My Goodreads Giveaway Experience

by @ AnnieDaylon

Indie authors have a lot of work to do in terms of marketing. If you are considering a paperback giveaway (as I did for Castles in the Sand), consider doing it through Goodreads. Here’s my experience:

• In July, I

  • Checked the details on Goodreads:
  • Contacted Goodreads with minor questions (got quick response)
  • Chose the dates (August 1-31).
  • Elected to give away 10 books.
  • Filled in, submitted the Form. Goodreads published the Giveaway almost immediately. (Super efficient!)

• During August, I

  • promoted through Twitter, Linked In and Email List.
  • set aside a box labeled “Goodreads Giveaway. Into it, I put 10 books, each with a bookmark, 10 mailing envelopes, 10 handwritten notes which congratulated winners and asked if they would rate/review the book on Goodreads.
    • Note: I left space for individual name on each note.

• On August 31st , I

  • checked Goodreads and discovered that there were 428 entries in the Giveaway.
  • checked my email. The list of winners was there, 5 in Canada, 5 in the USA. (Did I mention that Goodreads is efficient?)
  • made address labels for the winners
  • packaged the books
    • Note: If possible, keep size within post office limits. (In earlier attempts at mailing, I slipped books into corrugated covers. Mistake! Way too expensive! Use paper!)  Each of my books fit through the standard postal slots so regular mail fees applied. Fortunately, I live very close to the U.S. border, so I mailed books bound for the United States in the United States. Mailing costs? In Canada, $3.75/book. In the U.S., $2.53/book.

• In September, I

  • Read a wonderful email from an excited winner.
  • Received (to date) three reviews on Goodreads, one of which also appears on that reviewer’s website Book Reads and Reviews. (Many thanks to all who took time to rate/review the book!)
  • Emailed Goodreads to thank them for their support and efficiency.

Goodreads: Author’s Guide to Giveaways

For me the Goodreads Giveaway was an excellent marketing experience, one that I wish I had known about sooner. That’s the thing with going indie; so much to do! As I wrote to a helpful staff member at Goodreads, ‘I wish that I could assemble the minions! Alas, there is only me.’

But, then again, there is Goodreads!

My best to you,