THE Group for Authors! discussion
Start Here
>
Introducing Our New U.S. Giveaways Program–A More Powerful Book Marketing Tool for Authors and Publishers!
How does charging writers to do a giveaway (which were free in the past) help writers who are already struggling to make a living? You'll be eliminating all who can't afford to pay the fees.
With our new program, we have priced the package options to reflect the marketing value we are offering. Indie authors are an important part of the Goodreads community and we’re now giving them access to the same powerful marketing tool (ebook giveaways) that traditional publishers use. Many indie authors only have Kindle ebook editions and were asking Goodreads for the ability to run giveaways for Kindle ebooks. With our new Goodreads Giveaways program, we’re now making this possible.
Jaclyn wrote: "With our new program, we have priced the package options to reflect the marketing value we are offering. Indie authors are an important part of the Goodreads community and we’re now giving them acc..."I understand that. But it's still going to price many out of the arena. If it was possible to do print for free in the past why is it necessary to charge just to add ebooks? The possibility of selling more books is as beneficial to Amazon as it is to the writers.
We are no longer able to provide the marketing value of getting your book in front of the community of readers on Goodreads, driving book discovery and reviews for free.
Well, it was only a matter of time before Amazon began to ruin Goodreads. This will become nothing more than another storefront for Bezos (isn't he rich enough YET?) and forever ruin the author/reader community that makes this place so unique. Once again, capitalism destroys everything it touches. Well done, Amazon. You continue to suck more and more.
I have been a member of Goodreads' author program since the middle of 2013. That's about 4 and a half years.During that time, I have listed 124 Giveaways for my library of six historical fiction novels.
Your new and improved Giveaway Program would have cost me $24,276 at the $199 level and $74,276 at the $599 level.
Very impressive new revenue generation. Amazon reaches deeper into author's pockets I suppose.
I will have given away 200+ copies of my books on Goodreads by the end of this calendar year. Considering postage at "about" $3 apiece plus the cost of the book at "about" $4, that's an additional expense of $1,400. That's a lot less that 24 or 75 thousand!
Your new and improved Giveaway Program will have a reduced participation rate from grumpy old men such as I.
Jaclyn wrote: "Hi everyone,We’re excited to announce we’re launching a new Giveaways program for entrants in the U.S. on January 9, 2018! The new program will be an even more powerful tool for authors and publi..."
I responded to your press release via the MonkeySurvey which is private. Authors, are you aware that whatever you write here is public and goes onto your feed to your friends?
Indie authors are an important part of the Goodreads community and we’re now giving them access to the same powerful marketing tool ..."I call BS! If the indie author was really important to you, you would not charge them a thing! Hypocritical liars - you belong in politics! Perhaps you will also try to explain to us how a tax cut for Bezos is also a boon to the middle and lower classes? This is nothing more than a greedy cash-grab that only large publishers can afford. More and more like Washington the closer and closer you look.
Perhaps the publishing industry did not like how much the indie authors were biting into their sales, so they convinced Amazon to price them out of this feature. This is just another example of corporate asshats sticking it to those of use who try to avoid their evils. "Be a good corporate consumer or DIE!"
I'm looking forward to the next platform that replaces this one with a TRUE reader-driven community that is NOT owned by corporate fat cats drooling over gold.
Edward wrote: "I have been a member of Goodreads' author program since the middle of 2013. That's about 4 and a half years.During that time, I have listed 124 Giveaways for my library of six historical fiction n..."
We’re sorry to hear that. We designed our new Goodreads Giveaways program based on feedback from authors and publishers and we’re now offering several features that authors and publishers have been asking for. The biggest benefit is the increased marketing and advertising benefits surrounding a giveaway. In many ways, we view a giveaway as a mini advertising campaign on Goodreads and we’d encourage you to evaluate our Goodreads Giveaways program against other advertising options. As your giveaway is shared and promoted on Goodreads, this gets your book in front of more readers, helping build buzz about your book with readers.
Lauren wrote: "I am disgusted by Goodreads today. Your giveaway program was a great way to connect authors and readers. As an indie author, there is no way I can afford to pay $120 to $600 to list a title. Who ..."
As mentioned above, indie authors are an important part of the Goodreads community, and we’re now giving them access to the same powerful marketing tool used by traditional publishers. A Goodreads giveaway is much more than just getting your book into the hands of a group of readers. It includes building awareness through placement on Goodreads’ highly-trafficked pages, social amplification through stories in the Goodreads updates feed, and notifications to your followers. All of this helps you build your audience and drive discovery of your book.
