Reaching out to book bloggers is a great way to get objective, credible reviews. In addition to posting their reviews on their own websites, many bloggers are also active on social media, which can draw additional eyeballs to your work. (For example, here’s a nice tweet by a blogger promoting her blog, plus thoughts on my novel Bridges.)

Like most people, reviewers often have particular genres they prefer to read. Following are some ways to find bloggers who might be a good fit for your book. These are not the only ways, but they will definitely help you find a lot of people to pitch:

• Google the titles of popular books that are like yours, plus the word “review,” then scroll through the results and see which are book blogs.
• Google “book blog” plus words that describe your genre, e.g. “mystery,” “chick lit,” “thriller,” “memoir,” etc.
• Search for companies that specialize in “blog tours.” Many of them feature the “stops” on the tour, e.g. the bloggers they got to review their clients’ books. Look for a book in your genre, and there you will find a list of relevant bloggers to pitch.

Once you find a blog that looks perfect for you, look to see which blogs that blogger follows. (There is usually a list on either side of the home page.) Click on one, then go back and repeat the process. Soon you will have a BIG list of bloggers to contact.

NOTE: When you start pitching, track your correspondence. I use a spreadsheet for this, but any system that works for you will do. Just use a system, or your hard work will eventually become a confusing mess. (Scrolling through the sent folder of your email is not a “system.”) Recording your outreach can be a pain, but it’s well worth the effort. Not only will it keep you organized now, it will keep you from having to start from scratch when your next book comes out.

Good luck!

Maria