THE Group for Authors! discussion
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Questions about Goodreads, Google and Giveaways
You can announce the Amazon giveaway so long as you comply with the rules of the specific group. FYI while the GR giveaway is still in beta you can't participate. I don't know what their rules will be once they open up participation.
Hi Nick! The primary edition (which in your case is the newest cover) should be the one resulting on Google, but this can take a few weeks to reflect due to caching on their side - something that is sadly out of our control.You're welcome to announce your giveaway on Goodreads, keeping in mind that this should be done on your author profile, author blog or in an advertisement, and cannot be added to an actual book page.
Let me know if you have any further questions about this!
Jaclyn wrote: "Hi Nick! The primary edition (which in your case is the newest cover) should be the one resulting on Google, but this can take a few weeks to reflect due to caching on their side - something that i..."So I can't just go to the Sci-Fi board and start a thread? An ad might have merit, but how many people are going to read the author profile or a blog comment during a two-day event. Answer: not many.
Re an ad. Can it be directed at a certain group? Do you have any idea whatsoever about how many readers would see it over a two-day period? i.e., a lot, quite a few, a few, etc.
You can go to the Sci Fi board and post a thread as long as the board rules permit it. Rules for each board are controlled the the board moderators not GR Staff. Some allow author promotion some do not.
Paula wrote: "You can go to the Sci Fi board and post a thread as long as the board rules permit it. Rules for each board are controlled the the board moderators not GR Staff. Some allow author promotion some do..."Thanks Paula, Jaclyn and Faith! I'll check out the rules.
Yes, you can target your ads. For more information, you can visit our advertisers page. Feel free to complete the form to receive more details and to start a conversation with our advertising team!
Jaclyn wrote: "Yes, you can target your ads. For more information, you can visit our advertisers page. Feel free to complete the form to receive more details and to start a conversation with our advertising team!"Will check it out.
II've been participating in the giveaway program for over a year now and I think it's an excellent way to get your books out there. I've received both positive and negative feedback from some giveaway winners, but there were 13 other winners that I received no response whatsoever. After checking through these unresponsive winners, I discovered that there was no indication that they had even received the book. I would assume if someone had not received their copy, I would have been notified by Goodreads. So, I'm a bit curious as to why I haven't heard anything. Has any other author experienced this and/or can provide an explanation? Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks, Kathleen Martin
I didn't realize there was a way to confirm that a winner had not received a copy. I wish more people I've sent copies to would review the work, but there are no guarantees. C'est la vie.
Jan wrote: "I didn't realize there was a way to confirm that a winner had not received a copy. I wish more people I've sent copies to would review the work, but there are no guarantees. C'est la vie."Jan wrote: "I didn't realize there was a way to confirm that a winner had not received a copy. I wish more people I've sent copies to would review the work, but there are no guarantees. C'est la vie."
Jan wrote: "I didn't realize there was a way to confirm that a winner had not received a copy. I wish more people I've sent copies to would review the work, but there are no guarantees. C'est la vie."
Thanks for your reply, Jan. I never bothered checking this for over a year, but by checking on the winner's profile you can find out if they've rated it, or if it's on their to-read list, but as I mentioned 13 of them had not even confirmed receiving the books. I can understand if someone reads a book and doesn't want to rate or review it but I still don't understand why it doesn't indicate that they've actually received the book.
As far as I know, my books do arrive since I can check my orders. I send the winners their books through Amazon Prime so then I don't pay for shipping. I am trying something different this time since I too have sent out many with no review for my book. After I sent out the books to the winners, I wrote them a personal thank you note. In that note, I asked them if they would be so kind as to review my book on Goodreads and Amazon. I thanked them and that was it. I also gave them my email address in case they did not receive their book. So far, of the five I sent out in August, one has all ready written a review and posted it. Aha!
Thanks, Deborah. That's exactly how I send my books out too through Amazon Prime. Sending a thank you note and request along with the book is an excellent idea. I'm going to try it. And best of luck with your reviews too. Kathleen
Goodreads giveaway programs are great marketing tactics. I enclosed a letter with each book I mailed (USPS Media Mail) telling each recipient how many people entered the giveaway contest and how pleased I was that the recipient was one of the first to receive a book. I did not ask for a review, but did suggest recipients tell their friends if they liked the book, and to tell me if they did not! One person did not receive a book and notified me on Goodreads. Apparently the envelope arrived empty. I sent another book. That person is now on my monthly newsletter list at her request. I did send a second letter to all those who did not review the book (five did) and asked them to review if they liked the book. Nothing happened as a result. However, for the ten books I offered I got six reviews posted on both Goodreads and Amazon and one add to my newsletter. For me that was a successful marketing tactic.
