Launching ARC Campaigns
A complete guide to creating and launching ARC (Advance Reader Copy) campaigns on BookAuth — from setup to managing readers and collecting reviews.
Advance Reader Copy (ARC) campaigns are the fastest way to build review momentum before your book's official launch. By distributing early copies to vetted readers, you can accumulate a critical mass of honest reviews that drive visibility and sales from day one.
What You'll Learn
- What ARC campaigns are and why they matter
- How to create and configure a campaign step by step
- How to manage reader applications and acceptances
- Campaign limits by subscription plan
- Best timing strategies for maximum impact
Why ARCs Matter
Reviews are the single most important social proof factor for book sales. A book with 15-25 reviews on launch day performs dramatically better than a book with zero:
| Reviews at Launch | Impact |
|---|---|
| 0 reviews | Readers hesitate to be "first" — conversion drops |
| 5-10 reviews | Helpful but not convincing enough for skeptical readers |
| 15-25 reviews | Sweet spot — strong social proof, appears established |
| 50+ reviews | Premium perception — readers trust the book immediately |
ARC campaigns are your primary tool for reaching that 15-25 review threshold before your book goes live.
Creating a Campaign
Step 1: Navigate to ARC Campaigns
- Go to Content > ARC Campaigns from the author sidebar
- Click "+ Create Campaign" in the top-right corner
Step 2: Select Your Book
- Choose the book you want to create an ARC campaign for
- The book can be in Draft or Published status
- If your book is a Draft, ARC readers will get early access before the public
Step 3: Configure Campaign Settings
| Setting | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Reader Limit | Maximum ARC copies to distribute | 20-50 for new authors, 50-100 for established |
| Review Deadline | When readers must submit reviews | 2-4 weeks after campaign launch |
| Minimum Reputation | Optional — require a minimum reviewer score | Set to 3.0+ to filter unreliable reviewers |
| Application Requirements | Optional — genre preference matching | Enable to match readers to your genre |
Step 4: Launch
Click "Launch Campaign" to make it live. Readers can now discover and apply for your ARC.
Campaign Lifecycle
Created → Active → Accepting Applications → Readers Reviewing → Completed
| Phase | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Created | Campaign exists but isn't visible to readers |
| Active | Readers can discover the campaign and apply |
| Accepting | You're reviewing and accepting/rejecting applications |
| Reviewing | Accepted readers are reading and writing reviews |
| Completed | Deadline passed, final review count tallied |
Managing Reader Applications
When readers apply to your ARC campaign, you see their application in the campaign management view:
What You See Per Applicant
- Reader name and avatar — their public profile
- Reviewer reputation score — overall reliability rating (0-5 scale)
- Completion rate — percentage of past ARCs where they actually submitted a review
- Review quality — average author rating of their past reviews
- Timeliness — how often they submit reviews before the deadline
- Preferred genres — whether their reading preferences match your book's genre
- Reviewer tier — Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum badge
Accepting vs. Rejecting
- Accept — the reader gets access to download your ARC
- Reject — the reader is notified their application was not accepted (no reason shown)
Pro Tip: Prioritize applicants with a completion rate above 80% and a reviewer tier of Silver or higher. These readers are statistically much more likely to actually deliver a review.
Campaign Limits by Plan
| Plan | Active ARC Campaigns |
|---|---|
| Free | 2 |
| Pro | 10 |
| Business | Unlimited |
Active campaigns count towards your limit. Completed campaigns don't count.
Automated Follow-Ups
For Pro and Business plans, BookAuth's AI-powered system automatically follows up with accepted ARC readers:
- 3 days before the deadline — a reminder email is sent to readers who haven't submitted a review yet
- This automation alone typically increases review yield by 20-30%
Best Timing Strategies
| Strategy | When to Launch ARC | Review Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Launch | 4-6 weeks before publication | 1-2 weeks before launch |
| Launch Day | Same day as publication | 2-3 weeks after launch |
| Backlist Revival | When relaunching an older title | 3-4 weeks after campaign |
The pre-launch strategy is most effective because reviews accumulate before the book goes live, creating immediate social proof.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I run multiple ARC campaigns for the same book?
A: Yes. You might run a pre-launch campaign, then a post-launch campaign to build additional reviews.
Q: What if a reader doesn't leave a review?
A: Their completion rate drops, affecting their reputation score. This discourages unreliable behavior over time.
Q: Can I give ARC readers specific instructions?
A: ARC readers are expected to leave honest reviews. You should not request specific rating thresholds or positive reviews — this violates platform guidelines.
Q: Do ARC reviews count as "verified purchases"?
A: ARC reviews are marked differently from purchase reviews but are equally weighted in BookAuth's display and ranking.
Q: Can I edit or cancel a campaign after launching?
A: You can update the reader limit and deadline. You cannot remove already-accepted readers, but you can stop accepting new applications.
Related Articles
- Managing ARC Reader Applications
- Tracking ARC Reviews & Completion Rates
- ARC Campaign Analytics & Reporting
- ARC Best Practices — Maximizing Review Yield
- Applying for ARC Campaigns (Reader guide)