GOODREADS: THE PLATFORM THAT CAN MAKE YOUR CAREER Michael J. Sullivan Riyria Revelations Riyria Chronicles Hollow World
GETTINGPRESENTATIONSLIDES Will be posted to my blog on Monday: www.riyria.com Along with links to some of the resources I ll speak about today. Both this presentation, and my presentation on Author Branding given in yesterday s PRO session
A LITTLEBITABOUTMYSELF Author Riyria Revelations, Riyria Chronicles, Hollow World Half a million English Language Books Sold 20 Foreign Language Contracts Self, small-press, and big-five At BEA (Book Expo America) Goodreads presentation used me as a case study for an author who does Goodreads right. #48 Most followed last 12 months; #43 Most followed last week (out of 78,000 authors + millions of readers)
A LITTLEBITABOUTYOU How many of you were at my session yesterday on branding? How many have published at least one book or article? How many are still in the pre-publication phase? How many are or want to be traditionally published? How many are or want to be self-published? Are there any hybrid authors in the audience: who both self and traditionally publish?
THREETHINGSTHATMADEMYCAREER Wrote books that people wanted to read Connected with book bloggers to get reviews/interviews Early adopter of Goodreads Member since October 2008 19 Giveaways 2 Publisher funded marketing campaigns 3 Goodreads Choice Nominee Featured in Goodreads Newsletter Featured author in Ask the Author rollout
NOMATTERHOWYOUPUBLISH USEGOODREADS It s where the readers are (twitter, pinterest etcall kinds of stuff but goodreadsis JUST books 2013 BEA Presentation (May 30, 2013) 18 million members 570 million books shelved 24 million books reviewed 11 million books discovered (added to-read shelves) 74,000 authors
WHATWECANDOTODAY I ve written volumes of information on this subject Can only scratch the surface in 50 minutes Going to hit the highlights Lots of time for Q&A Lots of resources for further study after you leave the conference
MANYAUTHORSFINDGOODREADSDIFFICULT An Author s Guide to Goodreads (reddit) Goodreads 101 -Part 1: Setting up your profile Good Reads 101 -Part 2: Tell me about your book Goodreads 201: Part 3: Introducing yourself Goodreads 201: Part 4:Introduction emails Measuring your Goodreads Results Putting your best foot forward http://www.reddit.com/r/write2publish/comments/1aqlo5/a n_authors_guide_to_goodreads/
GOODREADSHELP Slide share 22 Presentations Goodreads 201 Advanced Technique Marketing your books on Goodreads Building a Platform on Goodreads Your Guide to Giveaways Your Guide to Author Promotions http://www.slideshare.net/goodreadspresentations/presentations On the site Guidelines for Authors Author Program How to
GETTINGSTARTEDWITHGOODREADS Optimize your Goodreads Profile Page Claim your page Make sure all your books are showing Link to your blog Post some sample chapters Find appropriate groups Post a book in author s section Create some email templates Do a giveaway Track your results
AUTHORPROFILE
AUTHORPROFILEDETAILS Identifies you as a Goodreads Author Use your long bio like discussed in yesterday s session Use italics, bolding, and pictures to make it standout Automatically adds blog posts to Goodreads NEW: Ask the author Q&A with readers
GROUPS: THEMOSTIMPORTANTPLACE ONGOODREADS Few authors seem to know or use them Check the rules!! Find groups that match your genre Usually have a section for author s to post Usually do monthly polls to choose to read books BE A MEMBER FIRST
GROUPS: AUTHOR SSECTIONPROMOTIONPOST Thank them for opportunity Graphic or book cover 15 word headline (from yesterday s presentation) One paragraph back of book blurb Reviews (with links) Any accolades Most anticipated books Best book of 2013
PRIVATEGROUPS By invitation only Exclusivity = desirability Part of the in-crowd Secret -what is said in the group stays in the group No posts are sent out to the person s feeds Give them special things they can t get anywhere else Short story, afterword, playlist used when writing books
EMAILSIGNATURES
EMAILSIGNATURES Shows pictures of your books Links to Goodreads pages Can create links to books not yet published Do a search on the book title Use the Manually add book on the far right Eliminates need to push your book
GIVEAWAYS Choose your categories well Doesn t have to be a ton of books 1-2 is fine Make a compelling description Start early (pre-order) Run for about 30 days Use the widget to advertise Can run several for the same book
GIVEAWAYS: DOTHEMOFTEN
TRACKRESULTS: AUTHOR SDASHBOARD Summary of all your books Overall rating how much people like your books How many people are shelving and have read the books
TRACKRESULTS: BOOKSADDED TOSHELF
TRACKRESULTS: UNIQUEREADERS(ADD TO SHELF)
TRACKRESULTS: MONTHLY
INCONCLUSION You build an audience one reader at a time goodreadsis where you connect with them. Be a member first You get what you give Even a small-fry can be a star Keep at it you ll build over time
CONNECTINGWITHME Email: michael.sullivan.dc@gmail.com Twitter: @author_sullivan Website: www.riyria.com Publishing articles: Amazing Stories Magazine Reddit: /r/fantasy /r/writing /r/write2publish