How to get reviews or at least noticed.

[Tim Tellean]

I wanted to see if anyone had some advice for a small PDF publisher that's trying but feeling like we are treading water. We have banner ads running, received mention on boards front pages, posted in there respective press release areas and I sent out over 20 copies for reviewers of our latest adventure. I am most concerned about the lack of reviews, good or bad, I notice that products released long after ours have been reviewed but we languish. For us the reviews are critical to the next step in our growth and I was wondering if I should do something else or something different, I sent out all the reviewer copies using RPGNow and it's cool complimentary copy feature but wondered if that was not the right way to go or what. I would like to see if anyone has suggestions, we are operating on a purposeful small budget and print ads are just to expensive for a PDF only release, I even drove to hobby shops and they agreed to let me put up a little poster I made. Anyway I await pearls of wisdom.

The new adventure is called Ruined Keep and we released in July.

http://www.ptgamesinc.com

 

[Morrus]

I suggest you contact the staff review at the new EN World PDF News & Reviews site. He reviews PDF products exclusively.

 

[jgbrowning]

Tim,

Do as morrus suggests and send a review copy to crothian. I'd also suggest you get involved with the EN World community. As strange as it sounds, doing something non-business may actually help your business most of all.

I was part of the community for about 6 months or so before putting out A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe. In retrospect, this helped me tremendously because people were curious enough to at least check out my work, and if they had any questions they could just "ask the author" which everyone loves to do. The hardest part is getting people to look at it. If it's good, it will help sell itself.

I guess this could sound kinda cynical, advising you to become part of the community for business reasons, but really, being part of the community is very fullfilling in a multitude of ways and it provides you with a group of people who are willing to help you in many ways be better at what your trying to do, whether or not that's putting out a better product, or if just trying to be a good DM. Get out there, post, help people with questions, help get your questions answered and that interaction will help your business in the long run.

And, none of us bite, just watch out for P-Kitty's hook.....

joe b.

 

[Tim Tellean]

Morrus, I sent you a copy in July and Crothian a copy when this new website was unveiled and big surprise I got no response from either of you. I know Crothian has been inundated so no blame to him. JG I appreciate the advice both my partner and I have tried to be more vocal recently and get involved. We knew we were aimed at a small market segment with adventures but we wanted to test the waters and the enviroment, with a source book due next we need to get maximum exposure and feedback. I guess I am frustrated with the many reviewers for ignoring us. Should I follow up with them? All advice is welcome and appreciated.

 

[Prest0]

Tim,

Let me assure you that you're not alone! As another new publisher (focusing on d20 Modern material), we are having a heck of a time getting our material reviewed. I'll be watching this thread very carefully! I think it's partially a sign of the times. There are so many new publishers and products out there that we've outstripped the number of reviewers.

This next bit is directed to Morrus: First of all, thanks so much for setting up the new PDF focused site! I got in touch with Crothian, and I believe we're in his reviewing queue. However, we've had a heck of a time getting ourselves added to the d20 publisher's list on another part of your site. We've sent a couple e-mails and posted a forum note, but haven't gotten any kind of response. Granted all of this has been since last Friday so it's only been a week. Is there any way to automate the addition of publishers to the list, as you've done with adding reviews?

Preston
12 to Midnight

 

[Wycen]

I'm going to send Strutinan here, I know he'll be interested.

 

[jmucchiello]

Patience.

The staff reviewers at ENWorld have 2-3 month backlogs generally. Send you comp products to them but also send them to Gamewyrd, d20zines, and any other review sites you can find.

Read through ENWorld's non-staff reviews to find a reviewer who seems to like the kind of stuff you do and ask that person if they'll review it. You have WORK to get reviews. You also should consider (though I;ve never tried it) sending review copies out before you release so the lag between first sale and first review is shortened.

Above all, be patient. The reviewers are doing YOU a favor. Not the other way around. Remember that.

 

[Prest0]

The staff reviewers at ENWorld have 2-3 month backlogs generally.

Speaking only for myself, I think part of the problem may be that as a new publisher I simply don't know what my expectations should be. I think if the above statement were on the main d20 System and Reviews page in the Disclaimer box right after "I do not hate your company," I'd have been a lot less anxious over not getting a reply right away. That in turn would have meant fewer pesky follow-up messages to already-busy reviewers.

 

[maransreth]

Tim,
I do reviews at d20 Magazine Rack and I know you sent a link of your new adventure to Steve Creech as I am the lucky guy to review your adventure!

However I just need to finish another review first and then I can get to yours. I will say that I have glanced over it briefly to get an impression of what the pdf is (I wasn't sure if it was a sourcebook or module when I first got the zip file).

So expect one soon at d20 Magazine Rack!

 

[Crothian]

Tim, I got the e-mail and downloaded the product and have you on my list of things to review. I dropped the ball in replying to you, and I'm sorry for that. I do have a small electronic pile of things to rteview and I'm getting of to a slow start as there was a death in the family the same day I was made reviewer. But I'm not trying to offer up excuses for my error. I will have it reviewed hopefully in a couple of weeks. I'm doing reviews in the order of people contacting me right now until I get a good number of them done. Again, I apologize for not e-mailing you back.

Edit: You can e-mail me any questions or comments you have. I really do try to reply to all e-mail I get. I feel bad that this slipped through the cracks,. so from now on I'm going to be more attentive to my e-mail.