goodreads book review jobs

How To Be A Top Reviewer on GoodReads

Have you ever wanted to know how to be a top reviewer on GoodReads? Then, you are in the right place!

Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Lisa of Troy , and I am currently rated as the #4 US book reviewer and #7 in the world according to GoodReads. So how did I do it? In this article, I will teach you my three-point strategy for being a top reviewer.

Before we get into that, what exactly is a top reviewer? Every week on Wednesday, GoodReads publishes a list of its top reviewers. GoodReads rates each reviewer based on number of votes. What is a vote? A vote is every time someone clicked “Like” on a review.

So how do you get these votes? Take a look at my three-point strategy.

You need lots of GoodReads friends and followers. Presently, GoodReads allows people to have 5,001 friends. Great. How do you get friends? Every day, I would send the maximum number of friend requests permitted by GoodReads.

So should you just start friending people willy nilly? Nope. Definitely not. You want to look for two things in a potential GoodReads friend: A)People who are active on GoodReads (not someone who last signed in 3 years ago or someone who only signs in once a quarter) AND B) Someone who has the same interest in books as you (For example, if you only read fantasy books and your potential friend only reads romance books, it is going to be really difficult for you to comment and like each other’s reviews).

You should also send a friend request to all of the top GoodReads reviewers . These people are also looking for votes, and you will likely be able to give each other votes.

Will everyone accept your friend invite? Nope. Some people will not accept your friend request, and that’s ok. You will need to make the first move if you want to be a top reviewer though.

2. Engagement

To receive votes, you need to give votes. I return every single like that someone sends me. You can also go through your feed and like your friends’ reviews. Additionally, you can lookup books on GoodReads and like reviews that you enjoy.

Comments do not count as votes. However, comments are helpful because depending on the commenter’s settings, they might push your review to their feed. For example, someone with 1,000 friends comments on my review. This review is then published to that person’s feed, and an additional 1,000 people are now viewing my review. This is great exposure!

If someone leaves a comment on your review, make sure to respond. This is a nice way to acknowledge some of your most loyal fans. If you are starting out, consider leaving a thoughtful comment on some of the top reviewers’ reviews.

This should be no surprise here, but if you want to be a top reviewer on GoodReads, you will need to read books (and regularly).

Do you have to read a book every single day? No. Some reviewers will repost old book reviews. However, if you repost 10-30 old book reviews daily, your friends and followers will likely become angry with you for filling up their feeds in such an over-the-top manner, and they will defriend you.

Personally, I read about 100-200 books per year. I highly recommend reading books that you want to read, not following others or chasing the buzzy books if you don’t want to burn out.

This large quantity of books can be rather expensive so I would recommend obtaining free books from NetGalley and Libby . NetGalley is a website where you can request books that have not yet been published. If you are approved, you will be provided the book at no cost in exchange for leaving an honest review. Libby is an app that is through your local library. You can checkout eBooks and audiobooks for free!

Information on Being a GoodReads Top Reviewer

In addition to these three tips, I will offer a word of caution. If you want to be #1, you could spend all day and night, reading and sending out likes. You might want to determine at the outset how much time you want to devote to being a top reviewer on GoodReads.

Compensation

As a GoodReads top reviewer, there is no compensation. Many top reviewers have book blogs and/or YouTube channels which might be monetized. As far as myself, I have received $0 in compensation, but I have received many, many free books (both physical and eBooks).

Paying a Top Reviewer to Review Your Book

Can you just pay me to review your book? No. Why not? If I read a book, I need content for my channel. If your book is horrible, I will still have to post a review. Can I just lie and say your book is great? No. My integrity isn’t for sale. My friends and followers depend on me to tell them the truth. If you want someone to read your book, I would suggest utilizing NetGalley.

If you have any questions about how to be a GoodReads top reviewer, please let me know in the comments! Need more bookish thoughts? Check out my article on What’s Wrong with GoodReads !

2 thoughts on “How To Be A Top Reviewer on GoodReads”

Thanks for all the great tips! I just started using Net Galley, and I came across your blog and YouTube videos when researching how to maximize my experience. I’ve tracked my books on Goodreads for years, but this is a lot of helpful information I didn’t know.

Thanks, Lisa! Your insight and information are greatly appreciated.

Comments are closed.

Hand-Picked Top-Read Stories

Indonesia Introduces A New Remote Work Visa

Combat Work-from-Home Weight Gain: Prioritize Quality Nutrition 

30+ Zoom Ice Breakers to Energize Your Meetings

Trending tags.

• Work From Home
• Virtual Teams
• travel guides
• Remote working Tools
• remote working news
• Remote Working
• Remote Workers
• Remote work with pets
• Remote Work Tips
• Job Seeker Advice

Bookworm’s Dream Job: How To Get Paid To Read And Review Books

• Can I Get Paid To Read Books?

Table of contents

A. book reviewing, b. voice-over for audiobooks, 1. onlinebookclub.org, 2. kirkus media, 3. booklist online, 4. the us review of books, 5. bookbrowse, 6. audible/ acx, 7. findaway voices, 9. voice123, 10. bodalgo.

