Are you a reader looking to find more ARC sign-up opportunities or want to start out as an ARC reader? Or maybe you're new to the bookish community and wondering, "What is an ARC reader?".
What is an ARC?
ARCs stand for Advanced Reader Copies. These are copies that an author generally sends out prior to a book's release in hopes that those readers will submit reviews to places like Goodreads, Amazon, BookBub, etc. These reviews are used by the algorithms on those sites to determine what books are pushed or shown more than others, which is why they're so important!
Before joining a team, it's important to note the timeframe or when you'd receive the book and when the book releases to ensure you'll have enough time to read it and write your review. Some authors have a more general window beyond the release of when they'd like reviews posted, but most of the time on or close to the release date provides them with the best push for those algorithms!
Things to note:
To align with terms of service for many retailers, authors should not be paying for your review or offering anything in return. They also cannot stipulate what you can and cannot say in the review or require that the review be positive.
Now, it is general ARC etiquette that if you are going to post a negative review as an ARC reader that you wait a few weeks after the book is published, but the author cannot say that you MUST wait.
How to find ARC sign-up applications:
If you're looking for new ARC teams to join, Instagram and Facebook reader groups are some of the best places to keep an eye out. Authors often post about open ARC teams or that they're looking to add to their team and that's a great spot to grab the link and apply.
What makes you attractive for an ARC team:
ARC teams are made up of readers who regularly review for that author. Some teams will ask you to provide a review of one of the author's books you've left or they might ask to see a review within the same genre. So if you're looking to join an ARC team, it can be important to have an active review profile either on Goodreads, BookBub, or Amazon. This isn't something that all authors require, but shows that you're a serious reader and that you are used to the reviewing process. Some authors also look for active social media profiles with high followers, but this isn't always a requirement.
How to be asked back for future ARCs:
The most important thing as part of the ARC team is to post your review. This helps out the author and shows that you were committed to the team. Authors will often have forms or ways for you to submit your review to them so they can see that you finished the book and what your thoughts were.
All in all, being part of an ARC team is a fun process and a way to support all the amazing authors out there!
Did you know we have a sign-up for readers and influencers who would like to be notified when one of our authors is opening up their ARC team to new reviewers or when an author is looking to send out books or themed boxes to be shared on social media? We do and you can sign up below!
And, in case you missed it, here is a past blog post that shows you how to find your direct links for reviews you've left on Goodreads, Amazon, or BookBub!
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