You can earn an extra income reviewing books online, whether you are a beginner or a professional reviewer.
Book Reviewers spend their free time reading books and writing reviews about them that can be posted on websites or magazines.
As a reviewer, you get the chance to get paid to read books that you would not ordinarily have time for, and in some cases, get free copies of books as well. You also get a chance to share your thoughts with potential readers about one or more books.
How Does This Work?
To become a book reviewer, you will find a review website to write book reviews for.
Once you have been accepted into a book review website, you’ll pick a book you want to review. You are then sent a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. You’ll then have a set period of time to read and review the book.
The length of your review is usually around 100-350 words. However, each company or client has got their own guidelines that you need to adhere to.
You will then write your review and submit it to the company via their website. Your review is then posted online, usually together with other reviews for that book. Upon publication, your earnings will be deposited into your account based on the site’s terms.
How Much Can You Earn?
The amount you can earn varies from company to company and is tied to the review length and the book’s length in question. You can expect to be paid more for longer reviews on longer and more complicated reads.
On average, you can expect to get paid $20-$75 per book, depending on the quality of your review and the demand for that book at that time. Some companies pay a flat rate per review, while others have a range depending on the length of your review.
On some sites, you might also be able to earn bonus payments and commissions based on the sales of a book you reviewed.
You can also earn money by referring your friends to a site that offers this service.
What Type of Books Should I Review?
Don’t waste your time reading books that you do not like, just to get paid. The best way to earn money as a book reviewer is to read books you love and enjoy.
That way, you will be able to write an honest and comprehensive review. A review that does not reflect your honest opinion is less likely to be approved by the site.
How to become a reviewer
Here are steps on how to become a book reviewer:
Step 1: Improve your reading skills
Reading is an important skill to have if you want to become a book reviewer. Reading helps improve your writing skills, and it also exposes you to the world around you.
Improving your reading skills also increases your vocabulary, making writing book reviews that much easier for you. Being able to write a clear and concise review is critical. So choose books that you enjoy reading.
Step 2: Learn how to write effective exceptional reviews
Your review should be clear, concise and compelling.
Good reviews capture the essence of the story while at the same time objectively looking at the plot, character and overall writing style. They are about 100-350 words in length.
Writing exceptional reviews is an art that needs to be perfected. Find a few reviews that piqued your interest and analyze how the writer approached each of them and why. How did the writer manage to hook you?
We read books because we want to be moved in a way–to laugh, cry, feel angry. The goal of your review should be to unveil the magic of the book to your readers. It should leave them wanting more and ultimately make them want to buy the book.
Step 3: Find a community of book reviewers to join
If you are starting as a book reviewer, chances are that you have lots of questions that you want to be answered. For instance:
- What do you need to become a book reviewer?
- Which is the best review website for you?
- How do you write a great book review pitch?
- Where do you find book reviews jobs online?
- What is the best way to make money as a book reviewer?
By joining a community of book reviewers, you can find answers to these questions and more. You can also get support from fellow book critics on how to best approach a book review.
You can also find tips on how to earn more from writing book reviews online.
Step 4: Find a reputable book review site to join
The next step is to find a reputable book review site to join. Not all sites are created equal, so do your research. Some sites pay in cash per review, while others give you rewards that you can then redeem. Since you are here to make money, stick to sites that pay cash.
Some of the sites to explore include:
You also need assurance that you will get free review copies since purchasing a book will eat into your earnings. You should also look for sites that let you keep your identity private from the author.
Check out what other reviewers say about the site before you sign up. Find out if they pay well and if the website is responsive to their reviewers’ needs.
Step 5: Create and update your profile
Now, you will need to create a profile on the site you choose. Again, check the site’s guidelines carefully to find out what you need to include in your profile to avoid wasting time.
You should also read their book review guidelines to ensure that you follow them closely.
In most cases, you will be asked to read books within a certain genre or topic and are expected to submit reviews on time.
Step 6: Find books to review
Next, search for book review opportunities on the site. Most sites will also provide you with a list of books for you to choose from.
Once you have found something that interests you, you will need to send a message to the site to tell them that you are interested in reviewing the book.
They will then give you an answer, either accepting or denying your request.
If they accept, you will be sent the book and asked to review it within a set period.
Step 7: Write a great book review pitch.
When it comes to writing a great book review pitch, you need to be specific. You should clearly state the following:
- The book you want to review.
- Your interesting approach or angle on the book.
- Your credentials as a reviewer and whether you are qualified to review that particular book.
The best approach is to find something unique that you can bring to the book review. It could be your experience or background in a related field.
That said, it’s important to note that not all sites work the same way. For example, some will request that you tell them about yourself, while others only want to know the basics.
Step 8: Read the book
Once your review pitch is accepted, you can go ahead and start reading the book, that is, if you haven’t done this already or if you need to refresh your mind. The company will send you a free review copy.
There are two ways to read the book: You can either read it cover to cover or use skimming as a reading approach. This approach can work if you had read the book in the past and just looking for key ideas.
Step 9: Write your book review
When it comes to writing a book review, you need to follow the guidelines of the site.
Most sites want reviews that are between 250 and 1000 words. Your words should relay your personal experience while reading the book and how you feel about the book’s strengths and weaknesses.
Step 10: Edit, Proofread, and Restructure your review.
Writing your review is one thing, but making it really captivating is one thing. So it has to go through different iterations before it’s ready for submission.
Step 11: Submit your review for approval
Once you have written up your book review, you are expected to submit it for approval. The site will give you a deadline for submission, and expect your review on time.
Sometimes you might be asked to revise your work, so make sure to do so promptly as you will only be paid once your review is approved for publication.
Step 12: Getting paid for reviewing books
Most sites follow a pay-per-review model. That means you will get paid for each review you submit and is approved. The payment is usually made through Paypal or other third-party processors.
Some sites will pay you right after your review is approved, while others will send the money to your bank once a month.
There are also other ways you can get paid to read if you are not comfortable with book reviews.
