Giving away a print copy of your book on Goodreads is one way to gain exposure for a new release, bump up your name recognition, and build excitement around your book. Goodreads makes the giveaway process fast and easy, as long as you have that print copy of your book. Goodreads giveaways are for new print books only (those not yet released or released during the last 6 months).
I recently ran a giveaway on Goodreads for one of my new releases. Over the course of about a week, 790 Goodreads members registered for a chance to win one of three paperback copies. Following the random drawing by Goodreads, I received an email notifying me of the winners and their addresses.
Pros
Signing up for the giveaway on Goodreads was free, and I believe I gained good exposure for my novel, continuing to build a readership base and perhaps reaching readers who don’t yet have an e-reader. I saw an enormous spike in Goodreads members adding my book to their to-read lists the day before the contest closed.
Cons
Paying for the paper books and shipping those books to the winners was a bit more expensive than gifting a few e-books to readers. Goodreads doesn’t allow e-book giveaways. Also, though the contest ended four days ago, either it’s a bit too early to see the increase in paperback sales from the giveaway – or those sales aren’t exactly racing in.
Tune in Oct. 25 for Goodreads Giveaways – Part 2. I’ll let you know if the sales eventually trickled in and give you the step-by-step how-to on the Goodreads giveaway program. In the meantime, to check out current Goodreads giveaways or to list a book as a giveaway, go to http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway.
It’s your turn, WG2E-land! Are Goodreads giveaways something you’ve tried? How did your experience go? Is a print-book giveaway something you think is a good idea on the eve of the e-reader era?
The Best of The WG2E Goodreads Guru’s Wishes — Tamara Ward
Tamara Ward is an Amazon Bestselling Romantic Suspense and Mystery Author. Storm Surge, the first novel in the Jonie Waters mystery series, released in 2011. Tamara is also a proud member of our WG2E Family.
Great info. I’ve done a Goodreads giveaway twice and both times it was fab exposure because lots of people added the book to their “to read” lists!
Thanks, Sibel. Glad to know you had a similar experience.
My first Goodreads giveaway for my fantasy novel “Shadows in the Stone” ends October 31st. So far 165 people added it to their ‘to read list’ and 720 people have signed up for a chance to win.
I haven’t heard or read about what these giveaways do for sales, but I’ll be interested in reading your update and comparing it with mine after it closes. The interesting thing that did happen was the day after I listed the book in the giveaway, a book was sold to someone who saw it there. They didn’t want the print copy, so bought the ebook.
I plan to do another giveaway next week after my proof for my romance novel “Pockets of Wildflowers” arrives from CreateSpace. This time, I plan to do three giveaways, giving away one book each time (instead of three at one time) to prolong that ‘just listed’ and ‘soon ending’ spot. I’ve seen others do this, list for a week, and then list again. The book is always in my face…and that’s a good thing.
Are print giveaways good? Personally I think they are because I love paper books and they aren’t going anywhere fast. The majority of readers still read paperbacks and I won’t ignore that fact. Also, the paperback is around longer, maybe even loaned to a friend or family member who may decided to check out your other books (ebook or paperback). Digital books get lost in a sea of other digital books until it is read or stumbled upon during ‘digital clean up’ and deleted.
The more ways you can get a book into a readers hands, the better.
Thanks, Diane. You make good points – and I like the idea of giving away one book at a time instead of three at once. And its encouraging to know that you made an ebook sale of a paperback book. Now that I think about it, my ebook sales may have risen a bit during the giveaway. I’ll have to look into that some more. Let me know how your giveaway goes, too! Good luck!
Tamara, Great to know about this…something I will use next month when my paper book is printed.
I had already planned to draw a couple of names for a free paper book giveaway from those on my newsletter list and those who had asked to be notified of the book’s release date. I’ll add in the Goodreads giveaway as well.
Goodreads is a terrific place to get your book noticed. (Your genre readers will find you.) Helps to join in on a couple of “discussion groups” as well.
Thanks for this!
Thanks, Monica, and good luck with your giveaways! Giving away copies to people on your newsletter list is a good idea; I bet they feel appreciated.
Thanks so much for the info, Tamara. I hadn’t know about the Givaway program at Goodreads. Wish I had, it’s too late for Magic In The Storm, but hopefully it won’t be long before my next book is out and then I’ll give it a try.
I can’t wait to hear how your sales go!
Hi, Merry, and thanks! I’m highly anticipating your next release… Magic in the Storm was so much fun!
To keep costs down on the giveaway, I just do one paperback each time. I don’t see any difference in numbers of people entering for 1 or 5 or 10 paperbacks. So the cost is about $10 for essentially a 1 week (or however long) ad on one of the biggest book social networks in the world. I think it’s great advertising, and having those people add to their TBR list at least mentally makes them think they might buy sometime in the future. But I look to Goodreads less for direct sales and more for exposure. You need several exposure hits before you’ll get the one that spurs people to click the “buy” button.
Oh hey! I have a giveaway going right now!
Thanks, Susan! Diane (above) has a similar strategy – 1 at a time. It’s good to know that you get the same exposure for 1 as you do for 3 books in a giveaway at the same time. Thanks for sharing your experiences! Good point also on the exposure. And good luck on the giveaway.
Good post to file away should a time ever come that I do print. . .Goodreads is a mixed bag for me. I see lots of people who have tremendous success using it. I find it very hard to use and have had little traffic on it.
