I would like to suggest introducing verified author badges along with expanded author profile functionality.
Proposed enhancements:
• Verified Author Badge: A visible badge to distinguish confirmed authors from regular users, increasing credibility and trust.
• Dedicated Author Pages: Robust author profiles similar to those on Goodreads and LibraryThing, allowing authors to:
◦ Add official website and social media links
◦ Share a biography and author photo
◦ Highlight featured books or series
• Author-Added Links: Ability for authors to include direct links to their official author page or external profiles.
• Temporary Librarian Status: Grant verified authors limited, controlled editing permissions to update and correct their own book metadata (e.g., descriptions, series order, publication details), subject to review guidelines.
Benefits:
• Improves metadata accuracy and reduces correction backlogs
• Strengthens author-platform relationships
• Enhances trust and transparency for readers
• Encourages more authors to actively engage with the community
These features would position Hardcover as a more author-friendly and professionally structured platform while maintaining high data integrity standards.