Using NetGalley To Get Reviews: What Have We Learned?

Over the last year BooksGoSocial has been using NetGalley to help our authors get reviews for their titles.
This presentation goes through what we've learned from the process, who does best on the platform, and how to make sure your book is ready for the service to increase your chance at reviews.
If you have any questions or want to get started with our NetGalley service, please email us at [e-mail] and we’ll be happy to help.

[@susanbuckminster282]

Thank you!

[@lindacgrace2973]

Dear Liz: That has NOT been my experience with NetGalley! On Reedsy Discovery, I have a 4.5 star average, on GoodReads a 4.0, on NetGalley the average is 2.5 (which subsequently lowered my GoodReads reviews). I was eviscerated because my book "isn't a real romance" (I write clean romance) and "I got one-third of the way through the book and there were no suitors." Uhm, my heroine turns down an offer of marriage from a pretentious jerk, meets the man she falls in love with by page 23, and after a couple of chapters of witty banter, has her first proper date with him by page 74. So, I'm baffled. She was furious that my heroine broke up with her first love and - ultimately - had a lovely slow-burn romance with the man who became her husband. My professionally designed cover that got thumbs-up on PickFu surveys and from publicists as being "on genre" was given a resounding thumbs-down on NetGalley. I got 321 impressions, 54 'clicks to read', and five reviews (one of which was a phishing scam posing as a review). One 2-star, two 3-star, and one 4-star reviews for a whopping 2.5 overall rating. I'm now officially doomed and the 4- and 5-star ratings on other platforms are not saving the situation. What the hell am I supposed to make of that?

[@BooksGoSocial]

Linda, I am sorry you got that poor review from a NetGalley reviewer.

[@ns4499]

Hi , could you please tell me ,how can I get Physical arc via netgalley ?

[@BooksGoSocial]

Sorry, they don't do that!

[@veganonajourney]

Hey. How can I get my book displayed on this page?

[@danielmount6928]

Liz, you are adorable.

[@mercedeshayes]

Following up on reviewers? This sounds like you should "nudge" them to review if they haven't, or in other words, be a pest. I thought this was a big No-no???