ARC Guide: How to Set Up an Advance Review Copy Program for Your Book

An arc advance review copies program is how indie authors arrive at launch day with reviews already posted — rather than watching their book sit in silence waiting for the first reader to find it. Reviews matter at launch because they influence both buyer confidence and Amazon's willingness to surface your book in recommendations and search results. A book with 15 reviews on release day is in a fundamentally different position than a book with zero.

The good news is that running an ARC program doesn't require a big budget or a large audience. Authors with email lists of a few hundred people, genre communities, and free distribution tools can build effective ARC programs from scratch. What it requires is organization, clear communication, and realistic expectations about conversion rates.

This guide covers everything from sourcing ARC readers to distributing files to managing your team through launch day.

What ARCs are and why they matter

An advance review copy is a version of your book — typically the final or near-final file — sent to readers before publication in exchange for an honest review. The "advance" means they receive it before the book is publicly available.

ARCs serve a specific launch function: they seed reviews so that when your book goes live and organic readers arrive, there's social proof already in place. Reviews affect click-through rates on Amazon (more reviews = higher perceived legitimacy), Goodreads ratings, and retailer recommendation algorithms. A strong launch day review count can meaningfully affect your first-week sales performance.

ARCs are not the same as beta reads. ARC readers are not giving you developmental feedback on the manuscript — they're reading to review. If you're still refining the story, run a beta read first. ARCs come later.

ARC vs. beta readers

These two programs are often confused because both involve sending your book to readers before publication. They serve completely different purposes.

	ARC readers	Beta readers
Purpose	Generate reviews for launch day	Provide story and craft feedback
Timing	2–6 weeks before publication	During drafting/revision, pre-publication
What you send	Final or near-final formatted book	Manuscript (often unformatted)
What you receive	Public reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.	Written feedback, questionnaire responses
Manuscript stage	Book is essentially done	Book is still being improved

For the full beta reader process, see how to find beta readers.

Where to find ARC readers

Your email list

Your own email list is your best source of ARC readers — they're already interested in your work and have opted in to hear from you. Send a dedicated ARC request email a month before your send date. Be specific: mention the genre, the book's premise in 2–3 sentences, what you're asking of them (read by a certain date, post a review on [platforms]), and how to sign up.

Even a list of 200–300 engaged subscribers can produce 20–30 ARC requests. Not all of them will follow through, but this is a reliable starting pool. If you're building your list, the building email list as a new author guide covers the fundamentals.

Social media and genre communities

Post ARC calls in genre-specific Facebook groups, on Instagram, and in reader communities where your target audience lives. Many groups allow ARC request posts — check the rules first. Be concise: genre, hook, cover image if available, and a clear link to sign up. A Google Form or a BookFunnel landing page works well as a collection point.

BookSirens

BookSirens is a platform built specifically for distributing ARCs to readers. You upload your book, set your request window, and readers from BookSirens' database can apply to receive a copy. It's particularly useful for romance, thriller, and fantasy genres, where its reader base is strongest. BookSirens charges a fee per campaign and provides tracking on how many readers downloaded your book and posted reviews.

NetGalley

NetGalley is the dominant platform for ARC distribution, used extensively by traditional publishers and increasingly by indie authors. It connects your book with librarians, booksellers, bloggers, and general readers who actively request ARCs. The platform is expensive — annual subscriptions and per-title fees — and it skews toward a traditional publishing audience, but for certain genres (literary fiction, nonfiction, children's) it has strong reach. There are also co-op options through distributors like IngramSpark that reduce cost.

BookFunnel ARC campaigns

BookFunnel has a dedicated ARC feature that lets you distribute EPUB and MOBI files to a private list, with reader analytics (who downloaded, when). You can combine ARC distribution with list-building by using BookFunnel's landing pages. It's cost-effective and easy to manage, which makes it the most popular choice among indie authors running their own ARC programs.

Genre-specific ARC Facebook groups

There are Facebook groups dedicated to connecting indie authors with ARC readers, usually organized by genre ("Romance ARC Readers," "Fantasy ARC Street Team," etc.). The quality and engagement vary by group, but they can be a fast way to find interested readers when you're starting out. Readers in these groups are often experienced with the ARC process and know what's expected of them.

How to distribute ARCs

The method you choose affects reader experience, your tracking ability, and cost.

Method	Cost	Format	Reader experience	Best for
Email attachment (PDF/EPUB)	Free	PDF or EPUB	Simple, no platform needed	Small, trusted reader teams
BookFunnel	~$20–100/yr	EPUB, MOBI, PDF	Smooth, device-sideloading help	Most indie authors
BookSirens	Per-campaign fee	EPUB, PDF	Platform-managed, review tracking	Authors who want managed outreach
NetGalley	$450+/yr or co-op	PDF, EPUB	Professional platform, broad reach	Authors with budget and library/retail goals

For most indie authors, BookFunnel is the practical default: affordable, reader-friendly, and straightforward to manage. Email attachments work for small, personal ARC teams where you know the readers individually.

