Edelweiss is most definitely one of my favorite e-galley sites from which to request titles. In fact, I reviewed some of my very first eARCS from this site, and I’ve come to love it so much! I know many bloggers don’t like it and get confused; I agree, it’s hard to find things you need if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
I didn’t start really using Edelweiss until a few months ago because I had never heard of it, and I had absolutely no idea how to use it. Lucky for you, I decided (with some decision-making help from friends on Twitter) to write up some tips / basic tutorials on how to tackle this baby.
Here’s a sort-of-quick tutorial as to how I request titles:
- Here’s your home page. It’s pretty confusing-looking, isn’t it? Fear not.
2. Head over to the “Review Copies” tab towards the top. This is where you’ll see all the review copies that you potentially could request and download.
3. This is optional, but since I generally read Young Adult books, I always filter my results on the left hand sidebar by Age: Young Adult. You can definitely filter it more, by publisher, publication date, etc. Totally up to you!
4. So you’ve found a title you’d like to request, huh? Hit that blue “Request Digital RC” button. Sometimes it’s green, which means that you can automatically download it.
5. So this is where you’re going to tell the publisher why you want to read their book. In the first box, introduce yourself briefly! Tell them your name, your blog / url, stats, etc. In the second box, you can tell the them why you want to read it. Are you participating in a blog tour for this book? Are you a huge fan of the author’s previous works? Tell them!
6. If the publisher approves you for the title, YAY!!!! This is how you download it: Under the “Review Copies” tab, you can find all the titles you have requested. There will be a list of titles you’ve been approved for. Click the title of the book you’ve requested and been approved for.
Note: Don’t forget to add to your Amazon Kindle email list the Edelweiss email so that the files can be sent to your Kindle/Cloud. If you don’t, the titles won’t be sent to your device! If you don’t have it, here is the email: kindle@abovethetreeline.com
7. Click the green “Download Review Copy”! In a few moments, you’ll get an email from Amazon saying that the title has been sent to your Cloud.
8. When you’ve read the title, make sure you leave a review! Go back to the previous screen or the book’s page. Click on the “Your Review” option.
9. You should see the below screen. Fill out your rating, the box for your review, and click “Submit to Publisher.” You can also submit to IndieNext if you want. Don’t forget to save!
So that’s the basis of Edelweiss. If you have any questions, feel free to comment or reach out to me on twitter: @arcticbookss!
So you know how to request and potentially be approved for titles. Here are some tips I’ve accumulated:
- Make sure you ONLY request galleys you really want to read. If you do request a title, please try to read and review it! Sometimes you get busy and that’s okay but really try not to stress yourself out with reviewing galleys.
- Some publishers don’t use Edelweiss. Those publishers don’t (to my knowledge) approve requests, but they do use other systems, such as Netgalley or their own e-galley system; I know Penguin doesn’t use Edelweiss and instead uses their First To Read program, which is sort of difficult to get approved for because they do a first-request-first-serve sort of thing.
- Be patient! Publishing agents are busy. If they don’t approve right away, it’s okay. Try again in a few weeks, and perhaps add more information in your two boxes.
- If you don’t get approved for a title (I know a few publishers don’t like me), that’s okay as well! Next time, try to make your autobiography (the first box) better (as in keep growing your blog!) or request fewer titles (excessive requests can deter some publishers from approving you).
- When you submit your review for a galley, I recommend emailing the publisher’s Children’s publicity agent the review as well. You can find the publicity agent’s email on the publisher’s website.
That’s all I have to share! If you have any requests for tutorials, more tips regarding ARCs/blogging, please let me know! I’d be happy to share what I know!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS! ❤ I'm not on Edelweiss yet, but I'm thinking about joining, because well… BOOKS. It seemed a little complicated though, so I'm so, so happy about this post. Thank you! 🙂
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IM SO HAPPY YOU LIKED IT YOURE SO WELCOME!!!!
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I just subscribed to Edelweiss, and I’m using your tutorial again to find out how everything just works. Thought I’d let you know, because this is REALLY helpful, I don’t know how I’d do without it, except stare at my screen and wonder where I am, hahaha. Thank you, again! ❤
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Ahh, yay! Thank you Marie! I’m glad I could help 🙂
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Thank you so much for this! I just marked this post as favorite so I could go back when I need it.
I never created an Edelweiss account since I know it’s hard to use, but I do use Netgalley and I’m loving it.
I am thinking about trying Edelweiss.
