Stats clarification

[William]

On my Author Dashboard, what is "on to read shelf"? I do not have any books that I have posted to read. What is "added by unique users"?

On my giveaways, what is "requested it"? I assume it is people that have entered the giveaway but I don't understand why it is titled like this. Also, what happens to the people that aren't selected for the giveaway?

[D.C.]

"On to-read shelf" means that someone has added it to their to-read shelves. "Added by unique users" is the number of people who have added your books. They are counted once, whether they have added six or one. "Requested it" is the people who have entered the giveaway. Nothing happens to the people who are not selected for the giveaway. It is not appropriate to contact them. If they added your book as a "to-read" it stays. You want people to add your book as a to-read, since it improves your discoverability.

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Someone either added to their to-read shelves or didn't notice that adding to their to-read shelf was checked when they entered the giveaway.

Of course unless on something like "horrible book" type of shelf names, any activity can be good (plus a lot of members post out to their friends and followers when they shelve a book so it's a sort of word of mouth advertising).

Just don't necessary assume "to read" means will be buying if not won in the giveaway. There are also members who use that as a catch-all or a quick way to shelve books because so many places on goodreads make it a one click or even check it off for you (plus the green "want to read" button or Ugly Green Button in goodreads-speak doesn't shelve a book on "want to read" but rather on "to read").

Probably many readers on goodreads use the to-read shelf as a "I have bought this book and it is sitting in my pile of books to be read" instead of want to read.

To get a better idea of how many people are really interested, I'd look to see if it's been put on some more personalized shelves -- "Must Read" "Buy Next" ... are good ones to get your book on :)

[William]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

[Pelmus]

Hello everyone,
So thing is my book can only be found on lulu but everyone has their own customized buy links so I was thinking, should I post on my author dashboard the direct link or I am not allowed in doing so, I am still new to goodreads.