Want to get your first book reviews before launch—even if you don’t already have a big audience?

In this video, I’m walking through the ARC strategy I would use to build a realistic path toward your first 25 honest book reviews. We’ll cover how many advance reader copies to send, how to find the right readers, how to build an ARC application, where to find ARC readers if you have no audience yet, what review rules you need to follow, and the exact email sequence I would use before launch.

I also break down a full six-week ARC timeline, plus a two-week emergency version if your release date is already close.

The goal is not to collect five-star reviews from friends or pressure people into reviewing. It is to find readers who genuinely enjoy books like yours, give them enough time to read, and make the review process simple and respectful.

If you are a first-time author, indie author, or self-published writer preparing for a book launch, this video will help you create a more organized ARC and review strategy.

In this video, you’ll learn:

▪️How many ARC copies to send if you want 25 reviews

▪️Why reader fit matters more than simply finding “reviewers”

▪️When your manuscript is ready for ARC readers

▪️How to create a simple ARC application

▪️Where to find ARC readers

▪️What to do if you have no existing audience

▪️Common ARC mistakes to avoid

▪️Important review rules and ethical considerations

▪️How to prepare your ARC campaign

▪️The email sequence I use for ARC readers

▪️A six-week ARC launch plan

▪️A two-week emergency launch plan

If you’re preparing for a launch right now, tell me in the comments: How many ARC readers do you currently have?

And if your answer is “none yet,” watch this video next: https://youtu.be/6_njL2bca1M?si=jaL3mri7UrwkaWPj

Subscribe for more practical videos about writing, self-publishing, book marketing, ARC teams, book launches, and building a sustainable author career.

🚀 Publisher Rocket – My favorite keyword research tool for authors (affiliate): https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=539______FOLLOW ME ON SUBSTACK: https://diaryofanauthor.substack.comMY BOOKS:📙 A New Chapter by the Canal https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/255267123-a-new-chapter-by-the-canal 📓 Library of Eternity https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245897025-library-of-eternity📘 The 66-Day Writing Challenge: Build a Sustainable Writing Habit with Daily Prompts https://a.co/d/8rAAeng🎧 Flykten - ljudbok https://www.storytel.com/se/books/flykten-2255091📔 Essäer om skrivande och vardagsflykt https://amzn.eu/d/0eUeZSLTMy name is Natalie Forslind, I am a writing coach, author, and Growth Markter who teaches writers how to become more productive and market themselves online.Some of the links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the channel!✨Timestamps ✨

00:00 Intro

03:00 How many ARCs to send?

05:00 Look for readers, not reviewers

07:27 Your ARC needs to be ready

08:36 How to build an ARC application

10:20 Where to find ARC readers

12:56 Common mistakes

14:47 If you don’t have an audience

18:13 Rules you need to follow

19:34 How to prepare

20:42 My email sequence

23:26 Six-week plan

27:48 Two-week launch plan

29:53 Key takeaways