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

5.
“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

6.
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)
“

7.
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

8.
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

9.
Readers Love It!

10.
Insider Details

11.
Popular Questions

12.
Asking Each Other Questions

13.
Having Fun

14.
Ask the Author Tips

15.
Ask the Author Tips
• Set expectations

16.
Ask the Author Tips
• Set expectations
• Post interesting answers

17.
Ask the Author Tips
• Set expectations
• Post interesting answers
• Space out your answers

18.
Ask the Author Tips
• Set expectations
• Post interesting answers
• Space out your answers
• Ask other authors questions!

19.
Authors as Tastemakers

20.
Authors as Influencers
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21.
Authors as Influencers
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22.
Authors as Influencers
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BooksAdded
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23.
Authors Innovating
Kailin Gow

24.
Authors Innovating
Brent Weeks

25.
Publishers Innovating

26.
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

27.
Add Goodreads reviews to author site

28.
Add Goodreads reviews to author site

29.
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

30.
Giveaways as Social Ads

31.
Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT

32.
Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT
• Start early: 3 to 5 months pre-publication

33.
Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT
• Start early: 3 to 5 months pre-publication

34.
Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT
• Start early: 3 to 5 months pre-publication
• Give it time: run giveaway at least 1 month

35.
Some Tips to Make Your Giveaway
GREAT
• Start early: 3 to 5 months pre-publication
• Give it time: run giveaway at least 1 month

36.
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

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
• Offer more books: more books = more reviews

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
• Offer more books: more books = more reviews
• Do it again: run multiple giveaways for each title

39.
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
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BooksAdded
Giveaways promoted with ads
Giveaways without ads

40.
People who have added the book to their to-read
shelves receive an email on the publication date.

41.
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

42.
“

43.
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
“

44.
“
Michael J. Sullivan

45.
“
Michael J. Sullivan
From that humble
beginning, my audience
has exploded.
“

46.
Michael J. Sullivan
100,000+ Added to Shelves

47.
Michael J. Sullivan
100,000+ Added to Shelves
50,000+ Ratings

48.
Michael J. Sullivan
100,000+ Added to Shelves
50,000+ Ratings
4,000 Reviews

49.
Michael J. Sullivan
100,000+ Added to Shelves
3 Goodreads Choice Awards Nominees
(2010, 2012, 2013)
50,000+ Ratings
4,000 Reviews

50.
I think another reason
why I’ve been so
successful is that I take
advantage of everything
that Goodreads offers.”
"
- Michael J. Sullivan
“
“

51.
Be a Reader First

52.
Michael J Sullivan
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7000
booksshelved

53.
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

54.
Patrick Brown
Director of Author Marketing
pbrown@goodreads.com