How do Goodreads users find their next great read?

[Tara Woods Turner]

In the following article Goodreads breaks down the results of a study they conducted to better understand how its readers discover great new books. It is not only interesting but it can help indies target their marketing and promotion strategies.

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/3...

[M.L.]

Thank, Tara, that's interesting. I guess the GR group reads could probably fit under friends possibly? I've found a lot through the group reads - it's a good way to discover authors especially genre-specific. The SF Fantasy and Crime clubs in particular have been great sources. I've also found some of my favorite authors and books through direct friend recommendations.

[Tara Woods Turner]

I agree. It's also another reason authors should participate in gr reader groups and not just focus on promoting. I've found great books based on recommendations from people who've read my reviews and scanned my shelves.

[Quantum]

To oversimplify, it's thru word-of-mouth.

[Tara Woods Turner]

...exactly.
*pushes Annie's easy button*

[Luca]

Goodmorning (at least on my time zone :-) eh eh

I am quite new on GoodReads and I have to admit I did not know about this social until I started being interested in promoting.

I do am trying to provide content more than ads. I can see myself not being interested in authors that are only promoting. But I can understand them. We have spent considerable time trying to share something, and we believe in our messages.

Anyway, the article is interesting and good advice's are always welcome :-)

I am wondering whether you consider blog on GR also a good way of guiding GR users whether specific reads.

Wish you all a very pleasant day

Ciao!

[Annie]

Tara wrote: "*pushes Annie's easy button*"

Hey! I'm not easy!! Well, I suppose it totally depends on how good your cookies are...

(Does that not sound even dirtier than even I intended it to? LMAO!!)

Thank you so much for sharing this article, Miss Tara! I totally agree with participating in GR groups. Umm. Actually, I don't think I've done any "real" promoting at all, outside of posting in R2R threads, of course.

Personally, I've read and reviewed for authors out of my genre simply cuz I saw them help others (yeah, yeah, I'm a suck haha!) and I've had authors do the same for me. It's like we're all just paying it forward...

*sways happily*

Hugs,
Ann

[Tara Woods Turner]

Welcome Luca! Agree with you about balancing promoting with interacting with readers. I also love the fact that gr gives us authors a chance to blog on their platform. I'm getting to the point where I'm beginning to grow more comfortable with the thought of blogging and gr is such a comfortable, supportive environment. Use your blog to create relationships by sharing content - let people get to know you. There are so many great threads here loaded with valuable info. Reach out night or day and any one of us will be not only happy but thrilled to help in any way that we can!

[Tara Woods Turner]

Annie wrote: It's like we're all just paying it forward...

Indeed and it feels great! Nothing quite like gr, imo.
*joins sway line*

[Annie]

@Mr Luca: Eeek! I was on my phone and totally didn't see your post!! Sooo sorry!

First things first, Hiiiii! And welcome!

Personally, I "blog" on my author site but also duplicate some posts here too. I call it a "blog" because I just write extra fiction for readers vs actually blogging any info, but kinda the same effect...?

It takes a bit of time to sniff out all the different resources on GR for sure! As Miss Tara said, let us know if we can help!! ^_^

Hugs,
Ann

EDIT: I can't type right now... *sobs*

[Quantum]

Luca wrote: "I am wondering whether you consider blog on GR also a good way of guiding GR users whether specific reads."


buongiorno, Luca.

i haven't tried it, but from what i've seen Ann do and what i've read, it would seem like a good idea. i just read Penn's How To Market A Book and she does recommend blogging, in general. ymmv

Annie wrote: "Personally, I "blog" on my author site but also duplicate some posts here too. I call it a "blog" because I just write extra fiction for readers vs actually blogging any info, but kinda the same effect...?"

i saw you do that and it's an effective way to let people get to know you and your writing as well as drive traffic to your website, where they'll hopefully sign up on your email list.

Tara wrote: "I'm getting to the point where I'm beginning to grow more comfortable with the thought of blogging."

it's an even better idea for non-fic.

[Tara Woods Turner]

Well, Alex, I'll have to do something here soon. The anxiety is worse than actually being a big girl and just diving in.

[Nik]

Thanks, Tara, for some interesting and helpful info coming from GR's executives themselves, if I understand the source!
Although it dates back to 2012, it still might be representative.
Beyond the emphasis they make on how face and twitter aren't good for finding new books, it's interesting to see on the same graph that 'known author' is still the prime source for finding and non-gr friends, as the 2-nd source. Good to know that "our recommendation engine has a minimum threshold of several hundred ratings so we know enough about a book to be statistically comfortable recommending it". I understand the logic, but they might as well calibrate it lower to few dozens.
As everywhere - already successful books get tail wind to get more successful, while unknowns need to work very hard to gain some boost -:)
With all that knowledge, it's hard to comprehend how so many authors report back very low response to Goodread ads?

[Nik]

Hi Luca and welcome!

[Luca]

Mmmmm ... I really need to better understand how this GR works :-) I only noticed now passing on page that some of you have said HI. Hi back and thank you to all of you.

I guess I only receive general notification (which makes sense since you cannot probably address a message to a person).

Anyway, I'll get better :-)

Ciao!