Learn effective strategies for authors to promote, manage, and interact with readers in our authors Goodreads Guide!
Goodreads is the world’s largest social media platform 100% dedicated to books, authors, and readers who love books. In our authors’ Goodreads guide, we’ll cover setting up your account, optimizing your author profile, interacting with readers, and some of the lesser-known features of Goodreads.
If you’ve been trying to promote your books on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or other social media platforms, you already know that it can be difficult to cut through the noise.
Unless you’re willing to spend a lot of money on advertising and promoting posts, traditional social media platforms can be pretty frustrating for authors. Especially new self-published authors with limited budgets. That’s why learning to master a platform like Goodreads is an absolute must-do for new authors.
For Canadian authors still considering whether or not Amazon KDP is the best self-publishing platform for them, check out The Complete Guide to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover everything you’ll need to know about getting started on Amazon KDP for the first time.
What Is Goodreads and How Did It Start?
Goodreads was founded in 2006 and officially opened to authors and readers in 2007. In a deal worth approximately $150 million, Amazon officially purchased Goodreads in 2013.
“Goodreads has helped change how we discover and discuss books and, with Kindle, Amazon has helped expand reading around the world. In addition, both Amazon and Goodreads have helped thousands of authors reach a wider audience and make a better living at their craft. Together we intend to build many new ways to delight readers and authors alike,” said Russell Grandinetti, the vice president of Kindle content at the time, when announcing the impending sale of Goodreads to Amazon.
While many authors and readers at the time were heralding it as the end of Goodreads, and the beginning of the end for the much-loved book platform, it’s still growing and still going strong.
It might have changed a little along the way, but it’s largely still the same, and still growing by the day.
Now owned by Amazon, and with over 150 million members and growing, it’s essential that new authors quickly learn how to navigate, manage their books, and interact with readers in this book lover’s paradise.
Goodreads was officially started as a way for readers to share not only what books they’re currently reading or finished reading, but which books they liked, loved, and also hated. Yes, be prepared for honest reviews, sometimes brutally honest.
One of the most powerful features of Goodreads is its book recommendations. Based on your reading data, the authors you follow, and your friends’ reading lists, Goodreads will recommend other books you may enjoy reading.
If you’re ready to self-publish your book and considering Amazon KDP, check out Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover everything you need to know about setting up your Amazon KDP account, uploading print and ebooks, and managing titles through your author dashboard.
Signing Up for the Author Program
An author’s Goodreads Guide wouldn’t be complete without an account setup tutorial.
Before you sign up for Goodreads, you need to understand that Goodreads isn’t always roses and sunshine. There are some serious reviewers on the platform, and some of the book reviews can be brutally honest. As an author, how you handle and respond to reviews, good or bad, should be carefully planned.
As soon as you publish a book on Amazon KDP, it will be automatically added to Goodreads. Once your book is on Goodreads, you’ll be able to apply to convert your Goodreads reader account into an author account.
The Goodreads Author Program will let you do things that aren’t available to regular readers and reviewers on the site. As an author, you can make book recommendations about the book titles you enjoyed and also promote your own book through giveaways. It will also give you an official Goodreads Author Profile page.
Your first priority after you sign up to be a Goodreads Author is to carefully read the Goodreads Author Guidelines.
Optimizing Your Goodreads Author Profile for Success
You need to complete your author profile by adding a compelling author bio, social media handles, website link, author photo, and links to any video trailers for your books. If you regularly write in your own blog, you can also sync it so that it updates on your Goodreads profile.
Remember, Goodreads isn’t just about you and your books. It’s about books, so make sure that you’re actively using the site, reading and reviewing books, making book recommendations, and updating your to-read list.
Leveraging Goodreads Through Your Readers
Getting legitimate book reviews can be hard, especially for new authors. However, one way to get reviews for your book is to point readers towards Goodreads.
