Social Entertainment Network GetGlue Partners With Book Publishers

Social entertainment network GetGlue, which allows users to check in to entertainment in the same way Foursquare allows users to check in to locations, has signed its first book publisher partners, enabling it to offer its first rewards for readers.

GetGlue says books are a popular form of entertainment among its users and that publishers, in turn, have a new way to acknowledge fans and drive interest in books.

The publishers include Hachette Book Group, Simon & Schuster, Random House, and Penguin.

GetGlue, which rewards check-ins with stickers comparable to Foursquare’s badges, says these partnerships enable it to provide stickers “for the biggest titles of the fall and perennially bestselling authors.”

Ultimately, this will help publishers sell more books, says GetGlue VP of Business Development Fraser Kelton. (Any form of reading counts – from physical books to e-books.)

“Think of our check-ins and rewards as social recommendations,” Kelton says. “When you share to Facebook what you’re reading – and your thoughts on the book as you progress – that is a trusted recommendation going to targeted friends.”

While he says it is too early for stats on its book stickers, Kelton also says books are the third most popular category on GetGlue – behind TV and movies. “The online community for readers is very active and they love the experience on GetGlue,” he says.

These users will now be able to access nonfiction stickers including Bob Woodward’s “Obama’s Wars” and Amy Sedaris’ “Simple Times” as well as fiction stickers including Nicholas Sparks’ “Safe Haven,” Ken Follett’s “Fall of Giants,” and Anne Rice’s “Of Love and Evil.”

GetGlue also has author-specific stickers for Tom Clancy, John Grisham, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Paulo Coelho.

And Stephenie Meyer’s “The Twilight Saga” will have its own set of stickers, too.

“[GetGlue’s stickers] motivate readers to share – socially – the books that they’re currently reading,” Kelton says. “The reach from these sticker programs is of real value to networks, studios and, now, publishers.”

Last month, GetGlue announced it had 8 million unique ratings and check-ins in August, up from 5 million in July. Overall, GetGlue has 600,000 users.