Indie Author Advice: #‎TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers‬ by @Joannechocolat

I recently joined this wonderful Facebook group called Book Connectors which has opened my eyes up to a great new world of authors and bloggers. One post drew my attention to a hashtag started by author Joanne Harris (of Chocolat fame) called #‎TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers.

It was a brilliant series of tweets highlighting the mistakes some of us make when trying to promote our books, and reminded me of one of my posts Indie authors beware! Do not feed the reviewers! 

Here are the ten tweets in their entirety...

1. With so many people writing reviews, it's sometimes easy to take book bloggers for granted. Don't. #TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) March 16, 2016

2. Book blogging is a community, and most bloggers blog for the fun of it. #TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) March 16, 2016

3. It helps to be part of the community before you approach someone with a request for reviews. #TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) March 16, 2016

4. Show respect for a blogger's work - if you like the way someone writes, read their blog regularly. #TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) March 16, 2016

5. Not all bloggers are the same. Don't behave as if they are. #TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) March 16, 2016

6. Remember: bloggers don't owe you a review, even if you send them a book. #TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) March 16, 2016

7. Some bloggers don't like authors to contact them, or to comment on their blogs. Be aware of this. #TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) March 16, 2016

8. Bloggers aren't paid for what they do. They mostly have day jobs, and their time is limited. #TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) March 16, 2016

8 (b): So don't hassle them if they don't get to your book straight away. They're not your employees. #TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) March 16, 2016

9. There are lots of new sites asking authors to pay for reviews. Avoid them - they're mostly crooks. #TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) March 16, 2016

10. Some bloggers may not like your book. If you think that's bad, try being reviewed by Private Eye. #TenTweetsOnContactingBookBloggers

— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) March 16, 2016