Using Goodreads as a part of your author platform

Yesterday I talked about Wattpad as a great way to discover new writers and stories. There's another large and important website to consider as an author as a great way to reach readers: Goodreads.

Goodreads is a social media network dedicated exclusively to books. Put simply, readers create an account and create a list of the books they like. Books can be labeled as "to read," "reading," or "read." Once a book is read, readers can recommend that book and/or write a review.

Authors can create a special kind of account and be what is called a "Goodreads Author." In this scenario, you, as an author, have the designation of having a book recognized by Goodreads. It enables you to represent your work on the platform and for people who you interact with to know that you are an author and which books you have authored.

For an author, it's the kind of place where you want people to be talking about you. If you're an author, here are three ways to use Goodreads that will help you build your author platform and connect with readers.

1. Personal touch: As an author, you have a great opportunity to connect with your readers. Anyone who lists your book as "to read," "reading," or "read" is doing so in a social way, and you are free to reach out to them. Imagine if an author of a book you read actually contacted you- it can be the kind of personal touch that makes that person remember you well and recommend your book out to others like their friends.

2. Free book giveaways: As an author, you can easily schedule a Goodreads giveaway. For this, you register your book, write a short description or offer up an excerpt, and put it out to the Goodreads community. Goodreads does the rest. Anyone interested can apply to get a free copy of your book. I did this with my book for one week and got 334 applications for a copy of my book, with no promotion on my part. It was simple. Goodreads handled choosing the four people (I had chosen to offer four free copies of my book) who would receive the free books. All I had to do was autograph the books and mail them out. Great marketing.

3. Feedback: Whether good or bad, hearing what readers think about your book is an amazing opportunity. For one, it can help you decide what to focus on or improve in your next book. Also, you can understand who is reacting positively to your book and adjust your wider marketing efforts to key on those kinds of readers.

Have any of you used Goodreads as an author or as a reader?

Image courtesy of screenshot via Goodreads