IMPORTANT: If you're an indie author, please take this survey!

[L.C.]

If you haven't already heard, Goodreads is planning to charge indie authors for all Goodreads giveaways. They will either have to pay $119 for the standard package or $599 for the premium.

There is more information in this post: https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1108

At the bottom will be a link to the survey. Please let them know whether or not you agree with these changes!

[G.G.]

I guess they want to 'weed' out the Indies as I don't know many Indies willing to pay that much on top of the offered books. :/

[Theresa]

G.G. wrote: "I guess they want to 'weed' out the Indies as I don't know many Indies willing to pay that much on top of the offered books. :/"

That appears to be the intent. I know I cannot do it with the costs already incurred by the books. Maybe if I win the lotto, lol!

[L.C.]

G.G. wrote: "I guess they want to 'weed' out the Indies as I don't know many Indies willing to pay that much on top of the offered books. :/"

Yeah, I don't see anyone willing to pay these outrageous prices. It pains me to know that Goodreads isn't supporting indie authors like they used to...

[Effie]

I just took the survey and I had a few strong comments to make.

[Theresa]

Effie wrote: "I just took the survey and I had a few strong comments to make."

I did as well, Effie.

[Ian]

I took the survey too. I struggled to keep my comments polite and professional, but I managed.

Just.

I think.

[Effie]

I was polite and professional. I just didn't hold back on my opinion. Not at all!

[Theresa]

I was polite as well, but I made it known I was not pleased with the changes.

[[deleted user]]

Goodreads is a business but it is one built around a community.

Indie authors are a huge part of that community both as readers and authors.

I think that alienating them by asking them to pay prices that they will not make back after the giveaway is unfair.

That's my take.

[Jeanette]

I've filled out the survey too - it's a steep price on top of the cost of sending the books. Most giveaways I've done have collected a bunch of 'to-reads' but not much more. I like doing giveaways (& participating in them) but not at that price. Besides, they restricted it to within the US.

[Kristina]

Thanks for flagging this survey! I've just responded. We're very new on this scene having just published our first book and still getting the hang of Goodreads. I was so disappointed yesterday to discover that such hostile plans are underway.

[María Elena]

Thanks for the post/survey link. It's truly incredible what they are doing. I know Goodreads is a business for Amazon, but I truly thought they would not touch that. Now it's all about the $$ which a lot of independent authors are squeaking by since costs for us are so high in comparison to traditional. It's Bookbub all over again.
It's truly discouraging.

[Ken]

I agree that this will impact indie authors like myself. This is just a money grab since there is virtually no cost to Goodreads to running the giveaways. No more giveaways from me.

[Pamela]

I heard of this, and what a load of crap. Basically, we should pay a lot of money for getting nothing back. The publicity certainly isn't worth it. I think I'll just stick with doing giveaways on my mailing list, which doesn't help to build an audience, but at least those people will appreciate it.

[J.R.]

I urge all to take this survey and express your opinion about this change. Like the GOP tax plan, it only benefits those who least need a boost.

[G.G.]

I also urge those who love reading Indie books to make themselves heard as there will be less chances of winning a free print from Indies once this new (old) program comes into effect.

[Richard]

Well... In the last decade of book-selling, I haven't brought in $119, or even half that, so the pot of discretionary gold here is too empty to consider running a give-away that costs $119 in addition to production costs and postage... LOL.

[Philip]

Filled in the survey - as non-US author cost and reach are a joke. I will not be participating. I can do a Kindle KDP for free or a Smashwords one. I wanted to do ebook giveaways and was looking forward to Goodreads allowing them but this has killed that.

[Kip]

Filled in the survey. I figured there would be a very negative reaction to this as I know my reaction was not good. As an indie author it's tough to choose where to spend the very limited funds available for promotion and I'm not sure the exposure from the giveaways is enough to warrant what they now want to charge. Seems like an elaborate bait and switch to our detriment.

At the very least they should offer a limited FREE OPTION--maybe one free giveaway per book per quarter or something--if they indeed decide to go ahead with this even after all the negative reactions.

[Bibiana]

I just took the survey too. I am an Indie and it's hard enough to make money doing this gig. Seems to me we are the "new" market for them to make money off. It's no bueno. Bottom, bottom line, use your money wisely and don't feel like you ever have to do anything you can't afford. One more blow below the belt kids. Keep hustling and good luck with whatever you decide.

[Hillary]

Just filled out the survey. Ridiculous that Goodreads is changing the giveaway program to charge authors so much to give away a book for free. We indie authors will be hurt. But so will Goodreads readers. I have done Goodreads giveaways in the past and been happy to get some exposure plus a couple of happy winners for the cost of a book or two plus the mailing costs. But I never see any sales from a giveaway and can't afford to spend upwards of $100, never mind $500, for something that provides no proven ROI. I'll spend my money inexpensive book promotion sites to promote my free KDP days. Those have always provided a good ROI for me.

[Justin]

Its pretty crazy and I'm yet to come across anyone who agrees with the move. As I said in another group I think it's Amazon's way of trying to get more people to their direct site to do giveaways rather than use Goodreads. Amazon owns Goodreads so they know how successful or at least how convenient giveaways are so they start charging, Jack up the price and figure well now we'll get people to do giveaways on our main page.

[Casey]

Okay, if they go through with this, I advocate everyone against this goes to Facebook and make a group to replace Goodreads.

[Justin]

Wait what? Just because their charging people for giveaways doesn't mean I or anyone should leave Goodreads, that's a bit extreme. I get your wanting to take a stand against their new giveaways but perhaps a more subtle approach should be taken.