• Get That Dream Job!
• How To Make Money By Reading Books?
• Reading widely can help you gain an understanding of different literary genres.
• Build a platform for your reviews. This can include a blog, a social media account, or a website dedicated to book reviews.
• You can either reach out to publishers and authors directly to request review copies of their books or you can find review opportunities on websites like NetGalley, Goodreads, and Kirkus Reviews.
• Write reviews regularly and try to get them published on reputable websites or in literary magazines. This can help to establish you as a credible and respected reviewer and increase your chances of being offered more review opportunities in the future.
• Develop your skills: Audiobook narration is a craft that requires a certain set of skills. Practicing your voice acting, narration, and acting techniques will help to improve your craft. You can take online classes, workshops, or even practice with a local theater group.
• Build your portfolio: Create a demo reel of your work that showcases your narration skills. You can record yourself reading different types of books, genres, and styles. This will give potential clients an idea of your range and the type of projects you are best suited for.
• Network: Connect with other audiobook narrators, voice actors, and industry professionals. Join online communities, attend conventions and workshops, and make connections through social media.
• Audition: Look for opportunities to audition for audiobook narration projects. Keep an eye out for announcements on social media and job boards , and be prepared to submit a sample of your work when applying.
• Be persistent: Remember, becoming an audiobook narrator takes time and persistence. Keep honing your skills, building your portfolio, networking, and auditioning, and eventually, you’ll land your first project!
• 10 Websites That Pay You to Read

• OnlineBookClub gives you a platform to read and review books from many genres. And the best part? You can earn money from it. 
• To write for them, you’d first need to create an account and submit an application. 
• Once done, you can choose the books you want to review. 
• You’ll need to write reviews at least 200 words long. Your review should be thoughtful, honest and insightful. 
• For each review you write, you get paid $5 via PayPal.
• When you write more reviews, you earn more money and increase your visibility as a reviewer.

• To become a reviewer for Kirkus, you must apply and be accepted as a reviewer.
• To apply, you need to have a relevant background in writing or literary criticism, and submit a writing sample.
• Once accepted, you can choose from a list of books. For each review you complete, they pay you.
• Your pay depends on the length of review and type of books.
• You’re expected to meet deadlines and follow the guidelines provided by Kirkus.
• Kirkus reviews are posted on the Kirkus website and in Kirkus Reviews magazine, and can be used as a professional development tool to improve your writing skills and build a portfolio of work.

• If your interest lies in reviewing books, then BookBrowse offers you the perfect platform for it.
• Apart from that you can earn money through affiliate marketing. You can promote books on BookBrowse by leaving links on your reviews.
• If you are an author, you can earn royalties by publishing your book on BookBrowse.

• To get a job as a narrator, you’ll need experience narrating audiobooks and a clear and engaging speaking voice. 
• You can apply to narrate books through Audible’s ACX platform, which connects narrators with authors and publishers.
•  Audible also has their own casting team and they are always on the lookout for new voices to add to their library. 
• Another way is to work as a studio narrator in one of Audible’s recording studios around the world. Narrators are paid for their work either through a royalty share or a flat fee.

• To work with Findaway Voices, you will need to have some experience narrating audiobooks and a distinctive and captivating voice. 
• You can apply by creating a narrator profile on their platform, where you can submit an audition and showcase your work. 
• They also have a casting team that actively looks for new voices to add to their library. 
• Once selected, you’re paid through a loyalty share or a flat fee. 

• You can apply by reaching out to them and submitting an audition through their platform. They have a casting team that actively searches for new voices to add to their library.
• You can also work as a studio narrator, recording audiobooks in one of their partner studios. 
• You’ll be paid for your work, either through a royalty share or a flat fee, depending on the agreement with the author or publisher.

• To get started, you’ll need to create a profile, upload demos and start applying to various projects. 
• Voice123 offers a wide range of opportunities, resources and training to help you improve your skills and market yourself effectively.

• Create a strong profile, including a demo reel
• Audition for projects that match your skills and experience
• Network and be responsive to clients’ needs and inquiries
• remote work news

Sign up for the ThinkRemote newsletter and stay up to date with the latest news and tips on remote work and WFH productivity.

Additionally, you’ll get a copy of our chairman’s best-selling remote leadership book for free (a $19.99 value).

Join us (We Have Cookies)

You're interested in news & tips about remote work? What luck! That's what we do! Better join our newsletter so we can hang out.

Privacy Overview

Get Paid to Review Books: 5 Book Review Jobs Sites That Pay Reviewers

• Views: 15,139
• Leave a comment

Writing book reviews is one of the best ways to get paid to read books online.

As a book reviewer, you’re tasked with reading and reviewing books, which in return can earn you a paycheck.

This blog post will show you five of the top-paying book review sites where you can submit your pitches and get hired for book review jobs.

