In case you’re more interested in hearing about how to get your book blog started, check out this post! A few people were curious about ARCs and such, so I decided to continue onto this post!
STATS
1. Like, Comment, Follow, Repeat!
As briefly mentioned in my previous Blogging 101 post, the best way to get other book blogs to notice you is to notice them. Once you find a book blog and like what you see, let them know! Like their posts, comment on them! Leave sweet, thoughtful, genuine comments, showing that you actually like their posts. Make sure you’re not commenting just because you want them to follow you.
How to find other book blogs?
Search tags on WordPress such as: yabooks, young adult books, book reviews
Find a post about a book tag or a blogger awards posts? See who’s tagged!
2. Write quality posts and write them often
Proofread. I know, it’s tedious. But it matters. I also know I’m being a little bit of a hypocrite on this one. You have no idea how many time,y mom has had to tell me about a grammatical mistake on my post!
Thank you, mom.
Here’s logic everyone should be able to understand: The more posts you have, the more posts people will see. So write lots and lots of posts!
3. Reach out
If someone is nice enough to comment on your post, comment back! Don’t just like their comment and ignore it. If you leave a nice reply, they’re more likely to come back.
Trust me, I’ve left comments on people’s posts and gotten a like in reply, which is nice! But it does give off a sort of unappreciative vibe, doesn’t it?
ARCs
1. What is an ARC?
Most new bloggers have no idea what an ARC is, which is fine! Unless you were born with a book blogging lingo dictionary pre-programmed in your head, you’ll need someone to tell you what it is!
Simple ARC definition: ARC stands for Author’s Review Copy. Bloggers and booktubers can get and ARC from a publishing company before it comes out to review it or feauture it.
2. How can I get an ARC?
You have to have the stats! Publishers don’t hand out ARCs to just any blog, you must be worthy!
You should probably have about 250-300 followers at the least to get an ARC from a publisher. Though really, it’s more about the number of views and visitors you get in a month that’s more important.
I first requested a lot of ARCs when I was at about 200 followers, but with 1,300 views and 330 individual visitors in a month. I received basically all of the ARCs I requested, so those publishers seem to appreciate those stats.
3. How do I ask a publisher for an ARC?
This was a serious struggle for me, but thankfully WordsWeHeart had this AMAZING post to help!
All the information is in that awesome post, but I’ll give you a skim of it.
First, you have to get the email of a publisher. You can do this by just going to the website of a publishing company and choosing their publicity email. The post mentioned above also has a list.
The format for the email I use is the one WordsWeHeart offers, and that’s the one I would reccomend! Honestly, her post is much more informative than this!
Don’t freak out if you don’t get an email back, some publishers just send the book!
4. What about e-ARCs?
These are much more accessible to those with not as many stats, however I don’t really like them since I really don’t like reading on and e-Reader.
Though if you are interested, NetGalley is the best and most popular place to get them!
I really hope all that helpe, please comment any questions or requests!
Goodreads: Becca and Books
Email: Kumquot@comcast.net
Mailing Adress: P.O. Box 86907
Montgomery Village, MD 20886-6907
Becca & Books 
I’m just so glad it helped! Thanks so much!
This was such an informative post Becca! I know this may sound a bit weird, but about how many followers do you have on your blog right now, and when did you start blogging? I’m wondering because I want to request physical ARCS as well but I’m not sure if I have enough followers. I started my blog back in February and I’m very active, however I have only 115 or so followers. So I was just wondering if that’s average…? (I’m really active, so I dont understand) and my Instagram has many more followers, over 3.2k, but I dont know if that will make a difference. Anyways, what do you think? It would be really nice to see your opinion on it. π
Can’t wait for more of your posts on blogginh101!! π
Very helpful post. I know I need to improve on my blogging, and I saw some good points from this. Thank you.
Reblogged this on Cat on the Bookshelf and commented:
I am bad at posting often, but I think this is helpful to all who are interested in book blogging.
You’re welcome ! β€β€
Yay, I’m just so glad it helped!
THANK YOU!!!!! It makes me so happy to hear that! Yes, I completely agree!
Thanks so much for commenting!!!!β€οΈ
Ah, I loved it!
I LOVE the Infernal Devices!!!! How are you liking it?
This is a fantastic post that I think will help many! It even gave me a few little pointers in terms of requesting ARCS.
This post has so many useful tips for new bloggers and fairly developed bloggers alike. Commenting back I think is essential. It just takes the user experience of a blog to a whole new level!
xoxo
What did you think? Anna and the French Kiss is just as quick…
I’m currently reading The Infernal Devices, I’m about 100 pages in the second book. Have you read those yet?
