Anyone using goodreads to promote books

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I joined goodreads a while back.  I see lot of members. Is this a good place to promote books? I don't know exactly how it works. I don't even understand how to upload new book covers.

I would expect quite a few KB authors on goodreads. Please share your experience, if any. Thanks.

[opuscroakus]

I joined goodreads a while back.  I see lot of members. Is this a good place to promote books? I don't know exactly how it works. I don't even understand how to upload new book covers.

I would expect quite a few KB authors on goodreads. Please share your experience, if any. Thanks.

I've talked to the Goodreads staff, and the first thing they will tell you is that it's NOT for promotional purposes--it's for readers to share their book choices.

I've never found it good for promotion, because I don't have any print versions of my books currently, but for those who do, Goodreads seems to provide an adequate resource for organising book giveaways.

[TLH]

I'm in the middle of a giveaway there. We'll see if it translates into sales or reviews.

[sabrinasumsion]

I haven't tried to use goodreads either.  I'm posting mostly so I can see answer from TLH on whether it translated into anything.   

Anyone have thoughts on Authors Den?

[ChrisHoward]

I've been on GoodReads for a little while, but I just use it rank books I like and keep track of the ones I've read. I do have print editions of a two of my books, so I'm going to look into book give-aways!

Chris

[alan nayes]

i'm on goodreads,also, but mainly to post a blog entry every now and then and post reviews. it's a good site, though. lots of readers!

[MeiLinMiranda]

I'm on Goodreads with an author page yadda yadda. I've done a couple of book giveaways, I have my RSS feed going into my Goodreads blog. I don't know if it helps, but I figure every bit of exposure doesn't hurt.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I haven't tried to use goodreads either.  I'm posting mostly so I can see answer from TLH on whether it translated into anything.   
Anyone have thoughts on Authors Den?

I had been on Authors Den for quite a while. I have not been able to use for promotion. Various discussion boards seems to work better. But what do I know about marketing.
BTW what is TLH?

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I've talked to the Goodreads staff, and the first thing they will tell you is that it's NOT for promotional purposes--it's for readers to share their book choices.
I've never found it good for promotion, because I don't have any print versions of my books currently, but for those who do, Goodreads seems to provide an adequate resource for organising book giveaways.

Thanks for your input Opus. I have given away couple books for review.  And I am willing to give more if some one will be interested in reviewing any of my nonfiction titles.

However, I have seen buy button for all the books I have listed there. So it must be more than giveaways...

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I'm in the middle of a giveaway there. We'll see if it translates into sales or reviews.

How did it go? Did you get any sales or reviews?

I usually giveaway free to those who agree to review. My offer is open to anyone who is interested in any of my titles.

[Andrew Biss]

I also have a giveaway going on their right now. It’ll be a while before I can gauge any sales help it may have had. But it is a good way for me to judge the interest level in my book (by the number of people requesting it). It’s been very encouraging to see the amount of people who’ve entered to win one of 5 copies I’m offering, especially as my book is literary fiction, not genre.

If you do a giveaway at Librarything you don’t need a paperback version of your book like you do on Goodreads - ebook is fine. Also, you can specifically ask for reviews to be solicited by giveaway winners in the giveaway listing. How many winners actually do write a review is another matter. I think I read on her somewhere it was between 5 and 10%.

[Mike Dennis]

I've been on Goodreads for a while now. I did a giveaway of about 10 books - 1 review. The whole site seems very unwieldy, difficult to navigate. I participate in some of the discussions, but nothing on that site seems to lead anywhere.

Author's Den has resulted in zero.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I've been on Goodreads for a while now. I did a giveaway of about 10 books - 1 review. The whole site seems very unwieldy, difficult to navigate. I participate in some of the discussions, but nothing on that site seems to lead anywhere.
Author's Den has resulted in zero.

I am member of both groups. I agree with the way you feel. There is something missing. I honestly don't know what to do with these groups. This thread was to ease this frustration by having some understanding.

[ascepticalmedium]

I am on Goodreads and have done reviews on new books there for people, but I find they ignore mine as they aren't fiction. They are good at supporting new writers if they know you and if you write fiction, but I have been on there months and find it hasn't helped me at all

[Steve Vernon]

I've had some good experience with Goodreads, but I believe that it has a bit to do with the fact that I have some traditional books as well as e-books listed.

[samanthawarren]

I've started really using Goodreads in the last month or so. From what I can tell, it's a lot like Twitter in the promotional sense. You need to be more active than just promoting your books. Groups will often have a spot for the authors in their group to post their books, but they don't want you spamming their forums. The more active you are as a reader, I think the more success you'll have as an author. Just my .02.

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I've started really using Goodreads in the last month or so. From what I can tell, it's a lot like Twitter in the promotional sense. You need to be more active than just promoting your books. Groups will often have a spot for the authors in their group to post their books, but they don't want you spamming their forums. The more active you are as a reader, I think the more success you'll have as an author. Just my .02.

I don't know what to do with twitter either, as far as books are concerned.

If goodreads is for readers, then shouldn't that be good for authors...

[CJArcher]

I've started really using Goodreads in the last month or so. From what I can tell, it's a lot like Twitter in the promotional sense. You need to be more active than just promoting your books. Groups will often have a spot for the authors in their group to post their books, but they don't want you spamming their forums. The more active you are as a reader, I think the more success you'll have as an author. Just my .02.

What Samantha said    I join in some group discussions once in a while and post a promo thread in the appropriate spot if I have sale on.  Just did one now as a matter of fact.  I have a profile with all my books up etc, and I've noticed from my blog stats that I sometimes get a visitor from my Goodreads profile.  I don't think it hurts to have another presence, just don't spam.

[Kathleen Valentine]

I'm on Goodreads with an author page yadda yadda. I've done a couple of book giveaways, I have my RSS feed going into my Goodreads blog. I don't know if it helps, but I figure every bit of exposure doesn't hurt.

That about sums up my experience, too.

[Victorine]

I did three book giveaways with Not What She Seems last year. I can't pinpoint any large sale increases from it, but I'm sure it didn't hurt. I did the giveaways in conjunction with a lot of other promotions. Each giveaway had over 1,000 people signed up for it, and quite a few people added my book to their "to be read" lists. Two out of the three winners left me positive reviews.

I can say that I noticed a small dip in sales, and when I looked at everything I was doing or not doing, I figured out I did not have a book signed up for a giveaway at that time, so I went ahead with the third one.

But my sales were a slow build, and I can't confirm that the giveaway in and of itself was a huge sale booster, but it probably did help overall with the daily build of sales. In my opinion, it was a low cost advertising that was definitely worth it.

Hope that helps.

Vicki

[samanthawarren]

I did three book giveaways with Not What She Seems last year. I can't pinpoint any large sale increases from it, but I'm sure it didn't hurt. I did the giveaways in conjunction with a lot of other promotions. Each giveaway had over 1,000 people signed up for it, and quite a few people added my book to their "to be read" lists. Two out of the three winners left me positive reviews.

I've never used Goodreads for giveaways. Do you have any suggestions on getting the most out of it?