This presentation details best practices for authors looking to build a platform on Goodreads. It includes information about the Goodreads Author Program, some tips and tricks, and a few case studies.

1. Building a Platform on Goodreads

3. Deep Reading Data
250,000,000
470 million books shelved, 210 million
200,000,000 growing at 20 million a month
150,000,000
Books Shelved
107 million
100,000,000
50,000,000
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

4. photo by o5com
7 million books discovered a month (added to to-read)
Every second... 4 books are discovered
on Goodreads

5. photo by StatueLibertyNPS
Build your platform

6. Goodreads Author Program
60,000 Authors
Jennifer Egan E.L. James Diana Gabaldon Neil Gaiman Veronica Roth
Gillian Flynn Meg Cabot Patrick Rothfuss James Patterson Anne Lamott

7. Make your author profile stand out!
Add your blog

8. Make your author profile stand out!
Shelve some books

9. Make your author profile stand out!
Update your fans

10. photo by Jesse Chan-Norris http://jcn.me
Get people talking

11. Your goal is to get reviews,
especially early in the life of your book.
Reviews help new readers discover your book
They help readers decide to read your book
Goodreads reviews work harder for you

12. What Happens on Goodreads ...
Doesn’t Stay on Goodreads
Goodreads Reviews on Goodreads Updates Shared on

13. Giveaways Help Kick Start Book Discovery

14. Multiple giveaways generate buzz
300
250
200
Books Added
150
100
Publication Date: May 21, 2013
50
0
9/10/12 9/30/12 10/20/12 11/9/12 11/29/12 12/19/12 1/8/13 1/28/13

15. Tips for a Successful Giveaway
Start early
Three months pre-publication is ideal.
Give it time
Run your giveaway for at least a month.
Offer as many books as you can
The more books you offer, the more reviews you’re likely to get.
Use the widget!
Promote your giveaway on Facebook, your blog,
and your Website.

16. Amplify Your Reach
Target your ad
Self-serve ads can be targeted by author and genre.

17. Meet your readers

18. Join groups to build your network
Groups are a great place to meet readers.
Be sure to join as a reader first and discuss books you’re
passionate about, not just your own book.

20. Bringing it all together

21. Finding an Audience From Scratch
160
Republished by S&S
140 4. Listopia
120
People who added to "to-read"
100
80 3. Recommendations
1. Giveaways
60
40
Published 2. Influencers
20
0
Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep

22. Mini Influencers Spread the Word

23. Finding an Audience From Scratch
160
Republished by S&S
140 4. Listopia
120
People who added to "to-read"
100
80 3. Recommendations
1. Giveaways
60
40
Published 2. Influencers
20
0
Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep

24. A Taste Based Algorithm
If you liked these books, thousands of other readers liked these similar books…

25. Finding an Audience From Scratch
160
Republished by S&S
140 4. Listopia
120
People who added to "to-read"
100
80 3. Recommendations
1. Giveaways
60
40
Published 2. Influencers
20
0
Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep

26. Listopia Allows for Browsing & Discovery

27. Mini Influencers Spread the Word

28. Mini Influencers Spread the Word
300
Acquired by Harper Collins
250
200
Books Shelved
150
100
Publication
50
0
5/3/12 5/16/12 5/30/12 6/13/12 6/27/12 7/11/12 7/25/12 8/7/12 8/20/12 9/2/12 9/15/12 9/29/12 10/14/12
Date

29. Mini Influencers Spread the Word

30. Useful Links
http://www.goodreads.com/author/program
Information about the Author Program, including who is
eligible and how to join. If you’re not yet a
Goodreads Author, this is a very useful page.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/how-to
Useful information on how to do anything and everything
in the Goodreads Author Program, including links to
giveaways, featured author groups, and more.
http://www.slideshare.net/GoodreadsPresentations
Previous presentations we’ve given, as well as
several slideshow tutorials.

31. Patrick Brown
Director of Community
twitter.com/patrickrbrown