The Goodreads Listopia feature is extremely beneficial for authors. It’s a sub-section on Goodreads where readers can compile genre-based and interest-based lists of books they enjoy.
Not only is it great for your book on Goodreads to make it into a Goodreads Listopia listing, but Google and other search engines love it too. If someone searches on Google for “the best hockey book,” one of the top results is often the Goodreads Listopia list.
Engaging with Readers on Goodreads
To take full advantage of Goodreads, you should be actively engaging with your readers. The first feature you should enable on your Goodreads profile is the “Ask the Author” feature, where you answer FAQs. It will also allow any readers or fans who discover your author profile on Goodreads to post questions for you to answer.
Another feature available to authors on Goodreads is the ability to host a Goodreads Group Q&A session. You can pre-schedule your Q&A session for a specific date and time. It’s perfect for pre-release promotions and launch events.
Join Goodreads Groups
Here’s a little Goodreads Etiquette tip for authors. Don’t join Goodreads Groups about your book unless they explicitly allow this in their rules or FAQs, as most groups don’t. However, feel free to join any other groups related to your genre or genres and books that you enjoy.
Because authors on Goodreads have a verified badge next to their name, any comments they make could have just a fraction more weight in a discussion. It also means if someone’s interested in learning more about you, they could click your author profile and follow you for future updates you make.
Be sure to check out this Goodreads Blog on How Authors Can Engage with Readers to learn more about engagement. Don’t forget, along with engaging with your readers, you can also connect, network, and engage with other authors on Goodreads.
Responding to Reviews on Goodreads and General Review Etiquette
Please remember that Goodreads was founded as a platform for readers to share books they love, and part of that process is leaving their feedback or reviews. As an author, it’s always tempting to respond to negative or positive reviews to try and explain something or defend your position, but don’t.
Just don’t do it. If someone leaves a review on your book, you should like it, and that’s it. Hit that like button, absorb their feedback, positive or negative, and move on.
Goodreads is supposed to be a safe space where authors can leave their honest feedback or personal opinion on a book.
Goodreads FAQs
- How do I join Goodreads as an author? ~ The first thing you need to do is create a regular account. Once you publish your book on Amazon, your book is automatically added and available on Goodreads; you can then apply for an author account.
- How do I get my author account verified on Goodreads? ~ First, log into your Goodreads account. Next, search for your book with your author’s name, and then hit the “is this you?” link. Complete the form, submit any required information, and wait. The Goodreads author approval and verification process typically takes 2-3 business days.
- Can I join Goodreads Groups as an author? ~ Yes. However, unless the group rules allow it, never join groups about your own book.
- Can I review other books as an author on Goodreads? ~ Yes. However, you shouldn’t leave reviews on your own books.
- Should I respond to readers who leave a negative or positive review on my book on Goodreads? ~ No. Most Reddit posts and discussion groups agree that authors shouldn’t respond to reviews, good or bad.
Authors Goodreads Guide | Conclusion
Goodreads isn’t just another social media platform that authors can afford to avoid. If you want to sell more books, managing and interacting with readers and reviewers on the popular book platform is essential. If you’re a new Canadian author and have any questions about Goodreads, drop a comment below.
Are you writing a book and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark Publishing, or Amazon KDP keyword and category research? Please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and formatting services.
Other Indie Publishing Group writing guides and articles that you may find interesting:
The Essentials of An Author Marketing Plan
Why Stripping Your Amazon Book Link Makes Sense!
Pen Names. Do You Still Get to Know The True Author?
Chrissy Hobbs is the owner and founder of Indie Publishing Group, a self-publishing services provider based in Ontario, Canada, which helps authors self-publish their books on Amazon KDP, IngramSpark Publishing and other self-publishing platforms. With over a decade of experience in the publishing industry and also being a best-selling children’s book author of The Day My Fart Followed Me to Hockey and Hockey Wars, you know your book is in good hands.
Chrissy Hobbs is the owner and founder of 
