There’s a powerful new connection between book discovery and book sales—and it’s great news for independent authors.

Just in time for Prime Day (July 8–11), Amazon has launched a feature that syncs Goodreads shelves with Amazon shopping lists. That means when a reader adds a book to their Want to Read shelf on Goodreads, that same book now appears in their Amazon browsing experience—front and center when they’re most ready to buy.

Many authors approach their book launch like a rocket launch: they build excitement leading up to publication, have a strong blast-off the first few weeks after, and then… hope momentum carries them into orbit.

But here’s the truth: a book’s publication date is not its expiration date.
In fact, the window for real, sustainable success stretches well beyond the first few months.

For authors, book reviews are more than just feedback from readers—they're a critical component of a book's success. Reviews impact algorithms on platforms like Amazon, influencing potential readers' purchasing decisions. All of this may appear to be common knowledge but did you know reviews even play a significant role in whether retailers choose to stock a title. In this article, we'll explore best practices for generating reviews and dive further into the ways they help promote your book and brand.

Marketing is a constantly evolving landscape, often marked by unpredictable shifts in trends and strategies. At Greenleaf Book Group, our team is dedicated to equipping authors with best practices they can implement independently while also offering services to support the ongoing promotion of their books and brands. In this final Learning Center article of the year, we’ve highlighted four essential strategies and changes to prioritize as you prepare for 2025.

As the social media landscape evolves, new platforms continually emerge to challenge established giants. One such contender is BlueSky Social, an invitation-only platform that has garnered significant buzz as a decentralized, community-focused alternative to X (formerly Twitter). BlueSky reached an all-time spike in sign-ups during the few weeks following the 2024 election. But will BlueSky continue to grow, and should authors—fiction and nonfiction alike—consider it a viable marketing platform to expand their reach and promote their books?

As the year comes to a close, authors have a unique opportunity to capitalize on the momentum of the holiday season and the anticipation of the new year. Whether you’re trying to increase sales, connect with readers, or simply gain more visibility, the final months of the year are a great time to implement fresh marketing strategies. Here are seven actionable ideas to help you end the year strong and prepare for the next one.

Goodreads is the world's largest community of book lovers, with over 135 million readers and members. And the best thing about it? Everyone on there wants to talk about books. Goodreads is great at helping readers discover the next book they will love. Additionally, it is a wonderful site for publishers and authors to connect with potential readers.

Goodreads has created tools and profile pages that allow authors to talk to readers and promote their books in a unique way. This is what Goodreads is about building a strong reader community. What you may not realize as an author is that there is a role for you in this community as well.

Many authors want the distinction of being labeled an Amazon bestseller but aren't sure how to get there. Trying to become a bestseller can seem like a complicated or elusive process when you're doing it alone. Here are some tips that we’ve learned over the years for how to set yourself up for success when you’re working towards bestseller status.