With Blog Tour de Force ending, I thought I would discuss blog tours this week. So what are blog tours? How do you do a blog tour? As an author, do I need to do a blog tour? If you have questions, I have some answers. #causeiamgoodlikethat 😉
When I first started Twitter, I saw so many tweets about blog tours. Being the newbie that I was, I thought, what the heck is a blog tour? I remember clicking on a few links, going to XXX’s blog, reading the post, but still not understanding what the big deal was. #yeah #totalnewb.
I didn’t understand the concept of a blog tour until Blog Tour de Force came around. After that, I was hooked. I started following people’s blog, participating in different contest, and loading up on free eBooks.
So, what are blog tours? To put it simple, it’s a book tour without all the traveling. You go to different blog sites and do an interview with the blogger. Normally this happens when you have a new book coming out, sometimes before the book releases. It’s a good way to get to know other authors, bloggers, and readers.
Some bloggers only accept authors with a book already released. Why? Most authors on blog tours give free copies of their eBook away. Book giveaways are big for bloggers. It not only brings people to their blog, it also brings new followers. People love winning stuff, especially with today’s economy.
If you have a book releasing shortly before a scheduled stop, some bloggers are okay with that. There’s still a guarantee that a book is going to a winner within a particular time frame. You should always ask a blogger what their requirements are for their blog. Also, be prepared to give your book away. It’s time to start sharing the love. I know, you’re thinking, But, I’m trying to sell my book, why should I give it away?
I’ll tell you why. It’s a great way to promote/market your book. Many avid readers follow these blogs. These readers hear about your book on XXX’s blog, they get interested and go check it out to see if it’s something they want to read. What you give away is minimal compared to the potential buyers you’re bringing in, buyers who may not have heard about your book until your blog stop.
Some bloggers may have a certain number of books they want you to give away. This is something else you should inquire about before scheduling a stop. For instance, the blog I contribute to, ParaYourNormal, ask that the author donate at least one eBook or autographed print copy. If the author wants to do more, we leave that up to them. Some authors are willing to give away a book to each commenter, like on Blog Tour de Force.
Blog tours are free promotion and marketing tools. Okay, so not one hundred percent free. You’re giving books away, but in the long run, you’re going to make more sells because those who are interested enough to comment are more likely to buy your book if they don’t win.
If you want to do a tour, approach bloggers who host them. Many do. If you schedule a stop, be sure you help that blogger promote your stop. If you’re on Twitter, tweet about it. If you’re on Facebook, post a status update. If you have a blog/website, post the information on your blog so your followers will have a chance to win a copy of your book.
One last thing before I go. If you do go on a blog tour, be kind to the blogger hosting your stop. If they have an option to follow their blog, do it. They were kind enough to make time to host you.
Also, if you are participating in these contests, be respectful and follow the blog. Some bloggers require it in order to enter the contest. Some do not. Bloggers put a lot of time and effort into their site and hosting tours. They are taking time out of their day to do something for you, without being paid. Show your appreciation.
That’s it for me. Be sure to come back next week. I may talk about Google Analytics since I had some request to do so. Thanks again for stopping in. If you have any questions or just want to say hey, leave a comment below.
I didn't see a way to email you (maybe I'm blind), so I'm leaving this comment. And I know this may sound a teensy bit shameless, but I think it has merit.
I'm an indie author, too and I've always secretly thought that doing a blog tour is one of the best ways to promote a book. However, I also don't want to be a nuisance to to folks who aren't interested in hosting tours.
In my day job, I'm a web developer. So I put my feeble skills to use and built a site where indie authors and bloggers can hook up blog tour dates. You never have to wonder where to look or worry that you're annoying people. It's free for authors and bloggers. I'm still just trying to get the word out, so there are only about a hundred users so far, but I've had a couple of authors on my blog already.
Anyway, check it out if you're interested, and shoot me an email if you want to tour by my blog.
I didn't see a way to email you (maybe I'm blind), so I'm leaving this comment. And I know this may sound a teensy bit shameless, but I think it has merit.
I'm an indie author, too and I've always secretly thought that doing a blog tour is one of the best ways to promote a book. However, I also don't want to be a nuisance to to folks who aren't interested in hosting tours.
In my day job, I'm a web developer. So I put my feeble skills to use and built a site where indie authors and bloggers can hook up blog tour dates. You never have to wonder where to look or worry that you're annoying people. It's free for authors and bloggers. I'm still just trying to get the word out, so there are only about a hundred users so far, but I've had a couple of authors on my blog already.
Anyway, check it out if you're interested, and shoot me an email if you want to tour by my blog.
Thanks Bryce, I will check it out.