The Reader Leaderboard is a community feature where members read each other’s books, write thoughtful reviews, and earn recognition for their contribution. This article explains how it works and why it exists.
Read books by other members → write a review → reviews appear on the author’s profile → you earn reader points and badges → top reviewers get featured on the leaderboard.
Why we built it
Authors on The Smile Channel were craving thoughtful, qualified feedback from readers who actually understood their work. Generic Amazon reviews don’t always cut it. The Reader Leaderboard creates a closed loop: members read other members’ books and review them with the context that comes from being part of the same community.
What you can do as a reader
- Submit reviews of books you’ve read by other members
- Earn reader points (1 point per approved review)
- Earn milestone badges (5 reviews, 10, 25, 50, 100)
- Climb the leaderboard ranking
- Get featured on the public Reader Leaderboard page
What you can do as an author
- See reviews of your books appear on your profile under each book
- Reply to reviews if you’d like to engage
- Encourage your existing readers to leave reviews here
Where to find it
Three entry points:
- Public page:
thesmilechannel.com/reader-leaderboard/— anyone can browse the rankings - Your dashboard: “Your Book Reviews” tab — submit and manage your reviews
- Each book on a profile: shows existing reviews with a “Write a review” button
Reviews from fellow members tend to be substantive, contextual, and useful — not just star ratings. They become genuine social proof for the author and a reading recommendation for the rest of the community.