To review books effectively, having a good education is important. EduBirdie can help you improve your skills and knowledge, making you better at reviewing books.

Book review jobs sites that pay reviewers

So, if you want to get paid to review books online , here is a list of five websites that you can explore to find book review jobs:

1) The US Review of Books

The US Review of Books has fair terms for reviewers, and the pay is usually between $25 and $75. To be accepted you’ll need to submit your resume, samples, and references. You’ll also be asked to do a sample review.

The site doesn’t have tough guidelines, the reviews can be half summary, half commentary. Most of the reviews requested will be around 300 words and you can expect to earn $25 for each. For longer reviews that are around $600 the pay can be as high as $75

The first review you will do will be treated as an application and you are compensated nonetheless, whether you’re hired eventually or not.

The pay might not seem much especially when you factor in the hours it will take you to read a book. However, if you are a faster reader, you can easily lock in $250-$750 doing 10 reviews a month.

Another added benefit of writing reviews for The US Review of Books is that you will be listed in its directory of reviewers that you can use as social proof and also get a backlink to your site.

The site pays via PayPal. US Review of Books encourages readers and authors alike to visit their website.

2) Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews isn’t transparent with their rates but some people claim that it’s usually $50 per review.

The media company has been in existence since 1933, so it is a legitimate company. That said, the reviews from Glassdoor seem to suggest that the editors will ask you to change your review if it’s negative, thus interfering with your work ethics as a book reviewer.

The reviews are around 350 words long with 2 weeks turnaround time. If you still want to apply, simply head over to this page and contact an editor.

3) OnlineBookClub

Though a popular book review website, many people do not recommend OnlineBookClub because of its tough and demanding guidelines with extremely low pay.

While they claim to pay up to $60 per review, most reviewers earn their lowest rates, which is actually $5 per review.

Reviews are easily rejected and can affect your review score. When you join, your score will be below 35, meaning that you will be bagging home $0 per review as they only begin to pay beyond the 35-point mark.

There are no clear guidelines on improving your score apart from the fact that you will have to engage in a forum and give shoutouts on social media. The editors aren’t as responsive either.

4) Booklist Publications

Booklist Publications is a book review website whose pay is not as appealing. Booklist pays $15 per review and only upon publication. This means that even if your review is accepted, you might have to wait a while

For published reviews, you will get one line credit and you can also be listed as a reviewer on their directory page.

To get started, you will need to fill in an application form answering basic questions and if you are fit the team will get back to you.

5) Women’s Review of Books

Women’s Review of Books is a publication of Wellesley Centers for Women, a part of Wellesley College, and reportedly pays $100 per review.

The publication specifically reviews books about women or written by women.

They expect their reviewers to have journalistic, academic, or strong book review backgrounds.

So if you believe that you can develop thought-provoking reviews you can start pitching your idea to them.

They pay on a review basis. To get started, send in a review pitch proposal about the book you want to review, its publication date, and your angle to the editors. You can find contact details on this page.

You will be paid upon review publication and you also get 12 months of subscription to their monthly issues.

You can also find more writing guidelines in this document . Make sure you adhere to them when writing the reviews.

Ready to begin your book reviewer job?

Book reviewing is a lucrative yet demanding career.

However, if it’s something you love doing and have a passion for writing, then book reviewing can be another source of income for you.

If this isn’t the case, I would advise you to look for other ways to earn money online such as freelance services, info products, or affiliate marketing.

No products found.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Guestposting on The PennyMatters has since been discontinued. Do not contact us on the same.

• Make Money Online
• February 21, 2024

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More posts selected for you...

How to make 100 dollars fast daily in 2024 within hours (11 ways), 23 best ai tools to make money in 2024, how to make extra money on the side and supplement your income, the 8 proven ways on how to make money with seo, is cardcash legit … and should you use it, 11 ways to get paid to read books online.

Are you a passionate book reviewer?

Streamline your workflow, access hundreds of books for free before they are published, and earn money while doing what you love.

Apply to become a reviewer

Read new books for free before anyone else!

Hundreds of authors have submitted their books to be discovered. As a reviewer you get access to our submissions pool and can read and review these books before they launch.

Manage submissions directly from authors

Improve your workflow and manage all of your submissions from one place. Access the reviewer dashboard where you can hunt for new stories, and manage submissions from authors who contact you directly.

Help authors launch their books on Discovery

On the author’s launch day your review will go live on Discovery and be exposed to thousands of readers. Each week the most upvoted books will have a chance to be featured on our homepage and in our weekly newsletter.

Complete your profile and build your brand

Your profile is where readers can find your published reviews, learn more about your reading tastes, and turn into followers. Discovery can complement your existing blog and allow you to reach a whole new community of bookish fans.

Get rewarded for your work

When readers enjoy your work, they can send $1, $3, or $5 (or an amount of their choice) your way. These small thank yous can help you monetize your reading addiction.

Submit your application

The best books go undiscovered — be part of the movement that shines a light on them.

• Submit your book
• Reviewer directory