How to hit the 80 percent NetGalley feedback ratio

NetGalley’s recommended Feedback Ratio is 80 percent.

Hit that ratio with 20 approved titles, and you obtain a badge — though it can be taken away if you drop below the recommended Feedback Ratio.

Here are my tips to hit an 80% Feeback Ratio and stay there — and a few reasons why it might not matter after all.

Have fun until you get there

Everything you read and review before you hit your 80 percent Feedback Ratio is for fun. Request a few titles after you review a few Read Nows, but don’t go overboard.

I daresay NetGalley is worth it just for the Read Nows and occasional requesting, but then I didn’t join NetGalley just for the advanced reader copies (ARCs).

I use NetGalley for other purposes, so I’m not super disappointed when a book I request is denied (especially if that publisher has a lot of requirements for free publicity, ’cause I know they paid NetGalley big bucks to be listed).

But if you’re on NetGalley like reviewing books is a full-time job, you better be making a full-time income like you would at a full-time job.

If it’s just your hobby and it’s not that fun, why even are you doing it?

Read Now titles definitely do count

Read Now titles count toward your approval count. The Read Now titles you review count toward your feedback sent count. Both of these counts count toward your Feedback Ratio.

I’ve been watching it like a hawk, and it’s simple:

1. I look at my profile stats.
2. I press the “Read Now” button.
3. Refresh my profile stats.
4. +1 approved.
5. I review one Read Now title.
6. Refresh my profile stats.
7. +1 feedback sent + slight Feedback Ratio increase

Your. Read. Now. titles. COUNT.

Don’t pretend like they’re the side pieces that don’t mean anything — RIP your TBR and your Feedback Ratio.

But this means you can use it to your advantage.

Read and review short Read Nows + a few requests.

Children’s books and graphic novels are great for this — but make sure those graphic novels aren’t 300+ pages unless you really want to read it.

Granted, if you don’t have any interest in reviewing children’s books long-term, this may be a turn off for you.

They’re like NetGalley’s extra credit assignment. Take advantage and raise your Feedback Ratio. Worst case scenario, you read a 70-page children’s book, review it well and add to your reading/review portfolio.

I requested only seven of my first 20 titles.

Be selective in what you request.

Every genre I wanted to request a book from, I made sure I had already read and reviewed a Read Now — or that I had it in my bio and had covered something like it on my blog, like if it was autism- or menstrual-related.

NetGalley says your bio should be like your professional reader resume, but I’ve found including personal bits about myself — autistic, Jesus follower in questioning, DID system, lesbian — helps me quite a bit.

The publishers who are bothered by that are the ones missing out — not me. I don’t think I’d have been approved for Unclobber or Unmasking Autism if I hadn’t listed those things in my “professional reader resume”.

The relationship between book bloggers and the publishing industry is one that, despite everything, I struggle to comprehend.

Although ARCs have no monetary value, they still cost the company to make.

Book bloggers should be paid — especially since, like every other blogger, “free stuff for review” is not actually free, and there are taxes on those things in certain countries (ask an accountant).

I’m not going to get all into it, because that’s a whole other post, but ultimately…calling it a “professional reader resume” is a joke.

NetGalley gets paid big bucks to list those books. Publishing companies have marketing budgets and plans.

Non-book bloggers and influencers have leveraged this fact, so they do get paid. Publishing companies view book bloggers as free publicity.

You can list your stats and remain professional on your reviewer bio, but putting yourself at the mercy of publishers just because it’s free books gives them all the power. Be awesome. Make them want you.

The publishers from whom you request ARCs are selective.

Be selective right back. Level up your reviews, make sure they’re awesome. Demand your worth, even if you don’t get paid for it.

Don’t take it too seriously and have fun.

If it’s not fun, don’t do it.

I hate having to disclose on Amazon because I can never get the wording right. I don’t want to create accounts for retailers just to leave book reviews. It’s too much for me to keep up with and takes my time away from doing things I actually enjoy.

I’m not going to go out of my way to market a product for free because a company expects it of me. There’s no transaction or contract.

The only reason I care about having an 80 percent Feedback Ratio is because it gamifies the NetGalley experience.

I’m more likely to be approved when I request books — and I get a badge — if I have the recommended Feedback Ratio.

As with online trading card games, I want to collect them all — and then the game will be over. I’ll have played and won.

Does having an 80% Feedback Ratio on NetGalley matter to you? Why or why not?

This post is linked up to the Book Blog Discussion Challenge.