It can vary a bit by genre, but most people with expertise in book promotion services agree that book reviews are a crucial part of marketing. Reviews give you book visibility (people are talking about it) and credibility when people say good things. The market place these days is more crowded than ever, and getting through to target readers is a challenge. Reviews are one way to do it, influencing people to decide whether to buy your book. Therefore, being proactive about seeing reviews makes sense and isn't hard to do if you follow the advice of veteran publicists.

The first significant review-generating opportunity is to request that people on your email newsletter list review your book. They are already fans and people who have expressed an interest in your writing. You'll be getting underway if they post reviews and comments to online bookselling sites where your book is for sale. You can also ask social media followers, but most publicists feel your email list represents the people who are most loyal (and interested), which makes them more likely to help out. Ideally, people will post a range of comments and reactions to your book that will give prospective readers information. 

Given the rise in virtual book promotion, you can hold a blog tour. It means you visit bloggers online just as you would in person with the media. When conversations are going well, you can request a review. Blog tours are a low-cost way to meet online influencers with devoted followers who can be helpful to your book. Blogs and podcasts are online media continuing to grow each year exponentially. Their audiences are getting more extensive, and their influence is more significant. That said, if you have your blog, you can also make a request for reviews in one of your articles and like to a review posting spot. 

One of the newer ways to seek reviews is to include a request at the end of your book. It's a genius idea because you're catching people just as they have finished and have things fresh in mind. It's easiest for people reading on e-readers because they can click and go directly to a place to leave a review. You'll see improved sales as you gather online reviews and your book's page rises in the search results of large online booksellers. Their algorithms are based on clicks and content, so reviews will give you added momentum. The goal is to maximize your opportunities and get as many reviews as possible.