How to Use Goodreads to Market Your Book
It’s one thing to have multiple promotional avenues available for your book, it’s another to utilize them in a manner that increases audience engagement and sales. Goodreads as an author should easily be considered one of the most effective tools you can use to grow the community around your book and help it sell more.
For authors looking to promote their books, this is the platform and we are going to guide you on how to use it effectively to promote your book, increase your audience, and gain more recognition in the publishing world.
What is Goodreads?
Goodreads is more like a social media for books-more than a hundred million users make it one of the most visited websites in the world among the other commercial networks. It initially focuses on resources in books-reading, writing reviews, and discussing books-among its members so that it offers a great opportunity for marketing your book.
What part does Goodreads play in the Marketing of Books?
With more than hundreds of million users globally, Goodreads has gained tremendous popularity. Book lovers across the globe turn to Goodreads for a reliable recommendation and review platform. Because all members on Goodreads actively consume and produce content, the website has proven to be a valuable tool for marketing books. Unlike other marketing tools, this site is dedicated solely to the interests of readers, making it an invaluable place to promote your new book.
Steps to Marketing on Goodreads
Let us look at some actions that can be taken towards effectively using Goodreads for marketing.
1. Develop An Author Profile
The Goodreads Author Profile is the first place readers will look when they are searching for an author or a book. The Custom profile, if written properly, can increase the trust and credibility among the readers The said that, below are some important steps of creating an author profile.
Put up a Professional Author Photo : That is use a clear and high resolution image of yourself that can be termed as professional.
Compose a Convincing Author Bio : The author bio should cover the basic details about the writer alongside with the books written and answering to what made him/her to write.
Link To Your Other Platforms : Rather make sure you link your other platforms that readers may use to reach you, like your website, pages and social media profiles.
Add Your Books : Ensure your profile has all published books including all forward planned publications. This allows users to appreciate all the works which you have authored.
2. Add Your Book To The Goodreads List
After publishing a book, it's your responsibility to ensure that you claim it on Goodreads. This helps with proper marketing of the book, making sure it reaches its potential audience, especially readers who shelved or reviewed the title previously.
Claiming a book process:
- With an author account, log into Goodreads and move to the author page.
- Look for the book you are interested in on Goodreads.
- If the book doesn’t exist, you may add it by filling in the book details such as: title, author name, ISBN, etc.
- If the book is already listed, you can claim it under your author profile.
3. Interact With Readers
Goodreads can be utilized as a platform where users can showcase their blogs, but it is a community too. One of the most effective ways to market your book is engagement with the readers by answering queries and participating in their discussions.
Tips for Interacting With Readers:
Thank the Reviewers: Respond to all the readers who leave you positive reviews and consider thanking a venture constructively critical review. As thanking them for their feedback goes a long way. Trust that shows you are present and you are caring towards your readers.
Join Groups: Set up genre discussion groups on good reads like Fantasy, Mystery or Romance. Join groups that pertain to your book's genre and interact with posts within the groups. Stay active, but do not overdo it to the point of looking like an advertisement.
Host Author Q and A Sessions: As an Author, you can create an engaging experience on your Goodreads author page by letting the readers ask anything concerning books or writings, among other things.
4. Giveaways to Boost Interest
One of the best features provided by Goodreads to authors is Goodreads Giveaways. Authors can use this option to allow members willing to read their books to access the books free of charge. This can help create excitement about your book, improve your ranking as an author, and build anticipation for new releases.
How Goodreads Giveaways Works:
Start Your Giveaway: You can set up giveaways for both hardcopy and Kindle versions of your books. Each of your giveaways will last for a particular duration, usually from 1 to 2 months. Promote Your Giveaway: As most users will want to give incentives, don’t stop promoting the contest on other social media platforms, newsletters, etc.
For most users, Goodreads is the starting point for searching books, so these books in Advanced Giveaways often receive a broader exposure display, and thus their visits to your page can significantly improve.
5. Encourage Readers to Rate and Review the Book
On platforms like Goodreads, reviews can make or break a title. A good fraction of readers are likely to search for reviews before deciding which book to read next. Therefore, give appropriate instructions to your readers on how to rate and review your book, but always remain ethical.
Approaches to Ask for Reviews:
Utilize Follow Up Emails: With the supporters, send out a polite note thanking them for their help with the book. The note should request them to review the book.
Social Platform: Remind your followers to post their reviews and ratings of the book on Goodreads and inspire them to share their thoughts on other platforms.
Whatever the review is, show appreciation: Showing that you appreciate their hard work goes a long way, regardless of what the reviews have to say.
When others see that there are good reviews for the book, this will encourage them to try out the other books, which in turn increases the visibility of your other publications.
6. Join in on Goodreads Ads
Goodreads allows authors to directly market to particular readers through ads, which can aid in improving visibility and sales. This can definitely be beneficial to writers trying to market their books.
How does it work?
Create an Ad Campaign: Provide a brief description to advertise your book on Goodreads and it will show on multiple pages.
Target Specific Audiences: Goodreads allows you to filter the ads by genre, location, and even genre which means that the ad shown is to people who stand a better chance of buying your book.
Track Your Results: You can track the impression and clicks your ad receives which assists you in formulating a better strategy.
Although it can be pricey, Goodreads Ads are very effective in reaching targeted readers looking for new books.
7. Use the Ask the Author Feature
Readers can ask you questions directly on your Goodreads author page using the Ask the Author feature. This is not only insightful for the audience, but allows you to give them a glimpse into your writing journey and discuss your book’s themes.
Hacks For The “Ask The Author” Section
Be Timely: Respond to all queries on time. Interaction with readers confirms that they can contact you and that you are responsive.
Use this space to tell readers more about some processes of writing your book that they wouldn’t have any other way known.
When answering questions, an emotional bond is made with the audience which can result in them purchasing the book.
