Blog tours are the virtual equivalent of a book signing tour across the country … without the time invested, travel, and writer’s cramp from signing your name over and over for an hour. They’ve become a popular, low-budget way to get the word out about your book. I’ve done one … by myself … and learned some things along the way.

1. Get Help

Doing an effective blog tour takes a lot of time, effort, and coordination. You can’t do one that will help you increase your visibility and sell more books if you’re trying to do it by yourself, while juggling everything else in your life and business, too. Hire help.

2. Develop a process and plan of action.

This was my saving grace. I decided what the process I was going to follow before I started. I developed a plan of action that included template emails to send out to recruit, follow up, thank, and confirm; a list of blogs that I wanted to approach; and a timeline. The more you plan and layout your actions in advance, the more time you’ll save along the way. It also makes it much easier for you to delegate these activities to your support team.

3. Make it easy for your hosts

Develop a range of content options for your blog hosts before you approach them. This should include questions they can ask you, articles they can post as a guest blogger, a short bio/introduction, a headshot of you, a picture of your book, and if you can swing it, a picture you with your book. The more options you give them to make their stop on your blog tour unique, the more likely you are to have them accept. And, it is in your best interests SEO-wise to have each blog stop be unique.

4. Think outside the bookcase

Go ahead and approach blogs that you think are tangential to your topic. Some of them may delight in offering something new and different to their audience.

5. Be prepared to give out review copies.

Have a special download page ready to go for your blog hosts to download a copy of your book. But also understand that some will not read a downloadable book and will request a hardcopy. Be willing to do this … but strategically. Will their audience be worth the expense of sending a book?
 

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Learn the five-step process for selling more books

Free 20-minute video shows you how! Watch this video presentation and download the slides and handout to learn:

• How to identify your ideal readers
• Ways you can get those ideal readers to notice you and your book
• How to communicate your book’s value to potential readers
• Ideas on how to diversify your content so you can reach more people and make more sales
• How to build a connection and keep them coming back for more