You can send Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) to each member of your review team using BookFunnel Certified Mail.
It’s our #1 Author Favorite Feature!
BUT… is it the right fit for you or your review team?
If you aren’t sure, here are three ways you can send review copies to your loyal reviewers.
Email Review Link (All BookFunnel Plans)
All BookFunnel plans, including the First-Time Author plan, can deliver ARCs by creating a landing page and emailing its link to reviewers through your mailing list service.
We can’t provide a detailed how-to here, as all mailing list providers have slightly different steps, but the basic steps are:
- Create a download page for your ARC. All landing pages on BookFunnel are private, meaning strangers on the internet are not going to stumble upon your book on our website. The only way that readers can find your book is if you (or someone else) send them the link to it.
- Set a download limit and/or expiration date on the page. A download limit is the total number of times the book can be downloaded, not per person. Example: A download limit of 2 means that the book can only be downloaded on two IP addresses before the page becomes inactive. Learn how to set a download limit or expiration date.
- Email your reviewers the BookFunnel link through your mailing list service. Ask them to hustle because copies are limited and the page will expire in X days.
- Remind your reviewers in the email not to share the link.
Mid-List Plan (Without Integration)
Mid-List authors should use BookFunnel Certified Mail (for all of its fantastic benefits detailed here)!
But, if you want to explore other ARC distribution options, a landing page that requires an email address is the next best thing.
A reader must provide an email address before they can download the ARC. When they download the EPUB or MOBI, the file they receive is watermarked with identifying information.
- Create a landing page that requires an email signup for your ARC.
- Select a book and set an expiration date and/or claim limit on the landing page. A claim limit on an email signup page limits the number of people who can claim a copy of the book. Once this number is reached, the page is deactivated. For example, if you set a claim limit of 10, that means that the book can be downloaded by 10 people before the page is deactivated.
- Email your reviewers the link through your mailing list service. Ask them to hustle because copies are limited and the page will expire in X days.
- Remind your reviewers in the email not to share the link.
We will collect and store all email addresses for you in a CSV on your dashboard.
If someone shares your ARC link and extra readers downloaded the book, you can import any new email addresses into your mailing list* at your convenience.
*You can import all email addresses if your email signup page required opt-in.
Mid-List Plan (With Integration) & Bestseller Plan
Mid-Listers With Integration and Bestsellers can use the processes detailed above, or, if your BookFunnel account is integrated with your mailing list provider, you can create a restricted page instead.
A restricted landing page will collect the reviewer’s email address and then check your mailing list to make sure they are allowed to download your ARC. If they are subscribed to your list, they can download the book. If they aren’t on the list, they can’t!
When your reviewer downloads the EPUB or MOBI, the file they receive is watermarked with identifying information.
- Create a restricted landing page for your ARC. Learn how to create a restricted landing page.
- Set an expiration date on the page.
- Email your reviewers the link through your mailing list service. Tell them to hustle because the page will expire in X days.
FAQ
In this knowledge base, ARCs refers to Advance Reader Copies.
Set a download limit on your link and set an expiration date that only allows reviewers a week or so to download the book. Also, remind reviewers not to share the link.