Hi, Jamie! It can be a mixed bag, but I’m glad to see you’re on the site. Just remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for on GR, look for the teeny-tiny text link on the far right-hand side of the browser screen!
Great post, Tamara! I did a Goodreads giveaway a few years ago for a trad print book and I considered that it went well because we got many entries and ‘Adds’ from readers who probably had never heard of us before. I agree with Susan that it is an inexpensive way to gain some visibility. My current books are only in digital form now, but we will be doing print versions and a Goodreads giveaway was one promotion I had in mind for them.
Even if you don’t see immediate sales, those readers who entered your contest will know your name next time they see it.
Hi, Alicia, and thanks! Yes, name recognition helps. It’s too bad Goodreads doesn’t do ebook giveaways. Maybe someday…
I am in the middle of my first giveaway and starting another tomorrow with another book. I have noticed a significant spike in readers adding my book to read. Hooray! I have books on hand anyway, so I didn’t consider it an expense, except for the mailing, and I’m okay with that. You give, you receive. It’s an investment in readers. Sounds like a win/win to me!
Hi, Elizabeth! True, and, who knows, maybe those book on the to-read list will eventually turn into purchases!
Hi Tamara:
I think we did our Giveaways around the same time (because I was pestering you with questions). Like you, I think the results can’t be determined yet. I sent out three copies to my readers about two weeks ago and have gotten great reviews from them. More than 700 people entered the drawing, so we will see if that translates into sales. Also, I did have one book reviewer contact me who saw the book on the Giveaway site and asked to interview me, which was a good benefit.
Janice
That’s fantastic, Janice, and exciting that book reviews are up already from your giveaways. I like that a book reviewer made contact! Way to go!
Great post! I have a question…I published 6 short stories in a series last summer with my co-author, but only did print versions of the stories in sets of two (so 3 separate print books) this October. Would those qualify for the giveaway?
Hi, Stacey! Yes, they qualify. Any “free physical books,” as Goodreads calls ‘em, qualify. And since those physical books were just released, I’d think they do qualify. Here’s the link to sign up to list the giveaway: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/new. Before your giveaway goes live, Goodreads approves it (and then sends you a notification via email), so you’re golden! Good luck!
Cool, thanks!
Thanks for the great info, Tamara. I can’t wait to hear if it affected sales.
Me, too, Rhonda!
Great idea for a post, Tamara! I’ve done two Goodreads giveaways. Both resulted in lots of adds and exposure for the books, and I’m sure some sales as well. The first one netted an excellent review that I’ve used in tweets and in the front of my second book. And that reader told me he loaned the book to his wife, who also read it and enjoyed it, so now I have at least two more readers out there spreading the word. I consider them a success, and well worth the cost. I gave away 5 books each time. I might consider doing multiple giveaways instead to increase the exposure.
Thanks, Dana! Doesn’t hearing from a happy reader just make your day? Hearing about your happy readers made me smile, too!
I won’t be doing them, Tamara, since they only allow Print Books, which I totally don’t get. They’re an online site for books, and you can’t gift via the internet/online? Seems against the interests of most of their readership.
I’ve debated a great deal about whether or not to produce print versions of my books, but in the end, have decided for now, not to. I just don’t think they’re cost effective. And even people without Ereaders, read on their phones now or on tablets using the FREE Apps.
Forgot to mention though, that just being a presence on Goodreads and having your sites, social media profiles and blogs linked to it is great exposure in and of itself. And by now, I’ve had a ton of traffic from there due to my “First One is On Me” (Free Ebook), so it’s still a great site, and I use it a lot, even though I can’t use this particular tool.
Hi, D.D.! You’re dead on about it not making sense, an online book site not allowing online gifting of books. Who knows? Maybe they’re working on it. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the Goodreads membership traffic like you.
I’ve just started to look at the giveaways, so this post is very timely, Tamara. Thanks for the great info. I’m looking forward to part two.
Thanks, Sheila!
I adore GoodReads as a program and as a venue to meet other avid readers, but while the contests I’ve run there (probably 20 paperbacks given away between the two books) have netted some positive exposure of the actual paperbacks I’ve printed, mailed, and followed up with a note.
While I don’t expect everyone to love the books, it appears that 1/3 of winners don’t read the book at all . They do, however, rate it 3* and never write a review. 1/3 post something negative.
1/3 of the rest post helpful & thoughtful reviews. IThank you thank you, thank you!)
It’s odd. It’s almost as if a free $12 paperback and priority shipping is too much for some readers. NOTE: I’ve also done LibraryThing. Reviews after giveaways are almost non-existent.
Would love feedbzck on other’s experience!
Thanks, Lauren, for sharing your experience. I’ve not yet even tried a LibraryThing giveaway, though at least they allow ebook giveaways. I’ll keep you posted on my results, too.
Tamara – The nice thing about Library Thing is that it DOESN’T cost a thing. The second time I ran a giveaway, I personalized each winner’s email when I sent the book along. (10 winners per contest for me). That seemed to help get reviews.
Hi, Lauren! The LT giveaways sound fantastic. I’m hoping, one day, GR will come around and allow the ebook giveaways. I think it’d be a big boost to their site.
You can always offer a coupon to the losers who were interested in your books. As well as follow up to ask them to review the book since you can research their profile.
Good ideas! Thanks!