Goodreads giveaways - Am I doing something wrong?

Tome Keeper · 07-04-2011, 04:53 AM

I regularly use sites like NetGalley, Library Thing and Goodreads to obtain review copies for my blog. However even after entering 40 giveaways I have not won any. I don't have this issue on either of the giveaways run at Library Thing and have never been rejected at NetGalley. What am I doing wrong?!

What do Goodreads look for? The information on the sidebar seems more humorous than helpful. It is entirely random?

I'm just a bit feed up of browsing through for books that look interesting and taking the time to apply, to then never get anywhere.

mish · 07-04-2011, 08:25 AM

I also have much better luck on LibraryThing than Goodreads even though I enter less giveaways. GR has an algorithm that looks at many factors to determines the winner similar to LT, but I think LT's algorithm is much better...at least for me it is. I suspect there is more emphasis on randomness on the GR giveaway, while the LT algorithm focuses more on determining the best book to reviewer match.

I've been getting more than I can handle lately from LT's giveaways (both the early reviewers and the member giveaways) so I don't worry too much about the GR giveaways. I entered a bunch at LT thinking I'd never win anyway and ended up winning several...ack!

birdbrainbb · 07-04-2011, 02:22 PM

I think there's just WAY more people entering the GR giveaways compared to LT's giveaways. On LT maybe a max of 500 people will enter a contest for the same book, while on GR it's more like 1000+.

elemenoP · 07-04-2011, 05:24 PM

Apparently on Goodreads if you win a book, and then write a review in a timely manner, you are more likely to win more giveaways in the future. I entered about 5 giveaways when I first joined, won one, never reviewed the book, and I haven't won another since.

I guess this doesn't help you if you never won ANY, though.

eP

Tome Keeper · 07-04-2011, 05:32 PM

Thanks guys. I guess I'll just have to keep hoping.

Fbone · 07-04-2011, 07:36 PM

The amount of entries can lessen the odds. If there are only 1 or 2 copies offered, odds aren't good with 2000 entries.

I've noticed in the last few hours remaining for each giveaway the number of people entering can jump suddenly. Like an ebay auction.

Danielle · 07-04-2011, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tome Keeper

Thanks guys. I guess I'll just have to keep hoping.

Don't feel so bad, I've never won anything from Goodreads either but yet I know someone who has won a 7 of there contests.

GraceKrispy · 07-04-2011, 11:28 PM

I've never even figured out where the giveaways are on goodreads. I think I'm not a good goodreads user....

apbschmitz · 07-05-2011, 04:17 PM

Why bother with Goodreads' contests? If you're reviewing books for your blog, it seems to me you could simply send the author a note requesting a free review copy. Most authors are scrambling for any kind of attention and would, I suspect, happily send you a copy.

anamardoll · 07-05-2011, 04:26 PM

The GoodReads criteria (if they have any) strike me as terribly arbitrary. I have 500 reviews on their site, 900+ on Amazon, and a personal review blog, and I've won... 2 giveaways. Out of entering hundreds.

With NetGalley, they seem to have an unlimited number of licenses to give out. With GoodReads, there's usually not even a dozen copies. And a lot of them seem like "vendor trash", by which I mean ARCs well after the book has already been released. Now, I don't mind getting an ARC one tiny bit, BUT it does start to seem like they're using GoodReads as a recycling program.

Bottom line, I wouldn't take the rejection personally -- I think it's fairly random.

Tome Keeper · 07-06-2011, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apbschmitz

Why bother with Goodreads' contests? If you're reviewing books for your blog, it seems to me you could simply send the author a note requesting a free review copy. Most authors are scrambling for any kind of attention and would, I suspect, happily send you a copy.

Finding the authors is one thing, although I suppose I could use Goodreads for that.

Mostly because it's easier and quicker to use a giveaway rather than send x number of e-mails, and I also would feel very pressured to review very quickly if I had requested the book for review. By using an intermediate I feel less pressurised.

Tome Keeper · 07-07-2011, 02:51 PM

I wonder if the goodreads thingamajig takes into account complaining on Mobile Read? Just got my first book from goodreads!

