NetGalley is a great way for bloggers to get ARCs (advance reading copies) of new books.
However, in order to be approved for the more high-profile books, you need to be seen as a reliable contributor. And that means proving your worth as a reviewer on the platform.
It’s actually nowhere near as hard as it sounds, but is NetGalley worth it?
The (very) simple guide to NetGalley
Simply sign up at https://www.netgalley.com.
It’s worth keeping in mind when searching the catalogue that many NetGalley books are proof copies and may contain errors. They aren’t always the final version.
What is NetGalley?
NetGalley is a book marketing platform through which authors and publishers pay to share proof copies of their latest books, prior to publication.
This is often to create anticipation, raise awareness of an upcoming book, and to get initial impressions from dedicated readers.
For readers and bloggers, NetGalley is an excellent way to get hold of books that are months away from publication. Pretty exciting, right?
However, publishers are usually quite strict about who they approve. Otherwise anybody could sign up and grab a free book. Fortunately, I’ve produced some tips below that’ll help you get approved for almost all of your requests!
Is NetGalley worth it?
If you’re a book blogger, a service like NetGalley is incredible.
The reality of blogging is that it’s simply not affordable to buy books every other week, especially if your blog isn’t monetised.
NetGalley is an almost bottomless pit of reading goodness, plus it’s free-to-use. Even if you don’t plan on using the service straightaway, it’s good to get signed up to the mailing list and become familiar with the platform.
Put simply, it’s a great way to acquire free content, which you can then review and discuss, driving traffic to your blog.
Plus, most of the books on the platform are yet to be released, so the chances are that you’ll be one of the first people in the world to review certain book! For example, I was one of the first people to get eyes on Richard Osman’s debut novel, The Thursday Murder Club (it’s just a pity that I really disliked it!).
Just make sure that you keep up your end of the bargain and leave feedback for the publisher. Otherwise it will significantly affect your ability to request new books (more on this later).
It’s worth mentioning that there are alternative websites like Edelweiss and BookSirens. However, they don’t tend to have anywhere near as wide a variety (or quality) of books as NetGalley.
Do I need to be approved for books on NetGalley?
Yes and no.
You will require approval for most books you wish to read on the platform. Especially books published by high-profile publishers. This approval is decided by the publisher rather than the service.
Publishers of all sizes (including self-published authors) put their work on NetGalley.
As a new user, you’re far more likely to get approval for smaller publishing houses.
This is largely because their aim is to build the biggest readership possible ahead of their book’s launch. Whereas, the ‘Big 5’ publishers can be a lot more selective with who they approve, simply because they’re usually guaranteed a bigger audience anyway.
That being said, if you’ve built a strong NetGalley profile and you’re already an established blogger, you’re far more likely to be accepted for some of the more high-profile proofs.
Don’t be afraid to take a chance on some lesser known titles, however.
There are some fantastic works on NetGalley that you’ll have otherwise never heard of. I had a lot of fun with The Playmaker Project – a novel where the two seemingly disparate worlds of soccer and neuroscience clash!
After reviewing The Playmaker Project, I reached out to the author for some comment, which turned into an interview, which you can read here.
With books that are less well known, you’re creating more original content that helps readers find new material, with the added bonus giving a platform to authors with a smaller profile.
The good news is that there is also a very generous amount of books on the platform that are available to all readers, without approval required. It’s good to review a handful of these in order to build up your profile.
5 tips to help you get approved on NetGalley
Approval for ARCs can be somewhat of a lottery – especially for the in-demand books. Copies of R.F. Kuang’s Babel, for example, was extremely limited.
But sometimes, you’ll be approved for some books you didn’t expect to be approved for – other times you’ll be left scratching your head as to why you weren’t approved.
Ultimately, it’s nothing personal. Sometimes it’s a case of demand. Other times, publishers may decide that your book blog niche doesn’t match their genre, therefore there’s less for them to gain from any coverage. They’re paying to use the platform after all, so they want quality, relevant feedback.
