This presentation was given at Book Expo America on May 29, 2014. It covers many of the ways that authors and publishers can use Goodreads to drive discovery of their titles. Features covered include: giveaways, Ask the Author, groups, and more

1. Advanced Tips to Drive Book Discovery

2. To Help Readers Find and Share
Books They Love
Our Mission

3. 13 million books discovered a month

4. 13 million books discovered a month
300 books are marked to-read

7. “I’ve tried every expensive thing there was -
giving away gift cards, giving away iPads,
the whole thing - but what I’ve found is that
what people really want is just to hang out
with me. That’s what they really value.”
- Bella Andre
NY Times bestselling author of
The Sullivans series

8. Stephen King became my
friend on Goodreads! This
is the same man whose
books I have been reading
when I was a boy, and who
was always there with a
new novel every year as I
grew up. … The sheer
possibility that he might
now know that I exist
is amazing and totally
made my day.” "
- Maciek (Goodreads member)
“

10. Dan Brown Isabel Allende Khaled Hosseini
Kristin Hannah Deepak Chopra Kresley ColeJesmyn Ward
Susan Ee Daniel Goleman Sylvia Day
Michael
Cunningham B J Novak
JoJo Moyes
James McBride
James Patterson
Announcing Ask the Author

11. Dan Brown Isabel Allende Khaled Hosseini
Kristin Hannah Deepak Chopra Kresley ColeJesmyn Ward
Susan Ee Daniel Goleman Sylvia Day
Michael
Cunningham B J Novak
JoJo Moyes
James McBride
James Patterson

12. Readers Love It!

13. Insider Details

14. Popular Questions

15. Asking Each Other Questions

16. Having Fun

17. Ask the Author Tips

18. Ask the Author Tips
• Set expectations

19. Ask the Author Tips
• Set expectations
• Post interesting answers

20. Ask the Author Tips
• Set expectations
• Post interesting answers
• Space out your answers

21. Ask the Author Tips
• Set expectations
• Post interesting answers
• Space out your answers
• Ask other authors questions!

22. Authors as Tastemakers

23. Authors as Influencers
11/21/13 12/11/13 12/31/13 1/20/14 2/9/14 3/1/14 3/21/14 4/10/14 4/30/14
300
0
50
100
150
200
250
BooksAdded

24. Authors as Influencers
11/21/13 12/11/13 12/31/13 1/20/14 2/9/14 3/1/14 3/21/14 4/10/14 4/30/14
300
0
50
100
150
200
250
BooksAdded
?

25. Authors as Influencers
11/21/13 12/11/13 12/31/13 1/20/14 2/9/14 3/1/14 3/21/14 4/10/14 4/30/14
300
0
50
100
150
200
250
BooksAdded
?

26. Authors Innovating
Kailin Gow

27. Authors Innovating
Brent Weeks

28. Publishers Innovating

29. Publishers Innovating
What: Re-read of first two
books in series to promote
worldwide launch of book
three
Discussion: lead jointly by
both publishers, author
participation for one hour
at the end of each book
Ads: publishers shared
their ad budgets to enable
a larger buy
Participants: over 1300
group members to date

30. Add Goodreads reviews to author site

31. Add Goodreads reviews to author site

32. Giveaways as Social Ads
“When I first wrote SLAMMED, I had never heard of Goodreads
before…The first thing I noticed was the potential for free
advertising. I realized that any time a reader rated or commented
on a book review, it showed up in their newsfeed, as well as their
friends newsfeeds. What better way for word of mouth to spread
than by actually having links to your books pop up in people's
feeds....where they come to find books!”
— Colleen Hoover, bestselling author of Slammed

33. Giveaways as Social Ads

34. Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT

35. Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT
• Start early: 3 to 5 months pre-publication

36. Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT
• Start early: 3 to 5 months pre-publication

37. Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT
• Start early: 3 to 5 months pre-publication
• Give it time: run giveaway at least 1 month

38. Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT
• Start early: 3 to 5 months pre-publication
• Give it time: run giveaway at least 1 month

39. Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT
• Start early: 3 to 5 months pre-publication
• Give it time: run giveaway at least 1 month
• Offer more books: more books = more reviews

40. Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT
• Start early: 3 to 5 months pre-publication
• Give it time: run giveaway at least 1 month
• Offer more books: more books = more reviews

41. Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT
• Start early: 3 to 5 months pre-publication
• Give it time: run giveaway at least 1 month
• Offer more books: more books = more reviews
• Do it again: run multiple giveaways for each title

42. Giveaways Best Practices
9/1/13 9/15/13 9/30/13 10/16/13 11/1/13 11/17/13 12/3/13 12/19/13 1/3/14 1/17/14 2/1/14 2/15/14
800
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
BooksAdded
Giveaways promoted with ads
Giveaways without ads

43. People who have added the book to their to-read
shelves receive an email on the publication date.

44. Personal Selection Email.
Distribution: Users who have rated an
author’s book more than 3 stars. (Author
must have more than 30,000 total ratings)
"
Open Rate: 25-40%
Target an author’s fans with this direct
email showcasing a new release.
Include a personal message from the author

50. “

51. Lost Lake is #5 on the New York
Times Bestseller list! This has a ton to
do with Goodreads I'm sure!! It was
basically all we did!!”
"
Lisa Senz
St Martin’s Publishing
“

52. “
Michael J. Sullivan

53. “
Michael J. Sullivan
From that humble
beginning, my audience
has exploded.
“

54. Michael J. Sullivan
100,000+ Added to Shelves

55. Michael J. Sullivan
100,000+ Added to Shelves
50,000+ Ratings

56. Michael J. Sullivan
100,000+ Added to Shelves
50,000+ Ratings
4,000 Reviews

57. Michael J. Sullivan
100,000+ Added to Shelves
3 Goodreads Choice Awards Nominees
(2010, 2012, 2013)
50,000+ Ratings
4,000 Reviews

58. I think another reason
why I’ve been so
successful is that I take
advantage of everything
that Goodreads offers.”
"
- Michael J. Sullivan
“
“

60. Be a Reader First

61. Michael J Sullivan
Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14
8000
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
booksshelved

62. Michael J Sullivan
Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14
8000
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
booksshelved

63. Patrick Brown
Director of Author Marketing
pbrown@goodreads.com