As a reader, if I was asked to review "if I liked the book", I would get the impression that the author could not handle unfavourable reviews.
Sarah wrote: "Goodreads giveaway programs are great marketing tactics. I enclosed a letter with each book I mailed (USPS Media Mail) telling each recipient how many people entered the giveaway contest and how pl..."Thanks, Sarah, for your reply. It's interesting to read that one person did not receive a copy of your book. I thought Goodreads would be notified if someone didn't receive their giveaway but apparently not. I send my books through Amazon prime, so I'm guaranteed
they will be delivered or, if not, I will be notified by Amazon. I believe whatever marketing tactic you're able to use that brings good results, go for it and I wish you every success.
Ha, ha, I never thought of that! Good point. However, when someone receives a free book in a genre they read, the author never knows if the person will read the book, or like the book, or not. Or, maybe the person is hoping to get a copy he or she can then sell on Amazon as a "used book". It's only a marketing tactic which has worked for me in the past and I will continue to use it. As for "unfavorable reviews" they only make me want to be a more skilled writer. I take those reviews as legitimate critiques. In fact one of the reviewers questioned the timeline continuity making me search for the problem which I have not found yet, but if I do it will be corrected for the next printing.
Jennifer (Sad Books Say So Much) wrote: "As a reader, if I was asked to review "if I liked the book", I would get the impression that the author could not handle unfavourable reviews."I have never asked anyone who's read my books if they liked them. I leave it with them and hope for the best. I don't handle bad reviews well (I doubt if any author does,) but it's part of the process of putting it out there. You "take the good with the bad" c'est la vie.
Sarah wrote: "Ha, ha, I never thought of that! Good point. However, when someone receives a free book in a genre they read, the author never knows if the person will read the book, or like the book, or not. Or, ..."That is very interesting. Why would someone enter a giveway for a book they have no intention of reading? I guess you're right about the "selling" factor. I believe you have to be careful about "Unfavorable reviews" sometimes they are more punitive than helpful, especially when they crush a budding talented writer. The best criticism is one that resonates and makes sense to me, and helps me improve.
Kathleen, the first "bad" review I got for my second novel started out, "Sarah Bates is a liar...". I got a sick feeling immediately. Then I read on, "She professes not to know much about the military yet she tells an inspiring story that captures the true essence of what the military is all about...", as the review went on to compliment the book. I had an opportunity to meet the reviewer at an event and told him about my "clutch" moment. He offered to change the review, but I said "no". That review pulls in more readers than one that merely offered platitudes! I don't handle bad reviews well either, but they only make me want to be a better writer–adding fuel to my fire I guess.
Sarah wrote: "Kathleen, the first "bad" review I got for my second novel started out, "Sarah Bates is a liar...". I got a sick feeling immediately. Then I read on, "She professes not to know much about the milit..."I can completely understand why you got that "sick" feeling from the opening sentence - not the best way to open a positive review! But that was nice of the reviewer to offer to change it.My first bad review came after a whole string of positive ones, but it was in a nation-wide newspaper. Talk about public humiliation. I wanted to stay under the covers for a week.But you've taken the best course - staying with it and not giving up. That's the best review you can give to yourself.
Some people are just addicted to winning stuff even if they have no interest in what they might win but over all GR's give away program has been one of the better marketing techniques for me.About negative reviews... Try writing a biography about growing up in the wilderness and getting a review calling you a nitwit! My brother and I actually laughed our heads off and called each other nitwits after that.
Joel wrote: "Some people are just addicted to winning stuff even if they have no interest in what the might win but over all GR's give away program has been won of the better marketing techniques for me.About ..."
That's the best way to handle a negative review! Thanks, Joel.
