Themself Giveaway Evaluation

I promised to do some evaluation of my Goodreads Giveaway. Before the Themself Giveaway on Goodreads there were six reviews averaging four stars (1 x 2, 3 x 4 & 2 x 5 stars). Another 28 people had it on their ‘to read’ shelf. Overall I doubt there were 100 copies already out there. I know for sure that I’d sent out 10 paperbacks for review, as well as emailing some ebook versions.

Evaluation of the Goodreads Giveaway

The Goodreads Giveaway offered up to 100 ebooks to people with a Kindle registered to Amazon.com. I also offered anyone that commented on the announcement post an ebook.

As at midnight on 21 March 192 people had requested a copy. 174 of those added it to their shelves.

The Costs

There’s two ways to measure cost. One is to look at the cash cost, and the other is to look at lost income from giving away something that people might have paid for. I’m only really going to worry about the cash side, although there might be something to the lost revenue. Goodreads is charging $119 for a standard kindle giveaway, but I got mine in a half price offer.

Benefits

What have I gained? Two ratings (a one star and a five star) and two reviews (one a placeholder, so I might still get a review from that person). Two people seem to be reading the book (in addition to the one that didn’t like it). Another 14 have added it to their shelves after the giveaway closed.

According to KDP there have been precisely zero sales and zero pages read.

Evaluation Verdict

Only three weeks past the end date, so perhaps a little early to be certain. Perhaps my book is a bit Marmite, which I’m ready to accept because it’s a collection of different things.