Goodreads Author Program listing
Author profiles on the largest book discovery community.
Book directory · goodreads.com
- Cost to list
- Free
- Approval
- Reviewed in days
- Link type
- Dofollow link
- Checked on a live listing
- Shows up in searches for
- 1 business type
- Top directory for 1
- Popularity
- Tranco #481
- #34 of 1,712 directory sites
- Countries
- Worldwide
Checked Oct 20, 2026 · 2 sources
Is Goodreads Author Program worth it?
Our reading of the measured data, not a score.
Yes, for authors.
Goodreads Author Program made Google's top 10 in 2 of the 3 buyer searches we ran for the 1 business type it accepts, and was the top-ranked directory for 1 of those types. Listing is stated as free. Profile links are reported dofollow.
- Strongest for
- Authors
What works
- The top-ranked directory in Google for 1 business type, out of the 100 we searched
- Free to list
- Dofollow profile link (we checked a live listing)
- One of the most-visited directory sites: #34 of 1,712 by Tranco
Watch out for
- [HTTP 200 on 2026-10-20 curl check]
Measured fit, by business type
How often Goodreads Author Program made Google's top 10 in our US buyer searches for the types it accepts.
- Authors 2/3
Strong · best #7
Where Goodreads Author Program shows up when people search
We ran 399 real buyer searches (Google US, desktop) for 100 business types on Oct 20, 2026 and recorded which directories made the organic top 10. Local packs and ads are not counted.
Goodreads Author Program accepts 1 business type we measure. Here is every one, with what Google showed instead, so you can see where a listing would and wouldn't be found.
- Authors2/3
Goodreads Author Program ranked as high as #7 in 2 of these searches. Directories of any kind held 12% of the top-10 spots.
- Directories
- r/Entrepreneur 1/3
- Other sites
- reddit.com, cmswire.com, karllhughes.com
Searches: “best fantasy books 2026”, “best self help books”, “best business books” result
Bars show the searches where it made the organic top 10. "Directories" lists the tracked directories that did rank for the same searches, with their hit count. How we measure
What Goodreads Author Program costs and who can list
As stated on Goodreads Author Program's own pages or reported by a named source. Checked Oct 20, 2026.
- Who can list
-
- Authors
Census audience: authors, publishers · Worldwide
- Pricing
-
Free
- 'Any author, anywhere in the world, can join the Goodreads Author Program for free.' Giveaways/advertising are separate promotional options.
- Approval
- Reviewed in days. Claim existing author profile: sign in, find your author page, click 'Is this you? Let us know!' and submit application; 'We will send you an email when you're approved within 2 business days.'
- Link attribute
- Dofollow link. We checked a live listing on Oct 20, 2026: goodreads.com/author/show/38550.Brandon_Sanderson.
- Requirements
- Goodreads account; a published (or soon-to-be published) book already in the Goodreads database; application via desktop site.
Prices and rules change; the linked pages are the authority.
How to get listed on Goodreads Author Program
- 1
Prepare your details
Goodreads Author Program asks for: Goodreads account; a published (or soon-to-be published) book already in the Goodreads database; application via desktop site.
- The community's own rules, read before posting
- An account with some genuine history
- A post that is useful on its own, not just a link
- Product URL, short description and images
Our standard checklist for this kind of site (community and consumer site), not a list published by Goodreads Author Program.
- 2
Open the submit page
goodreads.com/author/program - 3
Approval: reviewed in days
Claim existing author profile: sign in, find your author page, click 'Is this you? Let us know!' and submit application; 'We will send you an email when you're approved within 2 business days.'
- 4
Check the watch-outs
1 thing to know before you post.
Goodreads Author Program alternatives
Ranked by the same evidence: Google top-10 appearances for the business types Goodreads Author Program serves, then audience fit, then Tranco popularity.
Questions about Goodreads Author Program
Is Goodreads Author Program worth it for getting listed?
Yes, for authors. Goodreads Author Program made Google's top 10 in 2 of the 3 buyer searches we ran for the 1 business type it accepts, and was the top-ranked directory for 1 of those types. Listing is stated as free. Profile links are reported dofollow. This is our reading of the measured data.
How much does a Goodreads Author Program listing cost?
Free. What we found: 'Any author, anywhere in the world, can join the Goodreads Author Program for free.' Giveaways/advertising are separate promotional options.. Checked Oct 20, 2026.
Is a link from Goodreads Author Program dofollow?
Dofollow link, as reported in our census.
How do I get listed on Goodreads Author Program?
Start at goodreads.com/author/program. Approval: reviewed in days (Claim existing author profile: sign in, find your author page, click 'Is this you? Let us know!' and submit application; 'We will send you an email when you're approved within 2 business days.'). Have your details ready first (see "How to list" above).
What are the best Goodreads Author Program alternatives?
Ranked by the same evidence: r/Entrepreneur. The full list of 1 is above, with the searches each one appeared in.
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