I hav direct hundreds of plays and musicals primarily in youth theatre and community theatre. Because of this, I am able to stand back from my work and judge it fairly. I am sure there are people who don't enjoy a show I have directed, but many do. I think it is probably more realistic to have a few reviews that aren't as positive as others. We have to remember that our product is no different than another person's hand made object on Etsy, for example. I am sure everyone has a few negative remarks about their work there, too. Generally, I ask readers what they can take away from the story. That gives them a particular focus rather than feeling pressure to say they loved or hated it.
Kathleen wrote: "Jennifer (Sad Books Say So Much) wrote: "As a reader, if I was asked to review "if I liked the book", I would get the impression that the author could not handle unfavourable reviews."Getting a critical review is part of life. What I don't like is when fact, as opposed to opinion, is mentioned. For instance, one reviewer stated that my historical novel was not 100% historically correct. As I take a lot of time and research to be historically correct, I politely asked where I had gone wrong. Of reply came there none. Another writer I know received a review of his travel book which 'stated' there was little or no mention of a particular area. There were two chapters devoted to that area. Opinions vary but statements of fact if incorrect, are disappointing. Who reviews the reviewers? And should one ever respond to a review?
Cenarth wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Jennifer (Sad Books Say So Much) wrote: "As a reader, if I was asked to review "if I liked the book", I would get the impression that the author could not handle unfavourable revie..."I think you have every right to respond to a factually inaccurate review. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but not when it distorts a fact. The only reviews I respond to are the positive ones, and it's just with a "thank you."
For what it's worth, the advice I've been given by some very, very fine authors in my genre (MM Romance), is to never, ever, never, not under any circumstances, contact a reviewer who's critical of you.You're opening yourself up to a potential vendetta (how dare that author disagree with my absolutely correct review!) that can lead to automatic one-star/bad reviews no matter what you write.
I personally don't think there's anything wrong with a polite "Thank you for your review" and nothing more when you get a good one. Any more than that and to me, you create a risk of appearing to "butter up" the reviewer so future reviews will be equally positive.
Just my USD .02.
Eric
Who reviews the reviewers? No one. We are consumers. We have an endless variety of choices, and we chose your book for our very limited leisure time. Even if a review is incorrect, it is very bad form to contact a reviewer, regardless of intention or motivation. If you receive many reviews (which you will, if you make a genuine effort to communicate on a human level) that misperception about the historical inaccuracy of your book will become, as Kansas so aptly puts it, "dust in the wind".Please note that this is coming from someone who agonizes over every rating. But neither my ratings nor my reviews have anything to do with the author. The book is your creative product; my review, in a very small way, is mine :-)
Jennifer (Sad Books Say So Much) wrote: "Who reviews the reviewers? No one. We are consumers. We have an endless variety of choices, and we chose your book for our very limited leisure time. Even if a review is incorrect, it is very bad f..."I think what's really important is to continue writing, regardless of negative reviews, or even positive ones. For me even positive reviews can have a negative effect by creating a hard act of myself to follow. I don't think responding to an inaccurate review or even just plain negative review is "bad form" - it's everyone's right. But I don't think it does any good in the long run to either the reviewer or the author.
Jennifer (Sad Books Say So Much) wrote: "Who reviews the reviewers? No one. We are consumers. We have an endless variety of choices, and we chose your book for our very limited leisure time. Even if a review is incorrect, it is very bad f..." A lot of times a negative review is a positive. I actually read them and judge the reviewer. A lot of times they are just jerks and it comes off as such in their reviews and therefore I discount the review completely. Other times what they are slamming the book for is exactly what I want in a book. One time I was buying a book on pelton turbines and a reviewer rated it one star because it didn't have other turbines in it. It is like can he even read the title?If my overall rating is dragged down by a lot of negative reviews then maybe the problem is on my end and I hope the negative reviewers put lots of constructive criticism in their reviews. That can be helpful.
After 50 years of getting 'ordinary' reviews, as well a few good ones, I agree with those who say we should, if possible, learn from all reviews but don't get involved. Move on. But if someone says you've got a factual error in your book without stating the error, curiosity kicks in. I like to improve my knowledge. I like to know where I've gone wrong. Besides if there is a factual error then my ignorance may continue. I may repeat the folly. Perhaps this scenario is tip #47 in the handbook Writers Should Write and let The Rest of the World Go By.
