In this month’s Author Spotlight, we are thrilled to feature Romance Author Kimberly Quay, a writer known for her page-melting paranormal shifter, contemporary romance, and urban fantasy novels.
Just like many of you, Kimberly is a busy author that needs all the time she can to focus on writing. But, she also wants to effectively market her books and build her community. Whether you’re new to Booksprout or a well-versed user, Kimberly’s hands-on experience offers practical tips that could give you some fresh ideas on how to balance book promotion with the rest of your life’s demands.
The Value of a Great Review
Kimberly describes Booksprout reviews as “windows into my readers’ thoughts and feelings,” highlighting their critical role in connecting authors with their audience’s genuine reactions. For Kimberly, the feedback received through Booksprout is an important part of her process, providing her with the reviews she needs for new readers to find her work, along with useful insight into how her stories resonate with readers.
The impact of Booksprout reviews goes beyond the author-reader relationship, playing a significant role in a book’s sales and its visibility on platforms. Reviews serve as social proof, reassuring potential readers of a book’s quality and if the reviews are good, encouraging them to make a purchase. They also influence a book’s ranking on the different marketplaces, making their books more likely to be discovered by new readers.
Here’s how Kim explains it: “Reviews help me gauge how my stories are landing with readers. They also provide quotes that help with the early promotion of my books on social media and the Amazon book page. I also love that I can connect with some of my readers on a more personal level. Booksprout reviews are absolutely an important part of my journey as an author!”
Effective Review Team Strategies
Kimberly tells us that she’s devised a series of go-to strategies to ensure her books capture the attention and interest of readers. At the heart of her approach is the proactive use of Booksprout’s campaign links, shared via social media and newsletters, to kickstart ARC (advanced review copies) campaigns. The ability to directly message readers on our platform also provides a unique way to build relationships with readers. Here’s how Kimberly does it:
“When it’s time for another one of my ARCs, I post to my social media feeds and include the Booksprout campaign link in my newsletters to get the party started. Now that I have a dedicated crew of readers, I send them a direct message on the Booksprout website to let them know about my latest book!”
Pro Tip: Want to learn more about getting your own dedicated crew of readers? Check out our article: Harnessing the Power of Community: How to Build an Engaged and Supportive Launch Team.
Building a Following on Booksprout
One feature that authors really benefit from over the long term, is the capability to build and nurture a following on Booksprout. Readers who follow an author are automatically notified about new book launches, so they can hop on and review your book. Authors on Booksprout can accumulate thousands of followers, underlining the platform’s scalability and its direct correlation with an author’s review team success. And this is why Booksprout only gets better with time, enabling authors to gradually build a solid foundation of supporters who are waiting for their latest works.
The Impact of Booksprout on Book Promotions
When we asked Kimberly if Booksprout has made a positive impact on her success, this is what she said:
“It’s been helpful, for sure. My fantastic ARC readers are a great hype team! They’re not only reading and loving my stories, but they’re also out there championing them on their socials. There’s a ripple effect because of their enthusiasm, which introduces my books to a new crowd of readers. It’s a beautiful cycle of bookish connections!”
The cycle of bookish connections that authors can reach through Booksprout is endless, and only grows the more you use the platform. It’s been instrumental in introducing Kimberly’s work to broader audiences, and we’re happy to see how it’s been enhancing her promotional efforts.
Streamlining Review Management
Before embracing Booksprout, Kimberly faced challenges with ARC exchanges and lackluster engagement.
Here’s what we learned from her:
“Before Booksprout, I tried the whole ARC exchange thing with fellow authors, but it fell flat. I’d send my stories out to them and get radio silence in return. Even though I’d read their books and provide feedback, only one author replied with comments. The others? No idea. I was beyond discouraged, but then I found Booksprout. The engagement with readers diving into my stories has been a wonderful journey, and there’s no turning back!”
The transition to Booksprout marked a transformative change for her. Because of our streamlined process, we support authors by handling the logistical aspects of review management, freeing them to concentrate on their writing and other critical facets of their author business. This ease of use and efficiency is what we’re all about.
Why a Curated Reader Community Matters
We know that readers have their preferences in terms of authors, writing styles and genres. Our supportive reader community is something we’re truly proud of at Booksprout. When we asked Kimberly how Booksprout has allowed her to reach the right readers, this is what she shared:
“Thanks to Booksprout, I’ve been fortunate to connect with an enthusiastic team of dedicated readers. They’ve not only been instrumental in supporting my work but have also stood by me across various genres. Unlike another popular ARC platform I’ve tried—where anyone, genre fan or not—could access my work, Booksprout follows a smarter approach. It always confused me as to why the other site would show my book to someone who doesn’t vibe with the genre. With Booksprout, the quality of ARC readers shines brighter, and the entire process flows much more seamlessly.”
Pro Tip: Get more ideas on how to connect to your target audience in our article: Know Your Readers: Finding Your Book’s Target Audience for Self-Published Success
Building Connections. Improving Visibility.
We are truly grateful to Kimberly for sharing her experiences and strategies, hoping that her story will encourage other authors to explore all that Booksprout has to offer. By addressing the challenges of review management, fostering a dedicated reader community, and facilitating direct engagement with readers, Booksprout has emerged as a critical ally for authors seeking to navigate the complexities of book promotion. Kimberly’s experience is a great guide for other authors looking to maximize the benefits of Booksprout.
About Kimberly Quay
Kimberly Quay is renowned for her page-melting Paranormal Romance, Season Shifters Series, her Contemporary Romance, Tainted Series, and the evocative Fire Banshee Series. Born in sunny Florida, Kimberly’s passion for romance and fantasy has always been the heartbeat of her stories. With her works spanning from contemporary to paranormal shifter romance and urban fantasy, she seamlessly blends imagination and emotion. Beyond writing, Kimberly’s love for rom-coms, old graveyards, and esteemed authors like Nora Roberts and Kim Harrison reflects her diverse tastes. Connect with her and explore her myriad tales through her website, www.kimberlyquay.com.
Follow Kimberly on social media
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