With more than 20 million members by 2014, and many times that today, Goodreads is the most popular website for book lovers. For major publishers, promotion on Goodreads has become a must. But how can self-published authors use the "Facebook of books"? Here are the three most important steps.
1. Join the Author Program
Register as an ordinary reader first, then search for your book and claim your author profile. Approval usually takes a few days. With an author account you can add a biography and photo, list all your books, link your blog so new posts appear on your profile, and answer reader questions. A complete, friendly profile tells readers there is a real person behind the book.
2. Earn reviews
Why do reviews matter so much? Surveys of book buyers consistently find that recommendations and reviews are among the biggest factors in choosing what to read next. To build reviews on Goodreads, engagement is everything:
- Ask. If you are active in a group, there is nothing wrong with politely inviting members to read and review your book. Never offer payment or rewards for positive reviews.
- Give. Goodreads Giveaways put copies in readers' hands, and many winners go on to post a review. Giveaways became a paid service in 2018, so compare the cost with other promotion before you commit.
- Invite. Add a Goodreads badge or link to your website, newsletter and social profiles so existing fans know where to leave a rating.
Remember that every author gets some bad reviews. Do not argue with reviewers; thank readers in general and move on.
3. Join groups and discussions
Groups on Goodreads bring together readers with similar tastes in a genre or niche. They are not meant for advertising, so do not push your book too hard. But if you write in a particular genre, join the groups devoted to it and take part regularly by answering questions and joining discussions. You can also host an "Ask the Author" session or a read-along when a new book comes out. Over time, readers who enjoy talking with you become the readers who buy your next book.
A note for genre authors
Niche genres have some of the most loyal communities on Goodreads. Thriller writers whose books are set in casinos, card rooms or Las Vegas, for example, will find active shelves and lists devoted to gambling fiction and poker books. Tag your book accurately, add it to the relevant lists and talk to those readers where they already gather. For research help on getting those scenes right, read how to write a believable casino scene.
More free promotion ideas are collected on our Free Book Promotion Resources for Authors page.