"We designed our new Goodreads Giveaways program based on feedback from authors and publishers and we’re now offering several features that authors and publishers have been asking for."Your kissing up to the Big Five has never been more transparent. PLEASE stop your lies that this is actually a benefit for the indie author. You are sounding exactly like the White House Press Briefing Room, 'Emily' Huckabee-Sanders.
There are some nice benefits to the new program. It might be worth trying out at the introductory price... but what about those of us who are not in the US? We used to do paperback giveaways, and now we can't do anything?
"We are no longer "able" to provide the marketing value of getting your book in front of the community of readers on Goodreads, driving book discovery and reviews for free." because we are only interested in making as much money as possible, the hell with small authors and publishers. We are not "ABLE" to do this for free anymore. We here at Amazon are so cash-strapped that we MUST begin charging high rates from starving authors. We don't really consider Goodreads to be an actual beneficial community of authors and readers (you believed that lie? HAHAHAHA). Instead, we consider it to be another captive group of sucker consumers that we can fleece and rob for every penny we can get.FINALLY, some truth out of these Amazon sock puppets!
Denise wrote: "Emily wrote: "Indie authors are an important part of the Goodreads community and we’re now giving them access to the same powerful marketing tool (ebook giveaways) that traditional publishers use. ..."I'm sorry to hear that. As Jaclyn mentioned, we are no longer able to provide the marketing value of getting your book in front of the community of readers on Goodreads, driving book discovery and reviews for free. We are offering introductory pricing for the first three weeks, with 50% off the package prices, to allow authors and publishers to experience the value of the new marketing benefits we’re offering.
P.D. Workman (Pamela) wrote: "There are some nice benefits to the new program. It might be worth trying out at the introductory price... but what about those of us who are not in the US? We used to do paperback giveaways, and n..."Our international authors and publishers are important to us. For the moment, they can use our new Giveaways program to run giveaways to reach U.S. residents. We’ll keep you posted on updates here.
Okay, I think I was confused. "New Giveaways created on or after 1/9/18 will initially be open to US residents only" means that the books can only be given away to US residents, not that only US residents can set them up?
This will have a deleterious impact on my decision to provide a giveaway through GoodReads. I may simply have to move giveaways to my own web site and to the sites of bloggers, since it will either double or quadruple the cost to me.I would have been happy to buy GoodReads the advertising being bundled with the premium package . . . if it worked. But, while I've tried it in the past, I had not seen a single sale I can trace to the ads.
Overall, I think this is a very bad move—although I suppose the big five publishers will take advantage of it. I do not see this as an improvement as much as an obstacle.
I believe that the GoodReads management is not factoring in the benefit of free giveaways on the part of small micro-publishers and independent authors to GoodReads, and at little or no cost to GoodReads. I wonder what the impact to GoodReads membership, and to Amazon sales generated by these author-funded giveaways might be as their number falls.
This is not a one-way street—not a one-way benefit. Authors have supported GoodReads by offering free books and postage for years, and I'm pretty sure it helped draw in members.
Emily 'Huckabee-Sanders' echoed the following drivel from her boss: "Our international authors and publishers are important to us."The ONLY thing important to your ilk at Amazon is $$$. Quit lying. This is nothing more than a giant cash-grab.
I predict that the current 13 pages of non-fiction giveaways (for example) will fall to 13 TOTAL non-fiction giveaways in less than 30 days. I look forward to Greedreads' demise as this place becomes nothing more than a giant billboard for Amazon.
Greedy corporate [redacted]. Does it feel good to crap all over indie authors? Many of us cannot even afford rent, yet you consider us "important". Go find another group of suckers to lie to, greedy [redacted].
P.D. Workman (Pamela) wrote: "Okay, I think I was confused. "New Giveaways created on or after 1/9/18 will initially be open to US residents only" means that the books can only be given away to US residents, not that only US re..."Yes, that is correct. Our new Giveaways program replaces our former Giveaways program and initially is for U.S. entrants only. International authors and publishers can use our new Giveaways program to run giveaways to reach U.S. residents.
While we welcome your feedback on this feature, please keep in mind that personal attacks against other members or staff are not permitted in any of our official groups.
While they claim to welcome feedback on this "feature" (aka, "cash-grab"), please keep in mind that formalized financial gouging of indie authors is not only permitted by GreedRead, but encouraged by all of GreedRead's minions and their Amazon uberlords.It's not an attack when it's true.
