Reader’s Favorite Award – Is It Worth It?

https://readersfavorite.com/annual-book-award-contest.htm

Deadline April 1, 2018.

The Readers’ Favorite Award site says:

Contest Features

• Chance to win one of $50,000 in free prizes just for entering.
• Chance to have your book made into a movie or TV show.
• Chance to be published by an award winning traditional publisher.
• Chance to be represented by a leading author marketing and PR firm.
• Chance to attend one of the country’s largest book award ceremonies.
• 20 more features including medals, stickers, certificates and publicity.”

and

“We receive thousands of entries from all over the world. Because of these large submission numbers, we are able to break down our contest into 140+ genres, and each genre is judged separately, ensuring you only compete against books of your specific genre for a fairer and more accurate competition. We receive submissions from independent authors, small publishers, and publishing giants such as Random House, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times bestsellers like J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors like Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Henry Winkler (Happy Days), and Eriq La Salle (E.R., Coming to America).”

SUBMITTING

They accept manuscripts, published and unpublished books in English.

“The contest entry fee to enter your book in one genre category by the April 1st Early Bird Registration deadline is $89, by the May 1st Regular Registration deadline is $99.00, and by the June 1st Final Registration deadline is $109. ” US$

Books are submitted online. (No shipping cost.)

PROMOTION

Winners felt they received quite a bit of publicity.

There was a Gala dinner in Miami with press present.

Winners’ books were displayed at Miami Book Fair.

The win was widely broadcast over the internet & more.

Winners received PR photos.

Winners are listed permanently on the website.

“If you do not already have a Readers’ Favorite review for your book, we will provide you with one as part of your contest entry. Your review will be posted on our site, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest. You can also post our review in your Amazon Editorial Reviews section…

All 5-star reviews receive a FREE “Five Stars” digital seal for your website and a high-resolution version for your book cover. Our seal can be seen on book covers from indie authors to iconic publishers like Simon & Schuster. All reviews come with a Readers’ Favorite Review Page and a host of free features to help you promote your book and your new review.”

“We announce our contest results to 115,000 libraries, 85,000 bookstores and 300,000 schools (elementary through high school) nationwide. We use a white-listed email company that professionally maintains these lists to ensure they are current and accurate. ”

and more.

TROPHIES, CERTIFICATES, PRIZE MONEY, SEALS, ETC.

There is a maximum of five possible level winners in each category. Although there are numerous categories, you book has a good chance of being noticed.

EXTRA BONUS PRIZE MONEY: “All authors are automatically entered to win one of more than 200 prizes worth a combined total of $50,000 just by entering the Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest. Prizes are generously donated by industry experts who support our contest and our authors. Winners are picked at random, and it does not matter how many categories you entered or whether you won an award or not.”

SEALS: “Gold, Silver, Bronze and Illustration Award winners will receive a free roll of 250 1.5 inch high quality, embossed award stickers ($50 value) to affix to copies of their book.” Winners outside of US had to pay shipping costs. As well, winners received a digital seal to place on their books.

Winners received a certificate.

SALES

Winners said sales increased a little.

COMMENT FROM ENTRANT

“I recently entered the Readers Favorite book award contest, and won a bronze medal in the humor category for my book “You Know I Love You Because You’re Still Alive”  It boosted sales slightly — and I got a lot of attention for it.  What I really liked about it, though, was the review.  It’s good to have a relatively credible review on a third party site.  And it my book cover looks much better with bling on it (in the form of a sticker.)  What was annoying was that I had to look up myself to see if I won.  Is a form letter email that hard?”

• Lori B. Duff http://www.loriduffwrites.com
• Ghostwriter (boo), Legal Writing Expert, Blogger, Humorist, and all around Fun to Be Around
• Amazon Bestselling Author of “Mismatched Shoes and Upside Down Pizza,”  “The Armadillo, the Pickaxe, and the Laundry Basket,” and “You Know I Love You Because You’re Still Alive”

If you have entered this contest, please leave a comment about your experience.

MY OPINION

This looks like a lot of bang for your buck. I would probably enter this contest. However, Self Publishing Advice recommends caution.

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The Award blog articles are based on Survey Monkey responses, emails, and comments I received on social media as well as research and some personal experience.

If you have entered any of the contests listed below and would like to share your experience, please either:

• write to me at b.ferrante@tbaytel.net. Be sure to say if you wish to be anonymous.
• or
• make a comment the day the blog post is published.

The awards covered  in October will be:

• October 11 – Mom’s Choice Award
• October 18 – Kindle book awards
• October 25 – Children’s Choice Book Awards

Bonnie Ferrante: Books For All Ages