What to include when sending an ARC

Your ARC email or delivery note should include:

• Publication date: Clearly stated — readers need to know when reviews should go live.
• Where to post reviews: Amazon, Goodreads, and any other platforms relevant to your genre (Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, etc.).
• Honest review disclaimer: Make clear that you want their honest opinion, not a guaranteed positive review. This protects you legally and signals that you're operating in good faith.
• No-obligation reminder: Receiving a free copy does not obligate them to review it. Stating this upfront reduces ghosting and keeps the relationship positive.
• Disclosure note: Remind them that as a best practice and FTC requirement, reviews should disclose they received a free copy (e.g., "I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review").

Keep the email short. Long emails with complex instructions reduce follow-through.

Managing your ARC team

A simple tracking spreadsheet prevents things from falling through the cracks.

Recommended columns:

• Reader name
• Email address
• Sign-up date
• File sent (Y/N) and date
• Platform they'll post on
• Review posted (Y/N)
• Review link (once posted)
• Notes

Send files in one organized batch once your ARC window opens. Then send one check-in email about a week before the publication date — a friendly reminder of the release date and a thank-you, not a pressure tactic. After the book goes live, send a brief follow-up to anyone who hasn't yet posted, with direct links to where to leave reviews.

How many ARC readers you need

Realistic expectations matter here. Not everyone who signs up for an ARC will download the file. Not everyone who downloads will finish the book. Not everyone who finishes will post a review. General conversion benchmarks:

• Expect roughly 50–70% of sign-ups to actually download the file
• Expect roughly 30–50% of downloaders to post a review

If you want 20 reviews at launch, plan to recruit 60–80 ARC readers. If you're happy with 10 reviews, 30–40 sign-ups is a reasonable target. These are rough averages — your conversion will vary based on how engaged your reader pool is and how much friction the review process involves.

Setting expectations with ARC readers

The single most important thing to communicate to ARC readers: an honest review is the goal, not a positive one. This protects you under Amazon's terms of service, which prohibit compensated reviews or reviews that require a positive outcome. Emphasizing honesty also tends to attract more serious reviewers.

Make clear:

• There is no obligation to review if they don't finish the book or don't want to
• They should post when they feel ready (within the review window you specify)
• Reviews should disclose the ARC relationship ("I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest review")
• A short review is better than no review — they don't need to write an essay

The Amazon review policy and ARCs

Amazon's review policies are frequently misunderstood. Here's what's actually true:

What is allowed: Sending free copies to readers and asking for honest reviews. This is explicitly permitted. ARC reviews are fine on Amazon as long as the review is honest and the reviewer discloses the free copy.

What is not allowed: Paying readers for reviews, requiring a positive review in exchange for a copy, coordinating review swaps ("you review mine, I'll review yours").

ARC readers can post their reviews before the book's official launch date on Amazon if the book is already live in the Kindle store (even if not yet "officially" launched). Some authors make the book live briefly to collect early reviews, then use a promotion at the official launch date. Consult the current Amazon guidelines for the most up-to-date specifics, as these policies change.

ARC timing: when to send before launch

The standard recommendation is 2–6 weeks before your publication date. Two weeks is the minimum — it's often not enough time for readers to finish a full-length novel and post a review. Four to six weeks is the practical sweet spot for most novels.

For novellas or shorter works, two to three weeks may be sufficient. For nonfiction, consider giving readers more time — nonfiction is often read in segments rather than in one sitting, and reviewers may want to take notes.

Send files in one go rather than in dribs and drabs. A coordinated send date gives everyone the same timeline and makes your follow-up messaging cleaner.

Frequently asked questions

Can ARC readers post reviews before the book's release date on Amazon? Yes, if the book is already listed on Amazon (even as a preorder), ARC readers can post reviews before the official publication date. Amazon may hold some reviews until the book is verified as published, but readers can submit them early.

What if ARC readers don't leave reviews? This is common and not something you can control. Follow up once, gently, after the book goes live. After that, let it go. Chasing readers for reviews damages the relationship and rarely produces results. Accept a lower conversion rate as part of the process and recruit more readers next time.

Should ARC readers disclose they received a free copy? Yes. The FTC requires disclosure when there is a material connection between a reviewer and the product (including receiving a free copy). Most ARC readers in the book community are familiar with this convention and include a brief disclosure in their review. You should remind them to do so in your ARC delivery email.

How far in advance should I start building my ARC team? Start building your list (email and social) well before you need it. When you're 6–8 weeks from your target send date, open your ARC applications. The application period can stay open for 1–2 weeks before you send files.

Can I use ARC readers for every book in a series? Yes, and this is a common approach. Many authors build a standing ARC team that reads every new release. Over time, the team becomes invested in the series and conversion rates tend to improve. See the how to plan a book launch guide for how to coordinate ARCs with your full launch strategy.

The bottom line

A well-run ARC program is one of the most reliable ways to arrive at launch day with meaningful social proof. The investment is mostly organizational — building your reader list, distributing files cleanly, and following up consistently. Authors who build ARC teams early and run them methodically launch with a material advantage over those who publish cold and hope readers find them.

Start small if you need to. Even 10–15 reviews at launch is a meaningful foundation. Build the habit, refine your process, and your ARC team will grow with your readership. Get started formatting your book in LiberScript so your ARC files are polished and ready to send.