Emily wrote: "P.D. Workman (Pamela) wrote: "Okay, I think I was confused. "New Giveaways created on or after 1/9/18 will initially be open to US residents only" means that the books can only be given away to US ..."Why is this limited to US residents? Many authors and publishers want to promote in other countries not just the US e.g. foreign language works. I appreciate this is a US site run by a US company, but I cannot see how this helps Indie authors or publishers and actually it now prevents me from doing a giveaway in the UK or anywhere else.
From a reader perspective I can only see this narrowing choice not encouraging a variety of reading.
Very disappointing news for independent authors and international Goodreads members :(. Unless Goodreads is providing a massive benefit not listed in the blog, I see this as reducing the exposure/number of entries for giveaways.1. Readers don't like spam.
2. Readers currently appreciate the ability to opt-out of adding the giveaway book to their list.
3. The new giveaways leave out non-U.S. members.
I recently began opening my giveaways to international members because I saw the demand for it and my giveaway entries doubled. Although I would be willing to pay a small fee to run Goodreads Giveaways, the $119 price point is neither realistic nor profitable.
P.S. Reviews from giveaways have been minimal since the language was removed from giveaways that reviews were expected. If you are an author planning to run giveaways for the purpose of reviews, you will likely be disappointed.
Philip, it's clear they are not interested AT ALL in encouraging reading or anything involving the indie author, only in how to maximize $$$ profits.The original owners of the site were actual book lovers. Too bad they sold out to Amazon. A lot of people were afraid Amazon would ruin it, but they left it alone for years, much to the relief of the users. Now, however, the very core of their being, THEIR GREED, has arisen like some fetid slime from the depths of their lies and deceit. NEVER FORGET that Amazon is interested in $$$ and nothing but $$$, authors be damned. You will be lying to yourself if you think they think any other way.
There must be dollar signs dancing in Mr. Bezos' eyes like visions of sugarplum fairies this Christmas season. I've always thought it insane that authors could give away print copies, at their own expense, but could not do the same with ebooks, which cost nothing for GR/Amazon to produce. If the prices under the new program were more reasonable, say $15.00 for standard and $49.00 for premium, it might be more palatable. It already costs me around $2000 on a fixed income to bring a publish-ready book to market. If I run a 'Standard' package ($199.00) on one of my ebooks, I would have to sell approximately 80 books at my average pricing levels to make the ROI make sense. At the Premium level ($599.00) it would take 240. The most I have ever sold as a result of one of my giveaways is 35. I can understand GR needing to make a buck or two, but these prices are not only ridiculous, they are outrageous. I've been exclusive on Amazon for years. Now I'm taking a harder look at Smashwords and other outlets as viable alternatives. I would suggest that the pricing perhaps remain for those who are not exclusive to Amazon, while those who are, get pricing at the levels I've suggested.
To go from free giveaways to charging for them is NOT the way to go. You just killed your Giveaway program for everybody but the Big 5. Good luck with that.
Emily wrote: "We’re sorry to hear that. We designed our new Goodreads Giveaways program based on feedback from authors and publishers and we’re now offering several features that authors and publishers have been asking for. "The only publishers who asked for this were the Big 5 to eliminate the small press and indie market. Are the small press and Indie authors that much of a threat to the large publishers?
I’m devastated.I’m an Australian writer and most of my readers are Australians. Now I cannot reach them through your giveaways - only Americans. You do realise there is a whole world full of readers out there?
Alison, the only thing they realize is that there's a whole world full of money that is not yet in Bezos' pocket. I wouldn't expect his minions to show a shred of compassion or decency as they gouge every small author and publisher of every penny they can get. They get paid to spout excuses for his greed; they do not give a rat's ass about ANY other authors or publishers unless they are part of this corporate machine, shoveling every single $ on Earth into the pockets of the 1%.
Michael wrote: "Emily 'Huckabee-Sanders' echoed the following drivel from her boss: "Our international authors and publishers are important to us."The ONLY thing important to your ilk at Amazon is $$$. Quit lyin..."
That's brutal. But I can't say I disagree with any of it.
Hi Edward, your comments are well taken. Bezos' worth has dropped. Yes, he's still a billionaire, but I think your words are factual. (I wonder if the stock has dropped is because of the many wonderful comments...) After all, you know your investments better than others. The financial figures you presented are very well taken. Greed has overtaken. Some other people wrote about readers not giving a damn, selling the books, ignoring the value of responding-even if it's not the best written. Thank you and thanks to the other authors for voicing their opinions. Best regards, everyone, and Happy Holidays!Edward wrote: "I have been a member of Goodreads' author program since the middle of 2013. That's about 4 and a half years.
