grat•i•tude

Noun

the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful: He expressed his gratitude to everyone on the staff.

Synonyms
thanks, thankfulness, appreciation, gratefulness.

A simple idea we all know about

I was contacted by a reviewer recently who mentioned how seldom he gets any gratitude for the time he takes reviewing a book or interviewing an author. Quite honestly, I was taken aback with this lack of simple politeness.

I believe that whether a review is good or not, you as an author should thank the reader for taking the time and, in some cases, spending the money to consider your book. Although this will not necessarily change their minds about your writing, it might make them consider giving you another chance with your next book! When dealing with the “uglies” out there, one response is all you need to make. No need to get into a discussion with someone who does not like your work. Remember, they are entitled to their opinion even if it does not please you. Thanking a reviewer who gave your book a positive review will most likely encourage them to mention you more often, and word of mouth is what makes a book sell. Bloggers who make the effort to support you deserve your support in return. Besides sending them a “thank you” (the very least you can do), you should promote their interview of you by telling your fans and audience about it. Our B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree authors are always encouraged to post links on their social media pages to bring attention to themselves and the bloggers.

Connecting with your audience is one of the best ways to build traffic and to get readers to care about you and your books. You need to give them a reason to be interested. How do you do that? There are many ways; for instance, by doing books signings and giving personal appearances, by connecting through your blog or forums, and by talking to your fans and granting interviews. Readers who like your work usually want to know more about you, and good interviews are a great way to build that relationship. Tell them about yourself and why you write; give them more than just a synopsis of your book. Connecting positively with reader gives them a reason to talk about you and your books – and they will!

I have a friend who was the president of a company. He spent one day a month contacting consumers who had sent in a complaint. He told them he was sorry and that he appreciated their taking the time to voice their concerns. He then asked how his products could be made even better. Most people were so shocked that the president would contact them personally that they assured him they would continue to buy his products.

Connecting with your audience and showing them that you care about what they think, and that you appreciate them will most certainly keep them coming back for more!

Make sure you show your gratitude to your reading audience: those who review your books, and bloggers and interviewers who take the time and make the effort to showcase you and your work.