Authors: 3 Reasons why you may NOT want to use the phrase, “If you liked this or that book..."

Lately, I see quite many postings discussing the question what gets fellow authors and reviewers to take an interest in a book.

Though wannabe book marketers keep pushing the advice that authors should explain: “If you liked this or that book you’ll like my book,” in emails and on social media platforms, this advice is outdated – by about three years or the publication of four million new books, since 2015.

For example, during my years as an active Amazon top reviewer, I received about 200 (!) emails from authors who wrote me:

“Hi, I appreciate your insightful review of “How To Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie... I wrote a similar book... I would appreciate it if you’d read my book and post an objective review...”

Why does this type of message not work anymore?


1) There are too many "similar books."

• Since I already read “How to Win Friends...” why should I read a “similar” book? Does the author think I have unlimited time to read 'similar books?' 

• Of course, I might be interested in reading the book if the author explained that they wrote about an issue Carnegie "overlooked." Then again, the email writer did not offer any such information.

2) Which, BTW, is the same for fiction. If you wrote a book about a whale you are going to have to fend off people who want to compare your work to 'Moby Dick,' even if your whale story is a love story.

• And, like it or not, if you wrote about a whale some people will try to compare your writing style with Melville's. Will that be good for you? 

3) Also: Not one famous author/inventor/entrepreneur ever said, "my work is similar to so-and-so's..." All of them said, "my work is unique." So - maybe - neither should you?

Instead "think Apple" and dare to be different?

Food for thought:
Many people are willing to pay more for a product that's "different," just because it's different.

***

Gisela Hausmann dares to write what others' won't say or don't know. Her work has been featured in regional, national, and international publications including Success magazine and Entrepreneur, and on Bloomberg's podcast "Decrypted."

Gisela tweets @Naked_Determina,
Her latest book is "73 Ways to Turn a Me-mail Into an E-mail." 

RYX6ZF8QT9YW

© 2019 by Gisela Hausmann