Changing/Correcting Guest Posts or Interviews, and More Replying to Reviews: Book Marketing without B.S. #3
Book Marketing without B.S. is a weekly publicity and marketing advice column for writers and other creators who prefer a realistic, clear, and no-nonsense approach. My goal is to help you cut through the bullshit with direct, understandable advice you won’t be embarrassed to follow. Send your questions to beverly@beverlybambury.com.
Today there are two related questions. The first person asked “What if I want to change an interview or guest blog post reply after it’s already gone up?”
Naturally, if there is an error of some kind–whether factual or typographical–you should politely ask the journalist or blogger to make the change and explain why if it isn’t obvious.
I can’t think of any other reason you should ask to change something you’ve already vetted and has been published. It is possible you’ll be embarrassed by something you’ve written, or realize it might have been more clear stated another way; but, those aren’t good enough reasons to ask for a change.
If you’re worried this may happen, have one or two trusted friends read through what you have written and give feedback. At the very least, try to finish a day or two before deadline so you can sleep on it overnight and see if you still like it in the morning.
The next question was “What do you think about writers replying to their reviews?” Now, I have already written about this; but, I realized that I could add one more piece of advice.
If you see that the negative reviews have similar themes, there may be something you can learn from them, and it may be worth it to reply in the form of a blog post. Be very careful to not specifically address individuals if you do this. You can say something such as “I’ve noticed a trend in my 1- and 2-star reviews” and that covers it. You can always link to the book at an online store and people can look at all the reviews for themselves. Plus it’s the link where they can buy your book, so there’s that, too!
An essay will let you explore your thoughts on the topic without seeming confrontational. I still think the best option is not to address it publicly at all, but if you feel there is interpretation to share, or that you have something interesting to add to the conversation then go for it.
Finally, be careful about tone if you go this route. It’s still important to not look like a asshole or a whiner. You are your own branding online, and your choice of words makes a difference. So, as you would with your fictional writing, have trusted associates read through your post first and give their feedback serious consideration.
That’s all for this week. Keep those questions coming, and sign up to get my posts sent directly to your email by clicking here. Thanks for all the support!