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You are here: Home / Marketing / 3 Ways to Get Your Dream Endorsement

3 Ways to Get Your Dream Endorsement

by Sandra Beckwith on September 23, 2019 8 Comments

Table of Contents

  • What influences your book purchase?
  • Getting started
  • What are you waiting for?

By Sandra Beckwith

Imagine you’ve searched on Amazon for a nonfiction book on how to raise backyard chickens.

Of the many search results generated by the infamous Amazon algorithms, two possibilities catch your eye.

You click through on each. The descriptions are similar, they have a roughly equal number of positive reader reviews, and each table of contents covers what you hope to learn.

What influences your book purchase?

So how do you decide which of the two to purchase?

If you’re like most of us, an endorsement – known in publishing as a “blurb” – is often the tipping point. A book with a testimonial on the cover comes with an important influencer’s seal of approval.

That’s why smart authors start thinking about endorsements early, well before their books are published. They know that it can take time to find the right “blurbers,” nurture the relationship, and secure a glowing testimonial they can use on:

  • the cover
  • inside the book
  • on the sales page
  • and in many other ways

Getting started

How do you start the process?

It begins with research into who will carry the most weight with your ideal readers. Create a dream “hit” list, knowing that it’s a numbers game. You might need to ask 10 or even 20 people in order to get a single blurb.

But all you need is one.

To establish relationships with the people on your list, try any or all of the following three tactics. Your goal is to slowly become known to influencers so that when you make the blurb request, you won’t be a total “unknown.”

1. Network online

Social media platforms were created for networking. Use them for that when working to connect with influencers.

Begin by using the right networks.

  • If you want endorsements from high-profile lifestyle gurus, look for them on Pinterest.
  • Are the people who will blurb your book in the business world? Check out LinkedIn.
  • Looking to engage with millennial endorsers? Try Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr.

You want to become known to them over time, so follow them. Retweet or share their content. Comment on their status updates and blog posts.

2. Network in person

Is your dream endorser making a presentation nearby? Attend it. If possible, introduce yourself before or after. Follow-up later with an email that compliments the speaker and their presentation, mentioning something specific that resonated with you.

In addition, attend networking events where you might meet someone who will be an ideal endorser. Register for:

  • key conferences
  • seminars
  • trade shows

where you will meet the right people while you learn even more about your topic and audience.

3. Request introductions

Put six degrees of separation to work for you. Everybody knows somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody. Ask for an in-person or virtual introduction.

Mine your social media connections to see who knows whom. While LinkedIn makes it easy to see who your network members are connected to on that platform, you can find this information with a little more effort on other social networks, too.

Don’t even think of leveraging the introduction to request a favor immediately, though. Be generous with your time and information before ever expecting anything in return.

What are you waiting for?

The biggest mistake most authors make when it comes to pursuing endorsements is not doing it all.

Don’t let fear of rejection hold you back. The worst that can happen is that potential blurbers say they can’t do it. You can handle that! You have nothing to lose, right?

Go for it – and start your planning now!

What’s holding you back from going after your dream endorsement? What’s your biggest obstacle?
 
Photo: BigStockPhoto

Filed Under: Marketing, Contributing Writers Tagged With: endorsements, Sandra Beckwith, testimonials

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Khakinahad says

    November 9, 2020 at 11:46 pm

    Thank you :)

    Reply
    • Sandra Beckwith says

      November 10, 2020 at 7:35 am

      You’re welcome. : )

      Sandra Beckwith

      Reply
  2. Janet Morrison says

    October 3, 2019 at 8:33 am

    Great advice! I’ll start making my dream list today!

    Reply
    • Sandra Beckwith says

      October 4, 2019 at 1:15 pm

      I’m glad it was helpful, Janet, and that you’re getting started on that list!

      Sandra Beckwith

      Reply
  3. Freelance Work says

    October 3, 2019 at 6:40 am

    Good advice, thanks. It is necessary to remember the boomerang rule: everything returns with bestowal, sometimes even two to three times stronger than the initial impulse coming from a person. Wrecking your competitors will never be unpunished. Indeed, for everyone there is such a competitor who can repay with the same coin. The ignorance of a person in the chosen direction of work will immediately make itself felt. Say, he will have to attend all kinds of meetings, negotiations and similar events, where he will need to maintain a conversation, agree on cooperation, sign agreements. Did you know that, a quote from Wikipedia: “Testimonials from customers who are not famous have been effectively used in marketing for as long as marketing has existed.[citation needed] A past or current customer will present a formal “word of mouth” testimonial that a business can use in marketing and to build trust with future customers”, source -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testimonial. Good luck!

    Reply
    • Sandra Beckwith says

      October 3, 2019 at 7:55 am

      I’m glad the article was helpful. In general, I encourage authors to collaborate with competitors. There’s strength in numbers.

      Sandra Beckwith

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Weekly News: 7th October 2019 - Author Help says:
    October 7, 2019 at 1:03 am

    […] to get an endorsement for your […]

    Reply
  2. Top Picks Thursday! For Writers & Readers 09-26-2019 | The Author Chronicles says:
    September 26, 2019 at 10:02 am

    […] Marketing is more than just placing ads. Helen Baggott shares DIY PR for indie authors, and Sandra Beckwith has 3 ways to get your dream endorsement. […]

    Reply

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