#1 Write a good book!
This goes without saying, but polishing your book before publication is everything. I read a lot of books and I’m still surprised at what authors are calling the final version. Reviewers can be brutally honest when they find typos, bad grammar, unrealistic dialogue, etc. (If this is your tenth book, then you already have a seasoned editor and that’s great -- one who fixes plot holes andgrammar/punctuation. Of course, hiring an editor isn’t going to guarantee that everyone will love your book, but you can certainly minimize the damage.)
Another reason you want your book to be as perfect as possible is because the comments reviewers leave on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other sites are out there for other readers and potential buyers to see -- forever. Negative reviews (less than 3 stars) often come when the book promises more than it delivers.
#2 Be patient.
Unless you’re paying for it, there should be no expectation of receiving a book review. If you asked a reviewer to read your book, then be courteous when waiting for a response. The majority will get back to you within a few days or less if they are interested. Please don’t create a weekly email campaign asking when they will read your book. This is called stalking. Reviewers usually have a stack of books a mile high waiting to be read. If they’re interested in your book, they will tell you. And if you don’t hear back in a timely matter, then move on. There are far too many reviewers to worry about one.
#3 Be timely.
Yay, the reviewer you emailed would love a copy of your book! That means they want to read it right now -- not three weeks from now after you’ve returned from your book tour. Everyone knows authors are busy, but you still want to get back to people in a timely and professional matter. If you’re unable to monitor your email every day, hire someone to do it for you.
#4 Be humble.
Even if you’ve had great reviews in the past, please don’t tell the next reviewer how much they're going to “love" your book. They might not. Let the work speak for itself.
#5 Be strategic.
Before you approach reviewers, study the type of books they’ve read. If the majority of books they’ve reviewed are nonfiction business books, then your romance may not be on the top of their list (see # 2). Yes, there are some reviewers who read across genres, but you’ll save yourself a lot of time by finding out what they like ahead of time.