WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF RECRUITING ARC READERS?
Most authors know that ARC stands for Advanced Reader Copies or Advanced Review Copies. I don't think the debate on this is settled yet.
There are multiple reasons to recruit ARC readers:
- ARC readers can offer you valuable feedback about the book.
- They can also be a group of readers who may give you your first five or ten reviews, depending upon how many ARC readers you are able to recruit.
- Announcing you are looking for ARC readers is a first step in your book marketing campaign. This is a good way to post on a website or social media about the upcoming eBook.
- By announcing there will be a new release soon enough, you will create the buzz about your book.
WHEN SHOULD I OFFER MY BOOK TO ARC READERS?
It all begins when you get the book back from the editor. Make all the changes in the eBook within two to three days after receiving it from the editor.
I'll explain below why it's not recommended to give an "early pre-edited copy" to the readers -- which is how I learned to do it. But I paid the price. More on this below.
After the edits are done, its now time to list it as a pre-order on Amazon and/or as an ARC copy.
I've heard horror stories from some authors about setting it up for pre-order and then not making the deadline! BUT, since you are not setting the book as a pre-order until it is actually in Final Manuscript form, you don't have to sweat it at all.
Setting your eBook up for preorder on Amazon is the first buzz you will create about your new eBook. It's an event to be announced on a website and social media. This will let your present readership know there's a book coming soon.
CAUTION FOR NEWBIES AND BEGINNER SELF-PUBLISHERS:
Don’t get impatient and offer the eBook before the last edit. I was told to do this and make "use" of the time the editor had the book. However, I paid the price for this, and it's a tall price, one that follows me forever.
When you offer your ARC book it will be for free. Many readers will take advantage of the free eBook and download it -- with or without any intention of being an actual ARC reader. They may not read it right away. But this version of your book lives on their Kindle or other eReader.
After you get your final manuscript back from the editor, there will ALWAYS be things that you missed, even if you proofread it twenty times!
So when the reader gets around to reading your eBook, they won't remember they downloaded an early ARC copy. They will think this book was released with these very typos and/or other foibles that you missed! Very often, readers see read when they see typos. And they very often mention it in the feedback! This is what I mean by it will follow you forever. So don't do it!
RECRUITING ARC READERS IS A MARKETING STRATEGY IN AND OF ITSELF:
Recruiting ARC readers can also be a marketing strategy because who doesn’t like freebies & giveaways? Giveaways and Freebies have a way of capturing everyone’s attention. With a great eye-catching graphic, this can create interest and general buzz about your upcoming book.
It's also an opportunity to recruit more readers.
If you make a few different graphics to go along with your invitation to sign up as an ARC reader, this is something you can post several times over the six to eight weeks before your book is actually released. By having several different graphics, it prevents your posts from appearing too repetitive.
HOW DO I DO IT?
It all sounds good. How do I do it?
It starts with a calendar and a final manuscript.
Using your calendar, set your true release date for 8 weeks out for a beginner or 6 weeks out if you’ve done this before.
EIGHT WEEKS? REALLY?
Why so long? You need to give yourself time to recruit readers and you need to give the readers at least two weeks to finish the book. You want to recruit as many readers as you can. This is the best way to get at least a few reviews when your book is initially released.
Newbies will be anxious to upload and release, but there will be enough for you to do in the 6 to 8 weeks while you recruit and give your ARC readers time to read the book.
THINGS TO DO DURING THE RECRUITMENT TIME:
- While the book is awaiting release, you can upload to Amazon as a pre-order. This acts as an announcement that your book is coming. Its an opportunity to post about it on social media, on your website, and in your newsletter.
- Add this new book and a link to it to your Other Books by Author page. Don’t forget to add it to earlier books. You want every ‘read-through’ advantage you can set up.
- Create a review link. What’s a review link? It’s a link that takes the reader from your Note to Reader page directly to Amazon to leave you a review.
- Work on your eBook cover. Then work on the back cover graphics for the Paperback and Hardcover.
- Create at least four different graphics about the new book to post to social media. Remember, you’ll need graphics for the following events:
- Recruiting ARC Readers
- Announcement of Pre-Orders at Amazon or wherever you sell your books
- Announcement of your eBook cover art
- Announcement of Only 7 Days before Release.
- Announcement of Release of your eBook
- Newsletter, social media and website graphics
- Graphics with quotes from your book and eye-catching graphics.
WHAT IS THE WORK FLOW REGARDING RECRUITING ARC READERS?
Step One in Recruiting ARC Readers is you need a Graphic and a Form.
Here is a small graphic ad I added to my monthly newsletter for a recent eBook asking for Advanced Copy Readers.
I tell them that if they find any errors in the book and email me, I will add them to my acknowledgement page. I actually got several signups with this approach.
Now, about this little button that says “Click here to get download!”
Behind this button is the magic of computer coding and integrations between Bookfunnel and Mailchimp. In the video below, I take a few minutes to go into how things work regarding this download button.
But if you don't have a website or mailing service yet, don't despair, there are other types of forms that are available. I give one easy example in the video below.
YOU CAN SEND THE FORM FROM A WORDPRESS WEBSITE WITH EASE:
My website and millions of other websites are built on WordPress. WordPress is a platform and many coders release what are called plug-ins. They give different functionalities to the website.
One of these plugins is called Contract Form 7. You can easily use this form to offer and keep track of ARC readers. I do a demonstration of this in the video below.
PREPARE THE PROPER COPIES:
In order to send the eBooks to your ARC readers, you will need to have your final manuscript in an ePub format and a PDF format. Once you get an email from the form you set up, send these two copies to the readers.
ePubs are able to be read on most eBook readers and PDFs can be ready by anyone with a computer.
BE AND STAY ORGANIZED:
If I can offer just one final tip to newbies from the things I did that went wrong when I was a newbie -- it would be to be and stay organized with this.
Because these signups and emails and names will trickle in one at a time, it's too easy to start filing them all over the place. I had some in a special folder that I forgot about, I put them on a list I thought I would remember but I didn't. So now I keep a list of my ARC readers on my "Info - BOOK NAME" file (a notepad document) for each book. I keep them way at the bottom so I can find them when it's time to send a thank you and an invitation to leave me a review.
