Four Reasons Authors can Feel GOOD about Goodreads

Well, you can thank my good bloggy buddies Heather Sunseri and Tana Adams for forcing--er, suggesting I talk about Goodreads. Actually, I'm so glad they did, because it's one of my favorite online places to visit daily. :)

So what is Goodreads exactly? According to wikipedia, it's a website that permits individuals to sign up and register books to create their library catalogs and reading lists. It also allows users to create their own groups of book suggestions and discussions.

Sound cool? It is!

So who is joining Goodreads anyway? Book reviewers, librarians, authors, readers, and/or some kind of combination of that list.

I first joined just to have a bio linked to my books, but then it became much more. I still feel as if I have yet to tap into all the nuances of the website, but here are my...


TOP FOUR REASONS I FEEL GOOD ABOUT GOODREADS:

1**I can easily follow new blog posts.

One of the nice things about Goodreads is the ability to link your blog feed to your homepage. Once you do that, all your friends (as well as any new person checking out your page) can see your latest blog update. I've also discovered new blogs that I wasn't already following through Google Connect.

2**I can easily see what new books my friends are reading and what they have to say about them.

Sometimes people actually "suggest" reads to friends through the click of a button. But if you check in daily like I do, you can just scroll down and just see updates to what your friends are reading and decide on your own if you're interested. I got introduced to new books I never would have heard of otherwise.
In fact, one of my friends recently read and wrote a review for the Jenny B Jones book, Save the Date. Well, I happened to see her gushing review. So I checked it out and the book sounded so...me that I ordered it.

See how that works?

3**I can easily do more Social Networking.
FRIENDS: When I first started on Goodreads, I naturally gravitated to all my blogger friends first. I knew them, liked them, and was interested in what they were reading. Then I started to expand that...
In Kristen Lamb's book, We Are Not Alone: the writer's guide to social media, she suggested ways to find friends on Facebook and Twitter. I took those ideas to Goodreads, and started looking at readers who have read books I've read and enjoyed. Chances are, our tastes in books are the same, so I may send them a friend request. There is a chance they might read your book or add it to be read at a future time. It doesn't matter if they don't, because you'll still be seeing ratings and reviews for books you'd like to read. WIN-WIN. :)

GROUPS:
For authors, there are plenty of groups on marketing, blogging, and social networking in general where you can get and exchange ideas as well as meet other authors. Also, if you have an interest in a particular author or genre, there's a group out there on Goodreads for you. Some of these groups are great places to meet people who have similar interests (and even potential readers).

I recently joined a group there called "Clean Reads", a group of readers as well as authors who are looking for just that: a nice, wholesome clean read. I decided to join since that's exactly where my books belong, so I introduced myself and added by books to their catalog. Because of doing that simple thing, I've already gotten the nicest review for one of my books and have my other book added to their TO BE READ list.

4**I can easily participate in or host a giveaway.

Did you know you can get free new books there? Explore their giveaway section and see all books listed by genre. All you have to do is click on the book of your choice and you'll be notified if you win.

I joined Goodreads after my book was out and after I had already done blog giveaways, so I didn't get a chance to list there.

But you better believe I will list my next book on Goodreads and here's why:

Say you have 500 to 1,000 blog followers (and that's a good number) and you do a giveaway. Will you actually get all 500 to 1000 commenters trying to win your book? No, probably not. Maybe at best you'll get, 100 people really excited and anxious to get your book to enter your giveaway. That's good.

In fact, I'll be doing a little blog giveaway this Wednesday... (hint hint)


However, if you list a giveaway on Goodreads, you have the ability to run the contest for a longer period of time as well as get an expanded reader/viewership. I've seen anywhere from 1000 to 2000 people requesting to win on one book!!

Best yet, you've just been introduced to new people who've never seen your blog or heard of you before! And although the book winners aren't "required" to do a review, they are encouraged and most likely you WILL get one. Isn't that what really sells books in the long run?

More WIN-WIN!
And THAT'S really something to feel good about. :)


What about you? Have you joined Goodreads?
What do you like or not like about it?
Do you see the value as an author in joining?

You can find me on Goodreads HERE. :)