you. To do this you need to check out the catalogue in advance of attending (www.book-fair.com/exhibitorscatalogue ). Use it as a meeting place and attend forums. (Forum Education ) 

2. Register for training offers through the Frankfurt Academy's knowledge and networking opportunities.(www.book-fair.com/academy) 

3. Register as a trade visitor to gain access on all days. 

4. Arrange appointments with targets well in advance for a 15 minute or 30 minute appointment. 

5. Create your own personal plan for the Fair in advance (if I had only known!) 

6. Buy an advance ticket to save on costs and issue time. 

7. Organise travel and accommodation. 

This is all good advice and I would in future takes such steps, now that I have a much better idea what is on offer.