During that time, I have listed 124 Giveaways for my library of six historical fiction n..."
Somehow I can't imagine that this move would be consistent with the Bezos approach. As an investor (indirectly through an index fund), I know that Amazon has—for decades now—eschewed a high-profits-now approach in exchange for customer value and satisfaction to stimulate growth.The impact of this move will likely reduce the number of books and imprints offered as samples for free to GoodReads members, and thus reduce the number of new books and authors who will press the link for each book reviewed to try someone not from the traditional big five publishers. It narrows the reader experience and, potentially, could undermine the reason why Amazon bought GoodReads in the first place.
Personally, having tried the advertising "book placement" and noted its failure here, I've come to view GoodReads members as resistant to overt advertising and more interested in reader opinions on books. Certainly that's why I joined. This move would seem to go in opposition to that approach for Amazon and that philosophy for members.
As for the giveaway value to myself—it's more a way for me to connect with readers of whatever genre I'm writing at the time, and to get feedback on the work. It used to also generate some (not many but some) reviews on Amazon, however, since Amazon changed its review policies far fewer people who review my books on GoodReads after reading them also review them on Amazon. Actually, far fewer people seem to be reviewing my books (at least) on Amazon than used to—another "improvement".
But GoodReads is certainly within its rights to try to turn this reader-author connection program into a revenue stream ,whether that works or not.
This is outrageous. No, it's heinous. I am an indie author and own my press. No one ever asked ME my opinion on this move. Bottom line, indies and small presses are being forced out because of greed. Frankly, when Goodreads was sold to Amazon, I thought it was only a matter of time before such shenanigans would ensue. And I was right. My only question is why it took so long. So now, the only ones able to afford Goodreads giveaways are Big Pubs and indies with pockets (of which I am not one). I have received great responses running my giveaways, which has translated into reviews, which in turn, has translated into sales. I will have to look elsewhere to run giveaways. This is a travesty, a true travesty.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS RESPONSE TO PATRICK BROWN, HEAD OF THE WRITERS’ PROMO PROGRAMSDear Patrick Brown:
I am an avid GR reader member and value my experience with friends. I’m active and love the site as a reader.
As a writer, I am appalled by your new giveaway program. It targets desperate self-publishers; large publishers will buy your big advertising packages and don’t need it.
I have published books at one of the Big Five, small presses, and I’ve self-published. In my experience (6 giveaways of 4 different books) the Giveaway program is a waste of money and resources. A number of years ago I spoke to you at a BEA Goodreads seminar, asking about the possibility of targeting readers by demographics because—at the time that one could actually see who was entering a giveaway—I found that people with no affinity for what I’d written and people with zero friends and zero reviews were applying for and receiving free books.
When I told you this at BEA, you laughed and were amazed I’d actually checked out all the giveaway entrants and then you responded happily that the book drawing is random and dependent on a private algorithm. You may recall that the audience of publishers and writers roared at this—not in a positive way.
In case you have not noticed, people putting books on their “to read” list is meaningless because many readers simply apply for all free books and their lists look like pages of cover ads. Some sell their free books online. Very few people review them. Hence, an expensive benefit of this new paying giveaway program is a lie. There is no benefit. Ask anybody who has bothered to try to track sales after a giveaway.
What is reprehensible about this program is that it targets self-publishers with unrealistic fantasies and no real knowledge of how people come to read and buy books.
You may be interested to know that this is the topic du jour in all my writers groups on Facebook. In addition, I’ve written to the Authors Guild about it. You have every right to try to make money, but what is galling is the lie and who you are targeting for it. It is not your job to educate writers; I hope AG will help spread the truth about this. But the absence of ethics allowing this new move is really awful.
Betsy Robinson
Jaclyn wrote: "Hi everyone,We’re excited to announce we’re launching a new Giveaways program for entrants in the U.S. on January 9, 2018! The new program will be an even more powerful tool for authors and publi..."
Hello Jaclyn,
For my last giveaway, my three winners were based in the US, Germany and Portugal. I posted signed copies of my books from here in New Zealand. It would be preferable if the same accessibility was available with the new system, as opposed to just being available to US based readers, which seems like a backwards step.
Thank you
GREED-READS: living up to their name.
I can't imagine many authors continuing to use Goodreads. Pity because it was my favourite site.
