(UPDATE: This post was originally published in August 2014. Since then – I’m adding this in August 2015 – I’ve heard anecdotal evidence from other authors that Goodreads has committed to a complete crackdown on the sending of private messages to Goodreads users you are not “friends” with on the site. Therefore while my advice regarding the length and frequency of giveaways still stands, I cannot recommend that you ever send private messages to other Goodreads users – even to the winners to check they received their prize. From what I’ve been hearing, it could get you banned from using the site. )

(UPDATE #2: Thanks to Jennifer for pointing out in the comments that Goodreads have now enforced a ‘minimum 1 week’ rule on their giveaways, and won’t let you list one that’s less than 7 days in the future. Hmm… *suspicious face* On top of that…