Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Each ebook file readers download can be up to 50 MB. If you import a larger PDF from SelfPublishing.pro, we automatically build a lighter reader copy, which can take a few minutes. If a file still cannot fit, your campaign waits in review until a smaller file is attached, so readers never claim a book they cannot download.

Yes. On Browse Books and on your matched-book shelf, longer descriptions show a short preview with a Read full synopsis link. Click it to open the whole description in place, so you can decide whether the book is right for you before claiming.

Not on that page. Each book there is labelled with its genre and format so you can see what it is at a glance. To have books matched to the genres you enjoy, set your preferences in your Reader Profile and your matches will appear on your reader dashboard.

New readers start with a limit of 3 open claims at a time. Your trust score rises from reliable follow-through — finishing a book or honestly closing a claim without reviewing both count equally — and higher trust unlocks up to 8 concurrent claims. Posting a review is never required to build trust.

A disabled button means one of two things: the campaign already reached its reader cap and is no longer taking new claims, or you are currently at your own open-claims limit. If it is your limit, finish or close a book on your shelf and the Claim button becomes active again on other matches.

When you claim an ebook, you can download it as a PDF or EPUB — whichever the author uploaded, or both if they provided both formats. Your copy is watermarked with your email and date, a traceable stamp that protects the author's work. Audiobooks and paperbacks use delivery methods the author specifies, such as codes or direct shipment. Readers never pay anything to receive a copy, including postage: the author covers delivery as part of offering the book.

The author claim budget is one pre-funded balance shared by all active self-serve campaigns at $2.50 per reader claim. The budget page shows how many remaining reader slots the balance covers and any amount needed to fully fund the current caps. When the balance cannot cover another claim, new claims pause until you top up; unused budget never expires.

Yes. A live chat launcher is available in the corner of every page on the site for quick questions. For anything that needs a longer answer or follow-up, you can also use the contact form at /contact.

Yes. One account supports both roles. Set up your reader profile to start claiming books, then start a campaign to act as an author. A dashboard switcher lets you move between your reader shelf and your author campaigns at any time without needing separate accounts.

Yes. We support launch ARCs, newly published books, backlist revival, series starters, audiobooks, and paperbacks.

Authors must confirm they have the right to distribute each review copy. For KU-sensitive ebooks, we prefer approved delivery methods such as Amazon promo links, print copies, audiobook codes, or author-confirmed permitted access.

Authors buy book credits — one credit publishes one campaign — at $29 for one book, $99 for 10, or $199 for 25. Reader claims are funded separately at $2.50 per reader who claims. You choose a cap up to 100; the campaign pages show what would fund the full cap, but you pay only for actual claims and unused budget never expires.

After payment, your campaign enters a short admin review — usually within one business day. Once approved it becomes visible to matched readers and you will receive an email with a link to your live campaign.

If our team spots an issue — missing content, a compliance question, or a delivery detail that needs clarifying — we will send your campaign back to you with a note explaining what to fix. You will receive an email, and the campaign stays in your author dashboard so you can update it and resubmit. Most issues are minor and resolved in one pass.

Your campaign does not end the moment the cap fills. You will get an email letting you know the reading phase has begun, and claimed copies keep moving through downloads, reviews, and feedback. About two months later, once readers have had time to finish and review, you will receive a full wrap-up report and the campaign completes.

Sign in and open your Author Dashboard at /author/dashboard, then click View report beside the campaign. The campaign report is always current: it lists every review link a reader has submitted, with the platform and the date, plus any private feedback readers chose to share with you. You also get a weekly progress email for each running campaign, but the campaign report is the place to check for anything newer than that email.

Yes. Review Copy Club supports ebooks, paperbacks, audiobooks, launch ARCs, series starters, and already-published titles. The author chooses the delivery method and confirms they have the right to provide each review copy.

Yes. If you have a SelfPublishing.pro account with the same email, your books appear in a dropdown when you start a new campaign — title, author name, genre, cover, and file all fill in automatically. Only EPUB or PDF files carry across, so if your manuscript is a Word document, please attach an EPUB or PDF instead. You can also pull details by ISBN or by pasting an Amazon book-page URL, or just type everything in manually.

