Today I'm pleased to have author Carol Denbow share her advice for using virtual book tours to promote books.
Welcome Carol. I understand this is the final day for your virtual tour for your latest book, A Book Inside: How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Story. So, what exactly is a “virtual book tour?”
CAROL: Virtual book tours, or virtual author tours, are basically when an author makes guest appearances on various Websites, blogs, or forums, typically, related to their book topic, story line, or writing in general. An interview with the author is posted on the day of the tour stop and viewers can make comments or ask questions through the postings comment box, giving the author or host an opportunity to respond. Virtual tours can be set up for a week, two, or a month, whatever you’re comfortable doing.
DANA: What are the benefits to virtual touring?
CAROL: Through the Internet, authors can reach literally thousands of people without ever leaving their home or even getting out of their pj’s. It’s much more cost effective than travel.
DANA: How do you find blogs or Websites to participate?
CAROL: First, look at your own related resources—those you may have networked with in the past. If they know you and your work, they’ll be more receptive to the idea. Search the Internet for topic related Websites and blogs. For example; if your book is about fishing, search for sites related to that—business, sites business related, and so on. Just ask politely and try to point out the benefits the hosting Website may receive for their efforts, such as more new visitors to their site and more exposure.
Also, plan early—a month or more. When you contact Websites you need to allow time for them to prepare, as well as yourself. If you ask them to accept a tour date on short notice, they most likely decline.
DANA: How does an author promote their virtual tour?
CAROL: The World Wide Web is loaded with free promotional tools. Once again, look first to Websites you have networked with in the past. Ask them to post a blurb about your tour. Create a “media” page on your own Website to list your tour dates and host Websites (with active links of course). Post your tour dates, or a link to your media page, on forums, book Websites, in your newsletter (if you have one), and especially on Book Tour online (http://www.booktour.com). Use the search engines to find related Websites. The higher the search result placement, the better the chance the Website will produce a good potential audience for you.
DANA: Great advice! So, tell us about your books and where can we find them.
CAROL: In the past three months I self-published A Book Inside: How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Story and I also published Stress Relief for the Working Stiff: How to Reverse the Embalming Effect through Publish America. My first book, Are You Ready to Be Your Own Boss? was released in 2006.
All of my books are available through Amazon.com as well as through my Website at http://www.booksbydenbow.weebly.com.
Right now, if readers purchase one of my books through my Website, I will donate one copy to Friends of The Libraries in support of re-building libraries affected by the Katrina disaster and the Cedar Rapids Iowa flood disaster as well as donating 10 percent of the proceeds from the sale to Breast Cancer awareness.
I also have a great blog for new and seasoned writers at http://abookinside.blogspot.com.
DANA: Carol, thanks for the great information about virtual book tours, and I hope your tour has been a good experience for you.
CAROL: Yes it has, and thank you for hosting my final virtual appearance.
For your own virtual book tour, please visit http://www.authortouring.com
Posted by: Virtual Book Tours | October 25, 2008 at 08:50 AM