How Can Readers Help Authors?


August 31, 2012

If you’re an avid reader, no doubt you’d like to encourage your favorite authors to keep writing. What can you do to help?

Write customer reviews on Amazon, BookBub, and other online reader sites.

Add the author’s book to your Wish List on Amazon and TBR pile on Goodreads.

Search for the author’s website, author name, and book titles periodically to raise their rank in search engines.

Like the author’s Facebook page; Share and comment on her Facebook posts.

Retweet author’s Twitter posts and Like their Instagram posts.

Forward the author’s newsletter to a friend.

Recommend the author’s books to your book club.

Look for good reviews of the author’s book and click Yes to “Was this review helpful to you?”

Follow author’s blog tours and leave comments.

Repin author’s photos on Pinterest.

Offer to hand out bookmarks for the author.

Offer to lead a Street Team of fans to spread the word about the author’s works.

Suggest the author as a speaker at community events and writing workshops.

Buy the author’s latest book or ask your librarian to order it.

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Anything you can do will help, especially in this era of viral content. Word of mouth still has the most effect.




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0 thoughts on “How Can Readers Help Authors?

  1. So true, Nancy … nothing makes my day more than an email from a reader, or see comments on my blog, Facebook page, Google+ or twitter.

    Terry

  2. Thank you so much for this list Nancy. As an avid reader I would like to do what I can to help my favorite authors (you included of course!) but I don’t always know how to help. This is a concrete list of things I can do and it helps me to feel like I am giving back in some way.

  3. You say, “bareing her soul and buy her latest. What about “their” As a male writer I felt left out. I would never do that. I always include both genders and have both men and women review my books. But that’s just me.

    1. I was just using “her” for convenience. Of course this advice applies to both genders of writer! And reader, for that matter. Please don’t feel left out.

      1. Thank you. As you know, using the wrong word sometimes changes the whole concept of how a reader looks at it. I do think your advice is sound. Keep up the good work.

  4. Nancy, this is a great list! Would you consider letting us writers excerpt a few suggestions on our websites, of course crediting you for compiling it, and linking to your website/blog? I agree, I’ve chatted with lots of readers who would like to spread the love but sometimes don’t feel comfortable doing so. This sort of gives permission, LOL. ~Diane

  5. Great suggestions. Authors, who typically are voracious readers, should also be very aware of these ways to spread the word and help each other out.

    1. You’re absolutely right. I always do reviews on Goodreads of books I’ve read but know I should take the time some afternoon to put them on all the other sites.

  6. Great list. Thanks so much for putting this all together in one place. I try my best to do as many of these things as I can for the author’s whose books I enjoy.

  7. as one who is reviewing as a “more than full time” job – I can agree. I review what I buy – I buy those I like (because review copies should be and are removed from my library when I’m done). But – I also would like to put a plug in for those of us who review – many who review multiple books for multiple tours without recompense..BECAUSE we LOVE books – and there is nothing better than helping YOU get the word out about your book. When I review a book – I tweet – I post to FB – I get the word out. I also try to get all of your “information” from photo and bio to how to stalk you on the web – making it easy for your web presence (and your work) to be found.
    But – I am an army of one. If you are aware I’m promoting your book, it helps me if you also put it out there – share my tweet, visit the blog – even tweet the review location ..encourage people to follow. Because that helps out ALL the authors.. the more buzz you help generate (and please – I do know that you are swamped just like we are ) the better response you get. There is nothing better that I’ve gotten than a thank you from an author – where they have mentioned me on twitter and encouraged people to come read. We often have vastly divergent audiences and followers – getting people into one large loop cannot hurt – on either end.

    1. Great response, Gaele. It’s good to hear from the reviewer’s viewpoint what can be helpful to you. I always try to spread the word when my book is reviewed. We need to help each other, right?

  8. Thanks for this post!!! As an author, I appreciate it so much when readers do these things, but most don’t know how much it would help. I posted this on FB and Twitter–a great way to show readers how to help without being pushy. Thank you!
    Kimberly Rae
    http://www.stolenwoman.org

  9. Very good post, Nancy! It takes time to post a review to Amazon, etc. and I so appreciate it when a reader does (even the negative ones LOL). Bless every one of my Twitter and Facebook page followers, too. I try to follow back every one!

  10. An excellent list, Nancy! I hope lots of readers are paying attention. I would be very grateful if those who read my novels and like them would put a review on Amazon or B&N or Goodreads. I don’t expect readers to buy my hardcovers, but requesting them at the local library would certainly be helpful!

    Jacqueline Seewald
    DEATH LEGACY
    THE TRUTH SLEUTH

    1. Yes, library requests translate into library sales. I’m always grateful for a reader review, retweet, or anything at all. It makes us feel less alone in the cyberverse.