As I understtod, you can read their arcs only via kindle, am I right?
If yes, that’s a bummer since I prefer nook, but I also have kindle app on my tablet so it is not such a bih problem, but still…
And I totally agree with you when you say you should request only those books you are geerally interested in.
I feel like haveing too many ARCs can be suffocating.
Plus, I think it is better for your future as a blogger to review books you requested, so the publisher will approve you again.
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Aww, I’m so glad you liked it! Thank you!! 🙂 I personally don’t use Netgalley as often but I know that many bloggers use it so perhaps I’ll start using it again! And yes, but I think there’s a way to download it and read it on your computer but I’m not sure. Thanks for visiting!! 🙂
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EEK THANK YOU. Edelweiss looks so confusing and scary whenever I visit it…so a tutorial is so helpful!
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you’re welcome!!! 🙂 I’m happy to be able to help!
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I usually prefer NetGalley but this was very useful, will definitely give it a try!
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Thank you!! Hope you like it as much as Netgalley!
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Hi! I nominated you for The Infinity Dream Award!
http://wp.me/p6X2Kh-2W
Sorry if you have already done it
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Thank you! 🙂
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Your welcome!☺
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Ah some of these tips are fab! I’m just wondering, what are the benefits of emailing the publisher’s publicity agent the review? I mean, isn’t there an option to write a review on Edelweiss itself?
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I usually do it because it’s a more direct way to get it to the publisher, and it’s a second way to get your review to the publisher in case Edelweiss doesn’t work! But yeah, you don’t have to haha
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Ahh okay cool – I’ll definitely use that in future! Thanks for the tip, Ali! 🙂
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[…] I gathered some Edelweiss Tutorial & Tips. […]
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Excellent post! I loved it!
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Thank you!!
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This is a great guide for people new to Edelweiss! I remember being terrified when I originally made an account haha. ❤
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Oh, thank you so much! I’m glad people are generally liking it! 🙂
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Hey
Thanks for the tutorial. I have been approved for some titles on edelweiss but I can’t see the link to Download a copy. Very confused.
Also, I don’t have a Kindle ID. Is that an issue?
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Hm, that’s interesting. Have you tried going into the “Requests” tab and clicking on the title itself to download it? Also, yes, that is a problem. What do you mean you don’t have a Kindle ID? Like you don’t have a Kindle?
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Yup. Thanks but I solved the issue.
Also, since I’m a novice when it comes to Edelweiss ( more of a Netgalley user), do they have an Archive Date before which we need to finish the book?
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I believe the Archive Date is the day the book is published.
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Yes, that’s what it is but is it true that it is preferable for us to submit reviews before this archive date?
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Yes, it is!
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I see. Thanks 🙂
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No problem! 🙂
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[…] If you don’t get approved for an ARC, don’t worry! Don’t give up! Continue building up your audience and your stats, and you’ll get there! 🙂 If you want, you can also request digital ARCs on Netgalley or Edelweiss. I personally prefer the latter, and I also have a tutorial and tips on Edelweiss here. […]
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I signed up to Edelweiss months ago but omg, the interface system LOOKED so confusing that I left and haven’t been back yet. I want to start using it but I just haven’t had time to read ARC’s which sucks. Thanks for another awesome guide, this is really helpful!
Jordon @ Simply Adrift
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No problem! I know it can be confusing but I’m glad I could help you out!
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Harper Collins is love! I don’t usually get approved for other galleys, but HC is an exception. ❤
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I love HC as well! They were one of the first pubs to give me access to a few eARCs and I can’t thank them enough for giving me a chance! 🙂
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[…] Edelweiss Tutorials and Tips from Arctic Books […]
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This was extremely helpful! Thank you! I just requested three books, we’ll see if I get approved for any. Thanks again!
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Thank you! Good luck! 😀
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I’m recently relearning how to use Edelweiss and this post was helpful despite them migrating and redesigning their website!
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Glad you found it useful! 🙂
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[…] If you’re interested in checking out my old Edelweiss tutorial, check out this link here. […]
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I am the moderator of a Goodreads group for Edelweiss Reviewers. If you haven’t joined already, then consider this your formal invitation. https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/174106-edelweiss-reviewers
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I made an account last night, applied for an arc I am dying to get my hands on and was rejected the next morning LOL. I wish I had read this before applying, I think I might have filled out the form a bit more appealingly…! As a non blogger/goodreads reviewer only I don’t know how good my chances were in the first place, maybe it’s time to start a blog 👀
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