Goodreads Ebook Giveaways

[Daniel]

Authors have been asking for ebook giveaways at Goodreads since they stopped doing them a few years ago. Goodreads have apparently brought them back in a beta program:

Goodreads Introduces Kindle Ebook Giveaways Beta Program (U.S. market)

Notes of interest from the article:

• Beta will be for Amazon Publishing only. KDP authors have to wait.
• The US is the only market covered during beta. Other Amazon markets may follow.
• The giveaway system works through Amazon, so it is Kindle only. Goodreads manages the giveaway and Amazon manages fulfillment.
• The cost to run a giveaway is $119
• You can offer up to 100 free books and specify the time period for the giveaway.
• Print giveaways will continue to be free.

I'm not sure if I'll participate. I generally view Goodreads as a hostile environment and try to avoid it. However, if the giveaways work, I'm willing to enter the fray.

As a side note, I can't help but wonder if the recent crackdown on email ebook marketers is related to this new program somehow.

[ameliasmith]

May 10, 2016 9:16:44 GMT -5 Daniel said:

As a side note, I can't help but wonder if the recent crackdown on email ebook marketers is related to this new program somehow.

I can't see a plausible connection, but that doesn't mean there isn't one. I'd say that the whole email marketing racket is many multiples of users bigger than the Goodreads audience.

I'm considering trying this with my new book, too, but I'm hesitating to hand over the cash until I get more news of how it's working for others.