Writing Craft Guide

How to Use NetGalley as an Author

NetGalley is a platform where publishers and authors distribute digital galleys (advance reader copies) to professional readers — book reviewers, librarians, booksellers, educators, and journalists. A well-managed NetGalley campaign delivers early reviews on Goodreads and Amazon before publication, builds trade awareness, and generates the kind of credibility that comes from reviews by book industry professionals rather than just casual readers.

500,000+

Active members on NetGalley

60–90 days

Pre-publication window to list a title

Librarians first

The professional segment that converts fastest

Running a successful NetGalley campaign

What NetGalley is and who uses it

NetGalley is a distribution platform for digital advance reader copies (ARCs). Its membership consists primarily of book reviewers, librarians, booksellers, educators, and journalists, the professional reader category that influences acquisition decisions and early trade coverage. It is not a consumer review platform like Goodreads, and it is not primarily an author marketing tool like BookTok. Its value is pre-publication credibility with industry gatekeepers rather than consumer-facing buzz. Publishers list titles 60 to 90 days before publication; readers request access; publishers approve or decline. Approved readers download the galley and are encouraged to leave feedback within the platform.

Listing your book, the essential metadata

A NetGalley listing that does not convert requests almost always has one of three problems: a weak cover, weak trade copy in the description field, or incorrect genre categorization. Treat the description field exactly like the back cover of a trade paperback: it should create desire, not explain the plot. Your publication date must be accurate, listing a book with a publication date that has already passed signals to professional readers that the campaign was badly managed. Comp titles should be specific and published in the last three to five years. Category selection should be accurate, not aspirational.

Setting your availability window correctly

The availability window is the period during which professional readers can request your galley. Setting it too short means you miss librarians and booksellers who plan acquisitions on longer timelines. Setting it too long means your request volume is spread thin and the listing loses urgency. The standard professional window is 60 to 90 days before publication. Some authors run a second shorter window closer to publication for reviewers who are targeting launch-day coverage. You can control the window dates after listing and adjust them if your publication date changes.

The difference between NetGalley and iWrity ARC campaigns

NetGalley is a trade platform with a fixed professional reader membership. iWrity ARC campaigns distribute to your own reader community, subscribers, fans, social followers, who have opted in to receive early copies. The two approaches are complementary rather than competing. NetGalley builds trade credibility with librarians and booksellers. iWrity ARC campaigns build Goodreads and Amazon review volume from engaged readers who are already primed to enjoy the book. Most authors running a serious pre-publication campaign use both, launching the NetGalley listing first and the reader ARC campaign in the final four to six weeks before publication.

Following up on pending requests without annoying reviewers

NetGalley shows you a dashboard of approved, pending, and declined requests along with feedback status for approved readers. The temptation is to send follow-up messages to approved readers who have not submitted feedback. Do this sparingly. One follow-up message near your publication date is appropriate. Multiple messages will result in readers marking your title as 'Did Not Finish' without feedback, which harms your feedback ratio. The feedback ratio affects your visibility in NetGalley's search results, so a lower ratio from irritated readers is actively counterproductive.

Using NetGalley reviews to pitch to booksellers and librarians

Positive feedback from NetGalley's librarian and bookseller segments is genuinely useful pitch material. When contacting independent bookstores or library systems for events or wholesale orders, a quote from a librarian reviewer carries weight that a consumer Goodreads review does not. You can export feedback from the NetGalley dashboard and use quotes in your media kit. If a NetGalley reviewer is a recognized name in your genre community, a prominent blogger, a trade publication contributor, ask directly whether you may use their feedback as a blurb. Many will agree.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does NetGalley cost?

NetGalley charges publishers and authors to list titles. Individual title listings start at around $450 per title for a six-month window, though pricing varies by plan and whether you are listing as an independent author or through a publisher account. Co-op programs run by organizations like IBPA offer discounted access for indie authors. The cost is justified if you are targeting library acquisitions or pre-publication trade reviews rather than consumer reviews alone.

Does NetGalley work for self-published authors?

Yes, but with lower baseline request volume than traditionally published titles. NetGalley's professional reader base responds most strongly to books from recognized publishers. Self-published authors can improve their conversion rate by investing in professional cover design, strong metadata, and category-accurate comp titles. Listing through an IBPA or similar co-op reduces the cost and lends some institutional credibility to the listing.

How do I get more requests on NetGalley?

Cover quality is the single biggest driver of request volume. After that: a compelling book description that reads like trade copy (not marketing copy), accurate genre categorization, and a realistic publication date at least 60 days out. Actively promote your NetGalley listing in author newsletters, genre communities, and on your website. Some authors run limited approval windows to create urgency. The feedback ratio, the percentage of readers who leave feedback, also affects visibility in search results.

Do negative reviews on NetGalley hurt my book?

A genuinely negative review from a trade professional signals a problem the book has before it reaches its main audience, which is useful information at the galley stage. NetGalley reviews are not indexed by Amazon or Goodreads by default; they are only visible on the NetGalley platform. If a reviewer chooses to cross-post a negative review to Goodreads independently, that is outside your control regardless of whether the book was listed on NetGalley.

How do NetGalley reviews relate to Amazon reviews?

They are separate systems. NetGalley reviews live on the NetGalley platform and are written for trade professionals, not consumers. Reviewers who receive an ARC via NetGalley may choose to post a review on Amazon or Goodreads after reading, but they are not required to and many do not. You cannot import NetGalley reviews to Amazon. The value of NetGalley is pre-publication trade credibility and early Goodreads activity, not Amazon review count.

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