I will clarify my comments by saying that I was a GR member for three years prior to my recent hiatus, and during that time, I and many other readers noted that many authors tend to perceive Goodreads as a one-way street, i.e. seeking out readers only for the purpose of marketing to them (and not as individuals who share their live of books). When a reader feels like a puppet, he or she will react negatively to all forms of contact. Add to that the emotional attachment many authors have to their work. I get it, it's your baby, and you're putting it out into the world hoping that people will live it. But you can't control reader reaction, and you can't control what they say about your book (any more than you can physically restrain a viewer from walking out of the movie you just spent two years of your life on!).Once the book is out, it's out. Reading your own reviews is just an exercise in frustration.
I'm a new author and new to Goodreads. A week or two ago I scheduled a giveaway of my book. It starts today but I can't even find it in the giveaways list to promote it on social media.It took me half an hour to find my own author page.
When I went to the questions and comments topics I find that most of them were frozen or discontinued two or three years ago.
I realize that being new I'm going to need to spend some time here to figure out where to find things but oh my god! -- Seriously? How can a website for readers and writers be so difficult to learn to navigate?
I would appreciate any helpful suggestions but I fear I will never find my way back here to read them.
Dave, the best link to give out is usually to the book's page, which will have a link to the giveaway when one is active. It will also allow anyone following the link to see the book's reviews and ratings so far. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...Finding your author page will be much easier in the future if you claim it by completing this form https://www.goodreads.com/author/conf...
It may take a few days to be approved, but once you have been, you will be able to see things like your author dashboard just by logging in to your Goodreads account.
rivka wrote: "Dave, the best link to give out is usually to the book's page, which will have a link to the giveaway when one is active. It will also allow anyone following the link to see the book's reviews and ..."Thanks, Rivka. I appreciate your help. I love Goodreads. I'll get the hang of it. ;-)
Dave wrote: "I'm a new author and new to Goodreads. A week or two ago I scheduled a giveaway of my book. It starts today but I can't even find it in the giveaways list to promote it on social media.It took me..."
I have found the Goodreads staff very helpful whenever I've run into trouble on the site. I recommend contacting them, Dave.
I second Lily's comment: the librarian's group or support@goodreads.com
I think I discovered this thread too late, as I've had a really mediocre experience with GR giveaways, though I've kept doing them based on the general wisdom that it's a fairly inexpensive way to increase discoverability of my books, even if it's not all that impactful. Deborah and Sarah: That's a great idea to send a personal note along with the book, and based on your experiences, maybe that would have made my own better.
I reviewed the outcomes of the giveaways I've done from early 2015 to date, and I thought I'd share them here, in case anyone else is a data junkie. :)
So I've been stingy, generally running giveaways for one book at a time, because I did see that the number of participants doesn't vary much whether you offer 100 books or 1. I also found early on that only about a third of entrants shelve the book they've entered to win, so that discouraged me from offering more books and thereby having to spend more money for a modest return. I've gotten between 200 - 350 people shelve my book during each giveaway.
In that 20 month period, I've run a total of 9 giveaways and given away a total of 13 books. Of the 13 winners, I confirmed that only 3 shelved the book (one winner has a profile set to private, so I don't know if anything happened with her). None of those 3 shelvers has given a rating or review. Two won books between 9 and 12 months ago and one won a book just one month ago, not a huge amount of time, so I may get a rating/review out of this effort.
A reasonable conclusion, however, is that this hasn't been a very effective strategy to generate reviews, which could, in part, be due to not doing much to engage the winners (providing a thank you note, etc.).
User engagement is a delicate dance. I can tell you that I didn't come here 4 years ago to talk to authors or help them to promote their books. Most readers here would say the same - many of them in terms that are far less polite than mine. However, I have had to stop myself from responding to offers to read for review because I don't have a lot of time to read. I would not react well to any attempt, however polite, to "invite" me to review ASAP.
Thanks for responding Jennifer, and I definitely 'get' that. I'm turned off when a stranger asks me to read and review their book as well, though I wouldn't enter a giveaway unless it was a book I wanted to read.Still, I respect that people entering giveaways are under no obligation to do anything, from shelving the book, to reading it if they win. Heck, if they opt to sell the book on eBay, I stand by their right to do that as much as it's disappointing and makes the giveaway a waste of money, which I don't have a lot of.
Readers are not required to post reviews. Of any book. At any time.Readers are not required to limit their reading, rating or reviewing to a particular genre.
