Why You Should Do A Goodreads Giveaway
When I talk to authors about what sort of promotion they are doing for their novels, I hear mostly “I’m posting on Twitter and my Facebook page.” Occasionally I’ll hear they do a post on Google+ or something on LinkedIn. I’ll also hear about doing ads on BookBub, ENT and sites like that. What I’m surprised is I don’t hear more activity happening on Goodreads.
You see, Goodreads is where readers go to find books that their friends are reading. Yes, there are a lot of authors there, but there are even more readers. I believe it’s important to branch out into different social media networks because you never know where you’ll find that next loyal customer.
Which leads me to why you should do a Giveaway on Goodreads. For the price of your book, mine average about $4.50 on Create Space, and shipping to the winner, I essentially have an “ad” for under $10 that runs on Goodreads for about two months. It sits there, it pops up occasionally, I can promote my giveaway and then people have the ability to enter AND THEN also have the ability to put it on their shelf to read if they like. If they do this, then it sits, for free, as a sort of ad, on their shelf that their friends can also see they are interested in reading.
I’ve done quite a few giveaways on Goodreads. I offer out my ARC Copies that might have some errors (which I make very clear to the winner) and it allows me to get exposure without having to run an actual ad. (and it allows me to get rid of the copies I won’t actually sell)
Here are some results of some Goodreads Giveaways I’ve done for three of my books:
I finished one yesterday for my thriller THE HUNT FOR XANADU and 616 people entered.
In November 2013 I did one for my dark fantasy novel THE WORLD OF KAROV and 510 people entered.
I did another one for my YA thriller, FLYING TO THE LIGHT and 623 people entered.
These are people who may never have come across my books before and if you’re lucky, the winners will leave a review for you as well.
So think about going on Goodreads today and creating a giveaway. Just remember, it needs to be a hard copy. You can give out as many books as you wish. I do just one so I can spread it around, but I see more people seem to enter when there are multiple copies to win. Totally your call. And while you’re at it, go enter a few giveaways, too. I’ve won some myself and it’s a great way to read a new author.
Now, for anyone interested, on 8/30 I’m doing an online book launch event for FLYING TO THE FIRE, which is Book #2 in my YA Deaf Thriller series. It’s all online and I’ll be giving out prizes for interaction. Please click and join here – you don’t need to purchase the novel – just come for fun! https://www.facebook.com/events/669594469785008/