Betsy wrote: "PLEASE FORWARD THIS RESPONSE TO PATRICK BROWN, HEAD OF THE WRITERS’ PROMO PROGRAMSDear Patrick Brown:
I am an avid GR reader member and value my experience with friends. I’m active and love the ..."
I have passed this along to Patrick as you requested, Betsy.
I just read your new giveaway policy and am very upset. The standard giveaway is almost identical to what you used to do only now I have to pay over a hundred dollars for something that used to be free! A small fee ($10-$20) I could understand, but you put this way out of range of any new or indie author. The big publishers, who could afford this, are the ones who don't need the exposure.
Emily, why don't you pass along to your corpoRAT masters that their cynical attempt to PRETEND this is helpful to anyone but the Big Five and Bezos is transparent to EVERYONE and that their gluttonous greed will backfire and doom this soon-pathetic site to the same forgotten realm that Amazon has already sent all the mom & pop bookstores to. Way to go, Amazon! You're just an internet version of the same destruction that Walmart did to brick&mortar retail 20 years ago.
I think you know what you and your sycophant minions can do to themselves...
Emily wrote: "Betsy wrote: "PLEASE FORWARD THIS RESPONSE TO PATRICK BROWN, HEAD OF THE WRITERS’ PROMO PROGRAMSDear Patrick Brown:
I am an avid GR reader member and value my experience with friends. I’m active..."
Emily wrote: "Betsy wrote: "PLEASE FORWARD THIS RESPONSE TO PATRICK BROWN, HEAD OF THE WRITERS’ PROMO PROGRAMS
Dear Patrick Brown:
I am an avid GR reader member and value my experience with friends. I’m active..."
Thank you very much, Emily. I'm sorry you are the target for this upset. It can't be pleasant.
A person who is complicit in their owner's greed should receive no sympathy from those who are wronged. If Emily didn't agree with her bosses, she should quit instead of parroting their lies and pretending Amazon's arse smells like roses. She is no more sympathetic than Sarah Hucksterbee-Sanders.
Jaclyn wrote: "We are no longer able to provide the marketing value of getting your book in front of the community of readers on Goodreads, driving book discovery and reviews for free."Sounds like corporate bull to me.
I am sorry that Goodreads had to change their giveaway program. Being an indie author myself, i could never afford the premium package price and pay for sending out my books. This is a sad day for writers and readers alike.
Are Goodreads giving away author's books without their knowledge?A number of authors (including myself) are seeing books notated on our November Amazon reports as being "FREE-Goodreads giveaway" implying Amazon are distributing our books to Goodreads without our knowledge. Some authors are showing 100+ books given away via Goodreads but we can't get a response from Amazon about this, nor is it evident on Goodreads where or how our books are being given away?
Any author considering ebook giveaways should be aware that the ebook giveaways are limited to U.S. Goodreads members who have Amazon-linked accounts. This must substantially reduce audience size. Also, in my experience, offering more copies in paperback giveaways does not mean more exposure or more people entering. I do not see any fathomable reason to give away 100 paperback copies, which would put the expense for the giveaway between $1000 to $2000, and your time and effort getting the copies mailed. Maybe offer 10 copies if you want to go "big". But offering 1 or 2 copies will yield about the same number of entries.
Hi, I have a question for the e-book giveaways: Does the author send the e-copy to the winners or does Goodreads do it? Thanks!
A.W. wrote: "Are Goodreads giving away author's books without their knowledge?A number of authors (including myself) are seeing books notated on our November Amazon reports as being "FREE-Goodreads giveaway"..."
Hi A.W.-- Sorry for any confusion with this. It appears to be an issue with how those reports are generated, as we have confirmed that these books were not actually given away. Our team is looking into this and should have a resolution soon.
M.L. Roberts wrote: "Hi, I have a question for the e-book giveaways: Does the author send the e-copy to the winners or does Goodreads do it? Thanks!"Goodreads automatically sends the Kindle ebooks to the winners’ Kindle accounts.
Hi everyone,
We’re excited to announce we’re launching a new Giveaways program for entrants in the U.S. on January 9, 2018! The new program will be an even more powerful tool for authors and publishers to promote their books.
To give you more ways to promote your books, we’re introducing two new package options–Standard and Premium–each available for either print books or Kindle ebooks. And for the first time, Kindle Direct Publishing authors can run giveaways for Kindle ebooks—a feature previously only available to traditional publishers.
The new Goodreads Giveaways program will replace our current print book giveaways and Kindle ebook giveaways programs. To learn more, see our blog post here.
Please let us know if you have any questions or feedback.