-Amy
Oh, awesome! I actually just finished P.S. I Love You…it was a quick read! What are you currently reading?
I totally understand life getting in the way! And thank you so much, I will try my best to get more posts like this up!
I’m so glad it helped! Ah, thank you, thank you!
Yeah, that totally makes sense!
No problem! I’m just glad it helped!
Those were both really good! I read them each in a sitting lol.
-Amy
Ever since I got really into reading and the book community, I have been in awe with bloggers (or anyone) who gets an ARCs. I always wanted to experience and really get into blogging but life just don’t agree atm. :’) Thank you for this shared info. This is very helpful to newbies. More posts like this pleeease!
This is so interesting! Thanks for the information. It’s so helpful for those of us who are new at this.
Since I’m French, reading in English, I would love to get ARCs, too, but I’m not sure that they would be okay with shipping books to my country. But you’re absolutely right, it never hurts to ask! Thank you so much! β€
Thank you so much for this! It’s been very helpful. π
Haha, thank you! I’m actually not currently reading anything, but I’m thinking about either reading Anna and the French Kiss or P.S. I Still Love You…I’m in a romantic mood π
True, but hey, better late than never, am I right or am I right? π Well, congratulations on your, what, 9 month anniversary??? Lol, what are you currently reading?
-Amy
I’ve only been blogging since the end of December, which is pretty short to those who’ve been blogging for years. But still, it is a fair amount!
Lol. How long have you been blogging again? It’s only been four months on my part.
-Amy
Okay! π
You have to request one, at least that’s what you do to my knowledge.
Do you ask for a specific book or do they just send you whichever one?
Haha, the book blogger never rests!
π I know what I will be doing this weekend!
Ah, thank you, thank you, thank you! I’m so happy this helped!
This is amazing. I have been wanting to receive physical arcs but wasn’t sure how. Thanks for this! π
Yay! Ah, thank you! I really like doing them, but I think I might need a little more experience!
π It was totally fun to read. Seriously, you should do a whole line of 101 posts; they’re awesome!
-Amy
Oh my, you’re overwhelming with such sweetness! You’re too kind, I’m just glad this helped! I can’t wait to see all the awesome posts you’re going to create!
Yep, that’s a great tip! Thanks so much for commenting!
You’re probably right about what ARC stands for, but I have heard it the other way, though maybe they’re both right!
I’m so glad it helped!!! Ah, I’m so, so glad!!!!
Oh, Becca! This is really really helpful! Especially to new book bloggers like myself! I have been around the community for a while now, but not as a blogger but as a reader! π I am so glad to have started one, myself. The people are so nice and warm! π
Great post! Networking, networking, networking – I can’t emphasize that enough. I appreciate people liking my posts and commenting as well, since that is the number one way I often find other blogs to read and follow. By the way, I’ve always thought ARCs stood for Advance Reader/Reading Copy.
This is such a fantastic post! It really clears things up. π Whenever we get to the point where we want to try ARCs, I’ll remember you and come back to this post! π
-Amy
you’re welcome π
That’s very true, thank you!!!β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ
that normal, we don’t always have availability (or time/patience) to do everything as we wish, but I think that wanting and trying are enough, right? π
Hahaπ you are so nice! And thank you, I try to be as engaged as I can, but I’m not always successful π¦
(I liked it, but I’m going to comment either way… I’m nice like that) Just kidding π you posted some great advice about being more engaged π
Thanks so much! β€οΈ
Aw, no problem! That totally makes sense, I think there are actually publishing headquarters all around the world, like in London and Sydney I know Harper Collins or Penguin has. You check out there website, and it never hurts to ask!
Thank YOU for writing such an awesome and helpful post!!
And thank you so much, I really appreciate itβ€οΈβ€οΈ
Yeah, it seems like with those stats you can get most ARCs!
this is a great 101 post π
This is such a great and helpful post, thank you, Becca! I have to say, I’m a little shy about requesting books directly from publishers (well, I probably don’t have enough followers for now, anyway), because well, I’m not living in the US and I don’t know if they would ship books to international book bloggers.
Great post, thanks for all the info, really loving Book Blogging 101 π
Aw thanks for linking back to my post, I’m so happy that it’s helped so many people (:
I love this post too, I love how you mentioned the tags because I use them all the time, and I had about the same stats as you when I started requesting so I’m guessing that’s about the average most publicists look for. You did great! xx