Since March 2016, Amazon has been offering both print and e-book giveaways. Goodreads, however, has only been allowing giveaways of print copies. As my author friend, Elle Boca, notified me the other day, this will no longer be the case.
Goodreads will be introducing its new Goodreads Giveaways program on January 9, 2018. It includes two packages, Standard and Premium. And for the first time, Kindle Direct Publishing authors can run giveaways for Kindle ebooks—a feature previously only available to traditional publishers. The new program, which replaces the current Giveaways program, will initially be for giveaways open to U.S. residents.
However, there is a catch: whereas the old giveaways were free, the new ones come at a steep price that starts at over $100. Specifically, from January 9, 2018, you can choose from the following two packages:
Standard Giveaway
(available in your choice of print book or Kindle ebook format).
- (NEW) Everyone who enters your giveaway automatically adds the book to their Want-to-Read list, promoting your book via updates in their friends’ updates feeds, and building an audience for your title.
- (NEW) The author’s followers and anyone who has already added the book to their Want-to-Read list get a notification, letting them know there’s a giveaway starting. This helps generate even more entries, creating more stories in the Goodreads updates feed.
- About eight weeks after your Giveaway ends, winners receive an email from Goodreads to remind them to rate and review your book. This will help other readers discover and decide to read the book too.
- Giveaways are featured in the Giveaways section of Goodreads.com, allowing readers to discover new books.
The new Standard Package is $119 per giveaway for either print book or Kindle ebook format, although throughout January Goodreads offers an introductory price of $59 (save 50%).
Premium Giveaway
(available in your choice of print book or Kindle ebook format).
A Premium Giveaway includes all of the benefits of the Standard package, plus Premium placement in the Giveaways section of Goodreads, giving your giveaway significantly more visibility and more entrants.
The new Premium Package is $599 per giveaway for either print book or Kindle ebook format, although throughout January the introductory price is $299.
New Giveaways created on or after 1/9/18 will initially be open to US residents only. Giveaways created prior to 1/9/18 will continue to run as scheduled, but will not benefit from any of the enhancements in our new Giveaways program.
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Thanks for sharing the update on the giveaway program on Goodreads. I had thought about using this but based on the price, it seems like programs would be more cost-effective. Hopefully, the giveaway program on Amazon KDP will not be changing.
Let’s hope so. I’ve never run any Goodreads giveaways, but Amazon ones have been a hit-and-miss affair so far.
Goodreads ‘free’ giveaways were never free for authors. I gave up on it ages ago… not one winner ever acknowledged receiving a book that was expensive to print and ship, let alone write a review.
As a Canadian, I find Amazon.com’s exclusion of sharing reviews on Amazon.ca unnecessarily unprofessional.
As I have a particularly soft spot for Canada, I know what you mean…
Well, the good news is that shipping costs can be eliminated which makes the added cost of giveaways go down a little easier. (spoken from someone who has never done a giveaway, LOL)
Lol – perhaps it’s the perfect time for you to take the plunge, before the price change kicks in!
Well, that leaves me out. They’ve really limited themselves by not going global.
That and the high prices need a rethink, IMHO.
I agree. In my current three giveaways I am offering the book in 17 countries (including Canada). Should I participate in a future giveaway that would not be possible.
They are not very inclusive, which means looking elsewhere for giveaways. 🙁
As usual, not cost effective for starving authors and of course, not available in Canada either. Wish Amazon would play fair and get out of the dark ages. 🙁
Oh, Canada… Sigh…
Yes. 🙂
This is sad news indeed. In effect, it ends Goodreads giveaways for many indie authors. Interesting that until you, Nicholas Rossi, posted this article, I had not seen this new policy publicized. This tells me Goodreads (and its emperor, Amazon) know this change will be widely unpopular. Thanks for the heads-up, Nicholas.
They seem to have shared via email with anyone who has already run a giveaway with them. To be honest, I hadn’t realized it was still under wraps. Just call me the accidental whistle-blower, then 🙂
Wow. Sorry to see free giveaways are going away. Thanks for letting your readers know.
Well, Amazon still allows them.
Thanks, Nicholas.
Yes, in addition to the fees the new giveaway will be restricted to the U.S. That is a huge difference. For example, I am currently giving away one copy each of the 3 books in my Paris Marshals urban fantasy series. The giveaway is open in 17 countries, including U.S, Canada, U.K. and Australia. If I want to do a giveaway after January 8, 2018 it will only be available in one country.
Perhaps because of the changes or because I have had giveaways for all the titles in the past so they are in readers lists the first of my giveaways opened Monday and already has hundreds of entries (see https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/268098-gypsies-tramps-and-weeia and https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/268094-weeia-on-my-mind and https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/267804-smells-like-weeia-spirit ).
I wonder what experiences authors and readers have had with the giveaway so date and how many plan to continue participating once the new terms become effective.
Many thanks for sharing your experience with this, Elle!
I hope it is helpful for your readers, fellow authors. Thanks for all the insights and updates you share!
Good to know, thanks. Of course, it’s only open to U.S. Residents, just like the Amazon Giveaways. I wish Amazon would see the potential of Canada and Canadian Readers.
A complain I hear remarkably often!
Oh well. As an aside, I helped Goodreads craft their new marketing giveaway program. It was lovely to work with the Goodreads staff. So friendly and took my advice seriously.
Sweet!! You reading my blog is now my claim to fame 😀
LOL! *bows* Like my husband says, “I’ll be here all week; try the veal.” 😉