- Getting book blurbs
or asking for an endorsement for your book
before it's even print-ready can be anxiety-inducing.
It might feel like hitting a giant panic button.
You might even feel like you're needy
or desperate for praise.
So if you're wondering if book blurbs actually work
and are worth the effort, then this video is for you.
(happy music)
Hey, there I'm Julie, the Book Broad,
founder of Book Launchers,
a fabulous professional self-publishing team.
You've heard it said,
"Don't judge a book by its cover," right?
So no one will judge your book
if you skip right past getting blurbs, right?
Not so fast.
Blurbs are essentially endorsements for your book
that tell readers that it's worth their investment.
They're two to three lines
and serve as advanced reviews of your book.
They're different than regular consumer reviews,
but just as important for a different reason.
Sure, a few lines of approval seem unimportant
as far as making or breaking a sale,
but plenty of readers do rely on these things
during their decision-making process
and they say that blurbs can be a factor when buying a book,
even if they aren't the ultimate factor.
Blurbs sell books, especially when you're a new author
or still establishing your author brand.
Think about it.
No one needs to see a blurb
on one of Malcolm Gladwell's books
to convince them to buy it.
He's already an acclaimed author.
But a blurb from Malcolm Gladwell,
an endorsement like could be invaluable
to increase your sales and influence as an author.
They aren't the only or the biggest piece
when it comes to your promotion or book sales,
but blurbs work
and they are one of many puzzle pieces
to creating book marketing and book sales success.
So, here's what makes a good one,
how to get it, and what to do with it.
An effective blurb comes from a significant authority
on your book's topic or subject matter,
someone with a strong reputation
and influence on your target reader.
Your audience will likely care about what they have to say.
In other words, your audience knows the person
or at the very least, the company or organization
that that person is affiliated with.
So the words they have about your book have clout.
So if they say your is book great
and give it a stamp of approval,
well that lets readers know
that your book is trustworthy and worth reading,
and that you're credible
as both an author and a subject matter expert.
There are three kinds of blurbs,
although a great blurb might accomplish all three things.
First.
An effective blurb will help that target reader
identify your book as for them
and it'll help them figure out
what they're going to get out of your book.
Again, that's why it's important
the blurb be from someone that will matter to your reader.
So when they say, "This book is for someone like this,"
they will believe it.
The second kind of blurb should highlight a specific benefit
or element of the book that is unique
and that the reader isn't going to find somewhere else.
In other words,
what's the reader going to take away from your book?
Ideally, this is kind of a testimonial that echoes the hook,
the what's in it for me.
This is the kinda blurb you can get
from a customer or client of yours
because they can speak directly to this topic.
But of course, a well-respected name
saying something about your book being great for this reason
is a great blurb too.
And finally, an effective blurb
covers why the influencer thinks you, yes, you
are the only one that could write this book.
What makes you unique, what have you done?
What's the most important piece of your story
that differentiates you and therefore the book
from other authors in your space?
You don't have to know celebrities
to get good book blurbs for your book.
You just need a good strategy
for contacting a bunch of people
who are respected and known,
and you need to do it with plenty of time to spare
before your launch.
A really great blurb might go on your cover, front or back,
but if not, there's plenty of spaces
like your Amazon author page, your media kit,
and even inside your book
where these important words can go.
As a key element to your marketing
and building that early platform,
blurbs can't be put off until the last minute,
there's no procrastinating allowed.
You wanna make sure you're prioritizing these
during your presale period
so they can be included in all those valuable things
like your media kit, social media, Amazon product page,
and even the book cover.
Look at these great covers with blurbs on them,
looks good, right?
Now think about your friends, mentors, and clients
who could write endorsements.
Make a list.
Who do you know that can speak to your expertise?
Offer their own credibility on your behalf
or provide a testimonial that speaks
to what readers will gain from reading your book.
The earlier you start asking for blurbs, the better,
but you need to make sure
that you at least have an ARC copy to send
along with your request.
At Book Launchers,
our authors are usually in the layout phase of the process,
which means that you're not sending
a perfect and pristine finished book,
but it's been through many rigorous edits.
So an endorser will feel confident
giving their seal of approval on the book,
knowing that it's of a high quality.
I know it's a little scary
to send an unfinished product through,
but you can include a note, letting them know
that they're receiving an uncorrected proof
and that there might be typos.
The most important thing is that the content isn't changing,
it's just getting cleaned up.
If that's the case,
it's totally fine to send them an uncorrected proof.
It's common practice in the industry.
Asking for the blurb takes finesse though.
Before you go out and send a mass email
to everyone you've put on this list,
remember, each message needs to be personalized.
Create a brief to the point email
that asks them to provide an endorsement for you.
Let them know why you think
that they are the right person to provide a testimonial.
A little flattery, which is genuine in this case
goes a long way.
What is it about them or their work
that has inspired you or influenced your own work?
Are you familiar with the things they've done in the past
or perhaps there's something
about their approach in your field that you echo
and believe your book can help back up?
In that message, share quickly what your book is about
and how you're publishing and marketing it.
Once you have this message template,
you can use it over and over,
just personalizing the start for each person.
It takes time to get blurbs, but you want results, right?
Close your email with a very direct task for this person.
Ask them for a brief endorsement
that you can use for your book marketing purposes.
If you haven't heard back about your request,
you can send a follow up, once by email
or maximum of two times
or one email and one phone call.
Just don't be a pain.
Just say, "Hey, listen, I know you're busy
"and I just appreciate knowing if and when you can do this."
Once they agree to provide a blurb,
promptly send them your manuscript
and let them know your timeline.
Be sure to give people enough time,
but not months and months.
Tell them you'd love to consider their endorsement
for the cover or the inside flap of your book
so you need it by x date.
Reach out to way more people than you think you'll need
or you think you can get.
In other words, don't put all your eggs in one basket
because often, it's the one you least expect
who will come through for you.
Once those blurbs start rolling in, collect them
and figure out which ones are gonna be the best
for your book cover, if any
and make sure to include the influencer's full name, title,
and company with each blurb
and file them all in a place
where you'll have easy access to them
when it comes time to marketing.
Whether you use their blurb on your cover or not,
please, please, please remember to send a thank-you note.
You can also send a signed copy of the book
when it's published.
They were willing to take their time
and associate their name with your finished product
and that's pretty cool,
and it deserves a personal thank you.
You're also pretty cool, let's keep hanging out.
If you're looking for more help
with your influencer outreach,
this video right here is an excellent thing to watch next
or if you're wondering about ARC copies,
what they are, how to get them,
well this video's got you covered there.
Both are pretty great
and I can't wait to hang out with you a little more.