Why Blog Tours are Great for Book Promotions

If you’re like most authors you have set a goal of selling more books in the coming year. In theory setting goals regarding selling books is great. In reality many authors who have the best intentions soon give up on their goal for any number of reasons.

A primary reason is not knowing where to start. It’s not for lack of what to do. Quite the contrary, it’s due to so many choices.

One of my favorites is a well planned and executed blog tour.

A simple definition of a blog tour is a virtual tour where you stop at (visit) a number of blogs and post relevant information.

Participating in a blog tour has replaced the need to make “personal” book store appearances. Not only do you save time, fuel costs, shipping expenses and the frustration of only a few people showing up to a traditional book signing, you can do a blog book tour from literally anywhere in the world as long as you have Internet access.

In the purest sense a blog tour is done over a specific period of time where the author “visits” several blogs.

A blog owner hosts one stop of the tour unless, of course, the owner has several blogs on which you are posting.

Some authors prefer to do sporadic guest blogging rather than a structured blog tour.

In essence, guest blogging is exactly as it sounds. You post on a blog as a guest. But, you must get the blog owner’s permission to do this type of posting.

Although guest blogging has advantages a well structured blog tour can greatly enhance your tour. I have done, and advocate, both guest blogging and blog tours.

Blog tours can be among one of the most far-reaching methods of marketing your book launch. A well planned tour can reap incredible benefits.

You can build credibility and increase visibility; generate a buzz about your book; reach more of your target audience; be viewed as an expert and it’s a great way for potential readers to learn more about you in a very authentic way.

Any successful book launch takes time, planning and effort. To conduct an effective tour you do need to put time into it, but done right it is definitely worth the effort.