THE Group for Authors! discussion

I can't find the key to "add book links" on my author profile. How do I get there?

You can use the “buy links” hyperlink in the link below to set buy links for yourself

https://www.goodreads.com/help/show/4...

But they apply only to you, each user selects their own links

Hi Ginney,

When it comes to the links in the “Get a Copy” section of the book page, they aren’t direct, hardcoded links. Instead, they run a URL search on the selected store or library based on the specific ISBN (or ASIN, BNID, or other stocking number) for the book. These are user specific since they can be customized. Given this, we can't manually change the buy links that appear on the book page.

The best way to make sure the these links on your book page work for users is by having the correct ISBN or ASIN on the book details. If you'd like, you can send an email to support (at) goodreads (dot) com, and one of our experts will be glad to check that out for you. Just remember to include the links to your book pages and the correct ISBN or ASIN numbers for each book.

Hi Majo,

I posted something in the librarians' group re making the various links available to readers, and they directed me to this link.

I'd noticed my books link to Kobo and online stores, AbeBooks and Book Depository (although when I click on this one, it doesn't take me to the books). But I don't see a link to Amazon or Smashwords, Nook, Apple etc.

According to one of the librarian's, though, it looks like I need to have the ASIN rather than the ISBN so that clicking on the link will take a potential reader directly to Amazon.

I also see in the above response (to Ginney) that if I email support at Goodreads with the correct ASIN numbers for each book, someone can help me with this. Even though that response was posted over a year ago, does all this still apply?

Hi Paula, these links are customizable to the account holder. That is, each reader can decide what links appear on their account depending on where they like to get their books from. Feel free to check out your Book Links tab in your own Account Settings to see how it works.

To explain further, book links are a basic search feature intended to link to sites that have an ISBN search and have a large catalogue of books (booksellers, libraries, etc). They'll use the title or ISBN or ASIN provided on the Goodreads book page to search the site in question.

It's also worth mentioning that book links are not intended to link to sites about a particular book. — those are best placed in the "url" or "description" field of the book. Please ignore this bit of information crossed-out here as it is incorrect! 😳 Please see annob's message 6 below for more details.

I've checked your book pages and all your ISBNs and ASINs seem to be cataloged correctly for the various editions of your book and no action is necessary here. Readers should be able to find where to buy your books depending on how their own account book links are setup.

I hope this information helps.

Shaun wrote: "... book links are not intended to link to sites about a particular book — those are best placed in the "url" or "description" field of the book."

Hi Shaun! As one of your Librarians, I wish to add that 'links to external sites' are not permitted in the description field according your Librarian Manual, the rulebook for adding/editing Goodreads book records. :)

https://www.goodreads.com/help/show/404

And as an avid reader, I can confirm the way Goodreads have set up the Get a Copy links to be customisable per member works really well from a reader's perspective. I've got 30 of my favourite stores one single click away no matter which book page I view on Goodreads.

Shaun wrote: "Hi Paula, these links are customizable to the account holder. That is, each reader can decide what links appear on their account depending on where they like to get their books from. Feel free to c..."

Hi Shaun, many thanks for this!

annob wrote: "Hi Shaun! As one of your Librarians, I wish to add that 'links to external sites' are not permitted in the description field according your Librarian Manual, the rulebook for adding/editing Goodreads book records."

Oops, my apologies — you're correct! I have now edited my message 5.