AuthorPass is a benefit for SelfPublishing.pro AuthorPass members: when you import a qualifying book from SelfPublishing.pro, we automatically set up one managed Review Copy Club campaign for it with up to 10 reader claims included. That campaign has no separate book-credit charge and no claim-budget charge — it still goes through the same admin review as any other campaign before going live.

The Campaign Fit Check is a free intake form at /campaign-fit where authors share their book stage, genre, reader cap, delivery format, budget range, and timeline. We review it and recommend the right campaign setup — or flag when a different approach would suit the book better. It is a good first step before paying for a campaign, especially if you are unsure about reader cap size or delivery rights.

Auto-reload is an optional setting on your reader budget page. Save a payment card and choose a threshold — when your balance drops below it, we automatically top it up so your active campaigns never pause mid-run for lack of funds. You set the reload amount, the trigger level, and can turn it off at any time from the budget page. If you are running several campaigns at once, How to Manage Multiple Review Copy Campaigns Without Burnout covers how to stagger them so they do not all need attention in the same week.

From your author dashboard, click "Add reader budget." Choose a preset amount ($25, $50, or $100) or enter a custom amount — the minimum top-up is $5. Pay by card and the balance is applied immediately, resuming new reader claims on any active campaigns. Unused budget never expires.

Yes. You can enter a valid promotion code when buying book credits, paying to publish a campaign, or adding claim budget. If a partner discount is already attached to your checkout, it is applied automatically instead.

No. Reviews are honest and voluntary. Readers can submit a review URL, private feedback, or close a claim without reviewing.

No. Authors pay for campaign setup, reader matching, delivery, reminders, and reporting. We do not sell reviews, stars, or positive language.

The platform separates payment for campaign services from review outcomes. Authors pay for setup, reader matching, delivery, reminders, and reporting. Readers are never paid for stars, positive wording, or a guaranteed review.

No. Reader emails and identities are private by default. Campaign messages, reminders, review URLs, and private feedback stay inside the Review Copy Club workflow so readers are not pressured by direct author follow-up.

Readers get matched with free review copies in the genres and formats they choose, with no requirement to leave a positive review or any review at all.

Go to /reader/join, pick your favourite genres, choose your preferred formats and content rating, then enter your email address. Your account is created in that one step and your matched books appear immediately — no password is required upfront. A link to set your password for future sign-ins is sent to your email.

Open your Reader Profile and use Genres to avoid, then save. Any active recommendations tagged with an excluded genre are removed, and future books with that genre will stay off your reader shelf even when they also match another genre you enjoy.

Invitation links are sent to readers from partner book platforms with your reading preferences already filled in — genres, formats, and spice level — so joining takes one click instead of filling out a profile from scratch. Review and adjust the pre-selected options, accept the honest-review pledge, and you will land directly on your matched book shelf with no separate sign-up form needed.

Readers choose genres, formats, content preferences, and review platforms. Campaigns are shown to readers whose profiles fit the book, so authors are not sending broad cold requests and readers are not asked to claim books outside their interests.

Yes. You can save your website, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), and Facebook links in your Reader Profile. They are optional and do not affect matching, claiming, or whether you can share a review.

Yes. When an author connects a signup form to a campaign, it can appear with the book on the public list and your matched-book shelf. Joining the author’s list is optional and separate from claiming a review copy.

Your reader shelf tracks your reading impact — books finished, authors helped, and genres explored — and awards badges as you hit milestones: First Finish (1 book), Avid Reader (5 books), Genre Explorer (3 genres), and Reliable Reader (3 completed claims). Badges reflect reading and follow-through, not how many reviews you post, so closing a claim without a review counts the same as submitting one.

Yes. Readers may submit a public review URL, share private feedback with the campaign, or close a claim without reviewing. If an Amazon link clearly identifies a different book, or points to a review already counted for a different book, it is held for a person to check rather than counted, and the reader can submit the correct link. Honest participation matters more than forcing a public review.

Yes. Readers may receive a one-time email when an active campaign matches their profile; a book they have already claimed will not trigger another invitation. After claiming, readers get a gentle reminder around two weeks, another after marking a book finished, and a close-the-loop reminder around one month if no finish is recorded. Authors receive weekly progress emails for active campaigns and a final wrap-up when each campaign closes.