Crafting Your ARC Review Squad: Assemble Your ARC Crew and Gain Critiques
Hey buddy! Here's the lowdown on ARC teams, a secret weapon many indie authors use to rack up dive reviews before their book even hits the shelves!
What's an ARC team, you ask? Well, it's a group of keen readers who get early access to your book in exchange for reviews. The perk for them? They get to read a book before anyone else, and for you, it's a big ol' boost in visibility and buzz around your book launch.
So, how do you build this dream team? Two words: clear communication. Send your ARC team emails, track your interactions, personalize your messages, and value their feedback by keeping in touch and checking in regularly.
Now, let's dive into what exactly an ARC book is. In the writer's world, ARC means Advance Reader Copy, which is essentially a pre-published version of your book that's almost ready to go. You can send it without pictures or the final cover, but the text needs to be edited and sparkling clean.
Here's a little breakdown:
- ARC team vs. Beta reader vs. Street team
- An ARC team helps you spread the word about your book and even assist with reviews and promotions.
- A Beta team focuses on giving feedback to improve your writing.
- A Street team is all about promotion and consists of enthusiastic fans who help boost your book's sales during its launch by posting about it on social media, leaving reviews, and other marketing efforts.
To gather ARC readers, there are a few strategies:
- Build an email list
- Using an inexpensive newsletter provider like Mailchimp or Aweber, create a sign-up link and place it everywhere (book, website, social media handles, etc.). When someone signs up, include a freebie (book, bonus chapter, or short story) as a thank you.
- Send advance reader copies to other groups of people
- Book reviewers or book bloggers
- NetGalley, Booksprout, Booktasters, BookSirens, Hidden Gems Books
- Goodreads fans
- Influencers (Bookstagrammers, BookTokkers)
- Booksellers
- Launch team (your fanbase, family, friends, and professionals)
- Our website's Review Tool
- Directly send review copies from Apple Books or Google Play Books.
By connecting with your ARC team, you can guarantee positive reviews and boost sales for your book launch – ain't that swell?
Incorporating your book into an early reader's lifestyle can significantly enhance the buzz around your book launch. Moreover, engaging your ARC team in discussions about books and entertainment could not only help you attain valuable reviews but also foster a deeper connection with your readers.
