I don’t do a lot of marketing tips for writers, but this is absolutely, positively, marketing 101. You got a book? You want me to read it? Then show me you’re serious, or I’m not going to bother.
I get requests for reviews and tours on a regular basis, and I like to give fresh new writers a chance. I really do. But before I will even consider asking for a free review copy (it still costs me time), I do the following:
1. I look for your web site. If you have one listed in your e-mail, bonus points! If you don’t have one, I’m done.
2. I read the synopsis and decide if the premise sounds entertaining.
3. I look for the first chapter. I am much, much, much more inclined to review a book if I can get a glimpse of chapter one and reassure myself that the writing is professional, and the voice is reasonable. In fact, this is the only thing I’ll say about actual content — put up an excerpt.
Your publisher’s web site doesn’t count. Amazon.com listings don’t count. Yes, I can get summaries at both of these places (although very rarely a chapter summary), but without your own, personal web site, I don’t believe you want it. If you don’t want it, if you’re not hungry for it, you’re never going to get it — success, I mean. Believe me, it’s hard to get a readership when you put out the effort, it’s impossible if you don’t, and as a reviewer I want to recommend books that have a chance in hell of succeeding.