However, there are a few things you can do to make your profile stand out.
1) Complete your profile
Your profile is your shop window. It’s the first thing that publishers see when you request approval for an ARC.
Take a look at my profile page as an example.
I’ve uploaded a photo for a start. It shows publishers that I’m a real person and establishes trust.
They’ll then look at the ‘feedback ratio’. Currently, mine is 75% – lower than the recommended 80%, which means my ability to request ARCs could be affected.
I’m currently reading the two outstanding books, so once they’re read and I’ve provided feedback, I’ll be back at 100%.
Now look at my bio. In the first sentence I’ve outlined my credentials, using persuasive language. This demonstrates a level of commitment to the publisher, making them more likely to approve my request.
I also give readers an idea of what they can expect from me personally, as a reviewer. From my profile, they’ll see that I’m organised, diligent, and honest with my feedback.
2) Include links to your blog & social handles
Crucially, I’ve included a link to my blog to prove that I’m an authentic reviewer. If you aren’t a blogger, your Goodreads profile may suffice.
There are also options to link your social handles (currently Twitter, LinkedIn, and Goodreads).
It gives publishers and authors a chance to see what you’re all about. If you’re active on social media, steer clear from drama, and create engaging content – these are all good signs.
3) View your profile through the eyes of a publisher
Do you have a blog niche? Say you’re a sci-fi book blogger and want to target publishers of SFF books, you’re going to want to lean into that experience in your profile.
Think – if you were an author looking to market your book, who would you want to review it? You want someone who’s experienced in the genre and isn’t simply requesting approval for the sake of it. Remember – NetGalley is an extension of an author and publisher’s marketing strategy.
Furthermore, and most importantly, what is your feedback ratio? The general rule of thumb is that you should aim to keep your feedback ratio above 80%.
Some publishers may be more strict, however, and prefer it to exceed 90%, so make sure that you’re giving good quality feedback every single time – even if it isn’t positive.
4) Don’t request too many books at once
It’s easy to get excited about being approved, and there are books littered all over the platform.
In order to provide feedback (and therefore boost your feedback ratio), you need to finish the book. So make sure you don’t request approval for every book you see. It’ll harm your chances of securing future ARCs if you don’t see it through.
Never give feedback without having read the book. It’s obvious, plus it’s very unfair to publishers and authors.
So, be selective with your books. Read the blurbs, perhaps even read some existing reviews to find out if it’s of interest. If you enjoy your books, you’ll read them more quickly, therefore allowing you to request even more!
And of course the more you read and review, the better impression you’ll have on influential publishers. You never know, they may even list you as an ‘auto-approved reviewer’ – the holy grail of NetGalley goals.
5) Beware the archive!
Finally, beware the archive.
As soon as you’re approved for a book, download it to your device immediately. You never know when the publisher will archive it. This usually occurs post-publication, but not always.
Once a book is archived, you’ll have no access to it but your feedback ratio will count against you if you haven’t been able to read the book. This can be incredibly damaging to your NetGalley profile.
The good news is that you can still leave feedback once a book has been archived. Just make sure you get into the habit of downloading your copy as soon as you’ve been approved!
What do you think? Is NetGalley worth it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
No. NetGalley is a purely digital platform. They do offer audiobooks, however.
Tip: If you would prefer a physical ARC or proof copy, you can always reach out directly to the publisher’s marketing team.
Yes. For readers, NetGalley is a free service.
For authors and publishers, however, NetGalley is a paid-for marketing service.
Getting auto-approved is incredibly difficult because it’s entirely at the publishers’ discretion.
Writing regular, informative reviews will certainly help. Plus building your audience on your blog or social platform of choice will likely play a factor!
2 thoughts on “The Simple Guide to NetGalley [2023 Updated]”
Thank you so much for this guide!
No problem – thank you for your comment!