It is insulting to assume that if someone did not like your book, they are incapable of understanding it.
Belated thanks for your comments, Andrew :-)
Authors really need to understand that the Goodreads Giveaway program is NOT a read for review program, and hasn't been for quite a while. Goodreads has completely revised and reworded the giveaway rules - yes, once upon a time there supposedly was some type of mysterious algorithm that weighted wins towards those that reviewed, and it was mentioned on the program page. But nowadays it is completely a sweepstakes program. Winners have no obligation beyond receiving the book.So yes, this may not be the ideal program for those needing reviews ASAP. It's up to you to know the rules as they are NOW and weigh your options. But you can't blame winners for obligations they never agreed to. Or accuse Goodreads of 'deception.' That's just ludicrous.
While I have no respect for his comments, I'll give the poster the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he meant "disappointing" (for which the French word, for example, is décevant) :-)
Hans Joachim wrote: "I would propose, that the author can choose the winners from the candidates of a giveaway."I believe that violates US law. As Goodreads is located in the US, it must abide by US law. However, I think you can restrict your giveaway to certain countries. If you restricted the giveaway to Germany, the chances that only English speakers would sign up would be minimized.
If I might chime in here, I share your frustration Hans, but we authors do have to remember that Goodreads is first and foremost a social community for readers. You can bemoan its limitations for helping authors get reviews and sell books all you want, but it was not created for that purpose, and authors are expected to follow the norms of good 'digital citizenship.'I've often heard the cocktail party analogy. When you go to a cocktail party, you certainly might mention that you're an author to fellow guests, and talk somewhat about what you write; but it's not going to go over well if you show up with a stack of your books in hand and push them on folks to read and review them. Or, to announce far and wide that you will hold a raffle to give away some copies of your book at the end of the night, but only to the strangers who you have vetted.
Have you tried interacting with GR members beyond this author forum, not exclusively as an author, but as a reader, i.e. talking about books you like?
I suspect that Elizabeth may further explain US law, but I believe the issue is that when any organization hosts a raffle, they are required to choose winners randomly. That doesn't exclude putting in provisions about eligibility - they could say that the raffle is only for 'top reviewers' for example, or readers in a certain category. Goodreads has opted not to do that, and I can understand why. They want to maximize benefits for readers to keep them engaged.
They also do things to engage authors in their community, as we are a significant segment, such as providing promotional advice, forums such as this, and author profiles, etc..
Andrew wrote: "I suspect that Elizabeth may further explain US law, but I believe the issue is that when any organization hosts a raffle, they are required to choose winners randomly. That doesn't exclude putting in provisions about eligibility - they could say that the raffle is only for 'top reviewers' for example, or readers in a certain category. Goodreads has opted not to do that, and I can understand why. They want to maximize benefits for readers to keep them engaged."I am certainly not privy to their reasoning, but randomness is a requirement for games of chance, which is the definition here. As to restricting readers in a certain category, I think they have done this by restricting to certain countries. Other than that, I think they think this shouldn't require staff hands-on.
I recall reading sometime back about an author who wanted to choose her own recipients, so she did not use the Goodreads system. I'm sorry I don't remember enough about that to know whether she had a blog, for instance, through which she offered free books.
As an author who has done two Goodreads giveaways, what is really deceiving is the number of members who put your book on their "To Read" shelf. My book has over 300 on those shelves. That hasn't changed since my giveaway a year ago.
Mark wrote: "As an author who has done two Goodreads giveaways, what is really deceiving is the number of members who put your book on their "To Read" shelf. My book has over 300 on those shelves. That hasn't c..."The system automatically puts the book on To Read when you sign up for the giveaway. You can change that functionality, but most don't.
A Librarian directed me here.
Yesterday I updated the cover of my novel on Goodreads with a new edition. I noticed that Google is still sending readers to the old page. Is this something that Google will correct in the next week or month? Is there anything I can do to help them along?
You can see why I'd like to make this happen:
New Cover - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Old Cover - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
This brings me to my second question: I was hoping to announce on Goodreads (the Sci-Fi board) an Amazon giveaway - free to anyone interested, to take place sometime in the near future. I noticed, however, that Goodreads has its own giveaway program (the $119 one), and so I'm thinking that such an announcement would not be allowed. Correct?
Thanks in advance for the advice.