Training Authors with CJ and Shelley Hitz

We help Christian writers take a step of faith and finally finish your book!

  • Home
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Member Login
    • About
    • Support
    • Legal Information
  • Resources
    • Free Stuff!
    • Blog
    • Podcast
    • Read Our Books
    • Who to hire
  • Sign Up Today!

How To Get Endorsements That Increase The Credibility Of Your Book

March 9, 2015 By Shelley Hitz Leave a Comment Click here for FREE training for Christian writers

ShareTweet

get-endorsementsWhen you publish a book, it is necessary to consider how to get reviews.  However, have you also thought about getting endorsements for your book?  There is a difference between a review and an endorsement.

You see, a review is from a reader or a fan and an endorsement is from a respected leader or celebrity in your field or niche.  Having an endorsement from someone respected in your field can lead to increased credibility for you as an author and your book.

In this post, I will share with you the steps needed to successfully get endorsements for your book.

 7 Steps to Successfully Get Endorsements

1) Make a List

The first step to getting endorsements is to make a list of who you would like to ask.  At this stage, don’t limit yourself.  Think of anyone and everyone you would like to endorse your book.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Colleagues in your field who are also successful.
  • Experts you admire and/or follow.
  • People who endorsed books similar to yours.

Once you have your list, narrow it down to the people you want to contact.

2) Plan Ahead

Make sure to give your potential endorsers plenty of time to respond to your request, read your book, and write the endorsement.  I would recommend giving them at least 4-8 weeks advance notice of your preferred deadline.

3)  Get Creative

In order to get the attention of the person you are asking to endorse your book, you may need to get creative. Felicia Slattery recently had success using a short, but creative video that you see below.

Felicia states she wanted, “Michael Port to write the foreword to my upcoming book, Kill the Elevator Speech: Stop Selling, Start Connecting. After seeing the video, although he promised himself no more forewords, Michael is giving it serious consideration. Woo-hoo!!”

And it worked!

Just a month after she uploaded her video to YouTube, she made this announcement on Facebook…

“HE SAID YES!!!!! I am THRILLED to announce that New York Times Best-Selling Author, the FABULOUS and brilliant Michael Port agreed to write the foreword for my upcoming book!! My heart is beating out of my chest with gratitude! Huge thank you to Lou Bortone for helping me make the video “ask.” I have to go pinch myself to be sure this is for reals…. !!”

Take a lesson from Felicia and brainstorm creative ways to approach the people you want to endorse your book.

4) Ask

Now it is time to ask those you listed above if they would be willing to endorse your book.  In order to get the endorsements, you have to put yourself out there and ASK.

In order to get the endorsements, you have to put yourself out there and ASK.

First, you will first need to find their contact information.

Here are a 6 ways to try contacting them in the order I would suggest:

  • Find their website and look for a contact form.  This is usually the most reliable way to contact them.
  • See if they list their e-mail address within their books or training materials.
  • Find their e-mail address via their Google Plus profile.  Some people have their e-mail address listed publicly on their profile.  Google also has other ways to e-mail G+ contacts.
  • Private message them through their personal Facebook profile (not page) if you are friends.  If you are not their friend, your e-mail will end up in their “other” inbox unless you pay Facebook $1.
  • Private message them through their Facebook page.
  • Make an initial contact with them on Twitter.

Once you have a way to contact them, you will want to draft your e-mail or message. Be specific in what you are looking for and include your time frame.  And remember to be creative!

5) Ask What Version They Prefer to Read

Do not assume every endorser will be okay with a digital copy of your book.  When possible, ask them which version they prefer (i.e. PDF, mobi, epub, print, etc.).  This will ensure more success as they will be reading your book in the format and method they prefer.

6) Follow-Up

If they agree to endorse your book, make sure to follow-up 1-2 weeks before the deadline.  Many times they will get busy and forget so a gentle reminder can be helpful.

However, I do not recommend more than one or two follow-up messages at the most.  If they do not respond at that time, I would let it go.  The last thing you want to do is end up on their “most annoying” list!

7) Show Your Appreciation

Make sure to thank those who write endorsements for your book.  Consider sending them a print copy once your book is ready.

honest reviews toolkit

Click here to learn more about how to get honest reviews and endorsements. 

Have you gotten endorsements for your book?

If so, what techniques worked best for you? Share your success stories and any questions you may have in the comments below.

Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook on LinkedIn

Related Posts

  • 3 Ways to Boost Holiday Book Sales
  • Letting Rejection Work For You by Nika Maples
  • 3 Reasons to Consider Blogging Your Book
  • The Easiest Way to Get Book Reviews
  • Allowing God to Build Momentum on our Small Beginnings
  • Author Spotlight: Georgette Mayberry
  • The Journey of Publishing
  • Peace over Panic

Filed Under: Publishing, Publishing Tips Tagged With: Book Marketing, book marketing tips, marketing, networking tips

About Shelley Hitz

Join Our FREE Facebook Group: Kingdom Writers Community Group

Together, CJ and Shelley Hitz are passionate about equipping and empowering Christian writers of all genres to share their unique gifts with the world. This website is filled with spiritual encouragement as well as prayers to help you overcome the resistance you face as a writer. Your story matters! Our online community, Christian Book Academy, is where we help you write, self-publish and market your books. We invite you to join our community of Kingdom Writers! 

  
Get our FREE training for writers here and shop our tools and templates here.
 

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!


Meet CJ and Shelley Hitz

We understand the struggle of wanting to write your book while also wondering if it will be good enough.

Since 2010, we have helped over 1,000 writers overcome self-doubt and become published authors.

Join our community of Kingdom writers.

Finish Your Book in Just 15 Minutes a Day! Join the Free 5-Day Challenge


You don’t need more time. You need a proven plan. In just 5 days, get 5 quick tips to finally finish your book.

Save My Spot — I’m Ready to Write

50+ Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024


Are you looking for a list of the must-have resources for Christian writers in 2024? If so, we’ve got a list we curated from nominations from writers like you. Enjoy!
Check out the list now.

Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Onto Paper


Choose your book topic, write an outline, and create a writing plan in just 90-minutes! Finally feel confident that you will actually finish your book.

Get Started Now.

Move Forward in God’s Call to Write


Want to see God move in even greater ways through your writing?If so, get your copy of our book, Kingdom Writers here.

Subscribe to Our Podcast

author audience podcast
Subscribe to the Podcast:
 Apple Podcasts |    RSS

Connect With Us Online!

Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel



Get Email Updates from the Blog

 Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe by Email

Take a Step of Faith and Finally Publish Your Book!



Join Christian Book Academy www.christianbookacademy.com

Contact Us | Legal Information | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms of Service



Copyright © 2025 Training Authors, a division of Body and Soul Publishing LLC - All Rights Reserved. Log in


Disclosure: Some of the links in the page above may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."