Bloggers/Reviewers: how to get free review copies

Do you like to read Christian books? Do you blog? Or write book reviews for a Christian magazine or newsletter?

If so, we'd love you to review our books, and to help you do that we're launching the Matthias Media "FreeForBloggers" Program.

Basically, we give you free books and you review them on your blog. It's a win for your wallet, and also a great way to get the word out about Matthias Media books and resources.

Here's how it works...

[1] Register for the Program. We will let you know that you have been accepted by return email. We are looking for blogs that reach evangelical Christians, and which seek to reflect on and interact with Christian ideas, including the ideas taught in Christian books. So if you write a blog aimed at dishwasher repair technicians, and you review one of our books on your blog just to get a free book, sorry but that's not likely to 'wash' with us.

[2] After we've confirmed your acceptance, you can request a book you would like to review from the current selection of review books. We'll then send you a free copy by post. If the book is available as an ebook, you can request that format. Please note: if your postal address is not in Australia or the USA, we may ask you to pay the cost of postage.

[3] Next you write and publish your review. It doesn't have to be favourable (obviously we enjoy it more if it is!); all we ask is that it is an honest review of a reasonable length (let's just say that we figure it's hard to do a helpful review in less than about 500 words). Plus, in the case of a blog we ask that you provide a link from your review to the product in our online store, or in the case of a printed magazine or newsletter, you add the words "Available from www.matthiasmedia.com." either at the beginning or end of your review.

[4] You also post the text of your review in our online store using your real name. (See below for instructions on how to do this.)

[5] You send us a link to the review on your blog (or a copy of your printed review and referencing your 'reviewer id number': Fax: 02-9663 3265 or mail: Reviews, PO Box 225, Kingsford NSW 2032). Once we see your review you can then request another free review book (from the current list).

That's all there is to it. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

The small print: (actually, it's the same size print, but its just the stuff we need to say.) Of course, we reserve the right to close the scheme or limit the number of bloggers or number of books we give away, or reject any requests for free books at any time. We're just not sure how this will go, folks. It's a bit of a trial to see what happens. If every Christian blogs and nobody ever actually buys any books, well, we might end up going broke. So that's why we need to say this sort of stuff.

How to add a review in our online store

Adding a review to our online store is simple. Just find the resource in the store (using the search box at the top of the screen). The resource page should look something like this one:

Click on the link just below the main title that says "Add a review or tip". This presents you with a form in which you can enter your real name, title or summary, and the full text of your review (please use plain text without tags). Then click the "Submit review" button. We will automatically receive notification that your review has been submitted; you don't need to tell us about this one. Only tell us where else your review appears.