The Pay-to-Play Dilemma: Paying for book reviews & coverage

Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast

Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast
The Pay-to-Play Dilemma: Paying for book reviews & coverage
Jun 20, 2025 Season 5 Episode 25
Penny C. Sansevieri and Amy Cornell Author Marketing Experts

With a new book hitting the market every eight seconds, standing out has never been harder—and for many authors, the temptation to pay for visibility is real. But does paying for reviews or influencer features actually work? And more importantly… is it worth the risk?

In this episode, Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell pull back the curtain on the rapidly shifting world of paid book promotion. From once-taboo paid reviews to TikTok influencers charging thousands per post, the rules have changed—but that doesn’t mean the results are guaranteed.

You’ll hear real-world stories of paid promotions gone sideways, including AI-generated reviews that spoil endings and pricey group ads that vanish without a trace. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Penny and Amy also offer a framework for making smart, strategic choices, including how to vet influencers, what red flags to watch for, and why micro-influencers often deliver more bang for your buck.

Whether you're a debut author or a seasoned pro, this episode is your roadmap for navigating the blurry line between earned and paid media—so you can promote smarter, not just spend more.

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Episode Artwork The Pay-to-Play Dilemma: Paying for book reviews & coverage 34:59 Episode Artwork Unlocking ChatGPT’s Creative Power for Authors 31:27 Episode Artwork What Most Authors Get Wrong About Debut Success 38:55 Episode Artwork Amazon's New Algorithm Changes: What Authors Need to Know 36:20 Episode Artwork The Power of Reddit: Reach Millions Through Ask Me Anything Events 34:26 Episode Artwork Creating Memorable Author Book Signing Events That Sell Books 51:22 Episode Artwork Too Good to Be True? The Bookstore Scam That's Breaking Hearts 23:00 Episode Artwork Dust It Off: The Author's Guide to Book Resurrection 38:08 Episode Artwork Building Your Author Brand for Media Recognition 44:26 Episode Artwork Book Bundling: How to Turn Your Backlist Into a Marketing Goldmine 34:17 Episode Artwork The Grey Box Syndrome: Why Authors Who Skip the Basics Get Ignored 38:54 Episode Artwork Naming Your Book: Avoiding Title Mistakes That Kill Sales 28:59 Episode Artwork Amazon News: How to Navigate Amazon's Inconsistent Ad Guidelines 9:23 Episode Artwork The Strategic Author's Guide to Amazon's Kindle Unlimited Program 26:15 Episode Artwork Starting Your Own Publishing Company: Myth vs. Reality 17:42 Episode Artwork Savvy Book Pricing Strategies That Sell 23:17 Episode Artwork Amazon News: Author Central Changes and Search Result Trends 17:44 Episode Artwork The Sneaky Ways Authors Sabotage Their Own Success 53:14 Episode Artwork Don't Give Up on Your Book: When to Push and How to Pivot 31:46 Episode Artwork Book Marketing Costs: Solid Investment or Waste of Money? 31:13 Episode Artwork How to Get Your Author Website to Rank on Google 38:56 Episode Artwork Why Your Book Isn’t Showing Up in Amazon Searches and How to Fix It 37:25 Episode Artwork How to Resurrect a Book That's Dead in the Water 31:04 Episode Artwork Cracking the Library Code: Get on Shelves and in Front of Readers 18:29 Episode Artwork Mastering the Mic: Tips for Becoming an Irresistible Podcast Guest 14:15