Goodreads VS LinkedIn, an author's perspective.
These are my personal reflections on how Goodreads (GR) compares with LinkedIn (LI), different authors may have other priorities. Many social media platforms have a professional page that gives more features than the standard; there is often a specific style of page for authors. GR has an accredited authors page; LI doesn’t have anything comparable, although I guess LI would say that, as the whole platform is for professionals, there’s no need.
Can you add links to your bio – GR yes, LI no! For a platform with link in the name, LI appears to have an allergy to links, especially those that leave the platform; often, a pop-up page appears and asks if you’re really sure you want to leave the hallowed halls of LinkedIn.
Total number of links - GR is effectively unlimited, as you can add them to your bio. There is also a website link in the headline. LI, 1 in the headline and up to 3 in the contact info box, assuming the person viewing your profile can find it.
Videos embedded on the profile page - this feature isn’t available at all on LI; no limits on GR, as it embeds YouTube vids. LI has a limit on video size, and it is only available on your profile if you create a post and then select it as ‘featured.’
Thumbnails to books - obviously, I want people to be able to find my books. LinkedIn is a professional platform, but I can’t actually promote my work; GR has a selection of thumbnail links to my books. There is no similar option on LI, although there is a publications section; I’ve never found a way to add thumbnails.
Groups, Friends/Connections, Followers (without connection) are available on both platforms.
Rating/reviews. They are only available on GR, although you can have endorsements on LI.
GR doesn’t list profile views, but the 3 profile views available without premium on LI represent less than 1% of my 90-day views. So, GR is 0% and LI is less than 1%, so it may not be the huge differentiator that LI might think it is.
Finally, the point to consider is how your profile looks to someone not logged in to the platform. For example, if they simply Google you, but don’t have LI/GR accounts, so can’t log in. This is where LI really fails; often, you encounter an authorisation wall, so they can’t view your profile at all. Even if the visitor can access your profile, the website link is hidden, and the contact info is not accessible without signing in, the GR profile is visible without restrictions. You can click hyperlinks, play the embedded videos, and click book thumbnails to jump straight to the book's Amz page, even when not signed in.
I’m not suggesting we all abandon LI for GR; they aren’t exactly a like-for-like comparison, but I would encourage authors to use the platform, especially as it’s free!!!
Can you add links to your bio – GR yes, LI no! For a platform with link in the name, LI appears to have an allergy to links, especially those that leave the platform; often, a pop-up page appears and asks if you’re really sure you want to leave the hallowed halls of LinkedIn.
Total number of links - GR is effectively unlimited, as you can add them to your bio. There is also a website link in the headline. LI, 1 in the headline and up to 3 in the contact info box, assuming the person viewing your profile can find it.
Videos embedded on the profile page - this feature isn’t available at all on LI; no limits on GR, as it embeds YouTube vids. LI has a limit on video size, and it is only available on your profile if you create a post and then select it as ‘featured.’
Thumbnails to books - obviously, I want people to be able to find my books. LinkedIn is a professional platform, but I can’t actually promote my work; GR has a selection of thumbnail links to my books. There is no similar option on LI, although there is a publications section; I’ve never found a way to add thumbnails.
Groups, Friends/Connections, Followers (without connection) are available on both platforms.
Rating/reviews. They are only available on GR, although you can have endorsements on LI.
GR doesn’t list profile views, but the 3 profile views available without premium on LI represent less than 1% of my 90-day views. So, GR is 0% and LI is less than 1%, so it may not be the huge differentiator that LI might think it is.
Finally, the point to consider is how your profile looks to someone not logged in to the platform. For example, if they simply Google you, but don’t have LI/GR accounts, so can’t log in. This is where LI really fails; often, you encounter an authorisation wall, so they can’t view your profile at all. Even if the visitor can access your profile, the website link is hidden, and the contact info is not accessible without signing in, the GR profile is visible without restrictions. You can click hyperlinks, play the embedded videos, and click book thumbnails to jump straight to the book's Amz page, even when not signed in.
I’m not suggesting we all abandon LI for GR; they aren’t exactly a like-for-like comparison, but I would encourage authors to use the platform, especially as it’s free!!!
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