07-04-2011, 04:53 AM	#1
Tome Keeper Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 1001201 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3 Keyboard, Surface Tablet, Android Smartphone, Laptop, Netbook	Goodreads giveaways - Am I doing something wrong? I regularly use sites like NetGalley, Library Thing and Goodreads to obtain review copies for my blog. However even after entering 40 giveaways I have not won any. I don't have this issue on either of the giveaways run at Library Thing and have never been rejected at NetGalley. What am I doing wrong?! What do Goodreads look for? The information on the sidebar seems more humorous than helpful. It is entirely random? I'm just a bit feed up of browsing through for books that look interesting and taking the time to apply, to then never get anywhere.

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07-04-2011, 08:25 AM	#2
mish Addict Posts: 215 Karma: 1930065 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA Device: PRS-350, Kindle 2	I also have much better luck on LibraryThing than Goodreads even though I enter less giveaways. GR has an algorithm that looks at many factors to determines the winner similar to LT, but I think LT's algorithm is much better...at least for me it is. I suspect there is more emphasis on randomness on the GR giveaway, while the LT algorithm focuses more on determining the best book to reviewer match. I've been getting more than I can handle lately from LT's giveaways (both the early reviewers and the member giveaways) so I don't worry too much about the GR giveaways. I entered a bunch at LT thinking I'd never win anyway and ended up winning several...ack!

07-04-2011, 02:22 PM	#3
birdbrainbb Addict Posts: 287 Karma: 2191035 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Anaheim, CA Device: Kindle Oasis, Kindle Paperwhite 5	I think there's just WAY more people entering the GR giveaways compared to LT's giveaways. On LT maybe a max of 500 people will enter a contest for the same book, while on GR it's more like 1000+.

07-04-2011, 05:24 PM	#4
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	Apparently on Goodreads if you win a book, and then write a review in a timely manner, you are more likely to win more giveaways in the future. I entered about 5 giveaways when I first joined, won one, never reviewed the book, and I haven't won another since. I guess this doesn't help you if you never won ANY, though. eP

07-04-2011, 05:32 PM	#5
Tome Keeper Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 1001201 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3 Keyboard, Surface Tablet, Android Smartphone, Laptop, Netbook	Thanks guys. I guess I'll just have to keep hoping.

07-04-2011, 07:36 PM	#6
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,313 Karma: 103930826 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	The amount of entries can lessen the odds. If there are only 1 or 2 copies offered, odds aren't good with 2000 entries. I've noticed in the last few hours remaining for each giveaway the number of people entering can jump suddenly. Like an ebay auction.

07-04-2011, 11:28 PM	#8
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	I've never even figured out where the giveaways are on goodreads. I think I'm not a good goodreads user....

07-05-2011, 04:17 PM	#9
apbschmitz Lord of Frogtown Posts: 149 Karma: 1154748 Join Date: May 2011 Location: St. Paul MN Device: Kindle	Why bother with Goodreads' contests? If you're reviewing books for your blog, it seems to me you could simply send the author a note requesting a free review copy. Most authors are scrambling for any kind of attention and would, I suspect, happily send you a copy.

07-05-2011, 04:26 PM	#10
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	The GoodReads criteria (if they have any) strike me as terribly arbitrary. I have 500 reviews on their site, 900+ on Amazon, and a personal review blog, and I've won... 2 giveaways. Out of entering hundreds. With NetGalley, they seem to have an unlimited number of licenses to give out. With GoodReads, there's usually not even a dozen copies. And a lot of them seem like "vendor trash", by which I mean ARCs well after the book has already been released. Now, I don't mind getting an ARC one tiny bit, BUT it does start to seem like they're using GoodReads as a recycling program. Bottom line, I wouldn't take the rejection personally -- I think it's fairly random.

07-07-2011, 02:51 PM	#12
Tome Keeper Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 1001201 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3 Keyboard, Surface Tablet, Android Smartphone, Laptop, Netbook	I wonder if the goodreads thingamajig takes into account complaining on Mobile Read? Just got my first book from goodreads!

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