Blog Tour ~ Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour by Donna Huber
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Summary:
Plan a successful blog tour while keeping your sanity From the publicist who introduced the world to Fifty Shades of Grey, Donna Huber is now revealing her secrets to successful blog tours. She shares tips and tricks learned through organizing over 30 tours, blasts, and promotional events for nearly 50 independently and traditionally published titles. Secrets revealed in this quick read include, Planning stage decisions Different types of tours Recruiting bloggers and keeping requests organized Best practice communication tips Tricks to making a great guest appearance How to organize a fun (and legal) giveaway Actions to take during the tour Next steps once the tour is complete Virtual tour and other promotional opportunities When to hire a professional In this easy to follow manual, Donna does not stop there. She spills even more of her blog tour secrets to help authors get the most out of their events by providing, Tour checklist Tour invite tips Step-by-step guide to creating tour graphics 10 broad guest post topics 25 sample interview questions
Bio:
Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the blogger behind Girl Who Reads where, in addition to book reviews and author appearances, she writes the popular blogging advice series, Tips on Thursday. She has worked as a freelance publicist since 2010 assisting publishers and authors with their marketing and publicity needs. Most notably, she was the publicist for The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House edition of Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James. When she is not doling out blogging advice or promoting the next bestseller, she can be found spending time with family (particularly the four legged, furry members), rewatching Downton Abbey and Harry Potter, or trying to make a dent in her never ending to-be-read pile.
Creative Tour Ideas
From time-to-time, I have authors come to me asking for something different. They’ve done the full blown tour, maybe more than one. They want something to boost sales that might have hit a slump or get buzz going for an upcoming sequel. If you have done the blog tour circuit a few times, you may be burned out on guest posts or answering the same interview questions (how many times have you answered ‘what inspired you to write this novel?’). With some planning and thinking outside the box, you can plan a unique experience for both the bloggers involved and the readers following you.
In my book, Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour, I mention excerpt tours. It is kind of like a scavenger hunt with each participating blog revealing a piece of the excerpt. I have had good success with planning this kind of tour for authors who are making an announcement, particularly for their free days or doing a 99 cent deal. I could also see an excerpt tour being ideal for a sequel release reveal. You could reveal the first chapter of the new book to encourage new readers to pick up the previous book(s) in the series.
I know a lot of authors do a book blast type event to reveal the cover of an upcoming release. While this can give you really good exposure, it can be a little boring for readers. Instead, consider revealing the cover piece by piece. If you were planning on have 25 blogs participate in a blast, you could crop your cover into 5 pieces and have 5 groups on 5 blogs each. That would still give you 25 blogs posting about your book, but with slightly different content. Remember there is a lot of overlap in readership among book blogs. You may want to spread out the postings. Say group one posts at 8 am, group two at 10 am, and so forth. Then in the final post of the day you can post the fully revealed cover on your blog.
Video is becoming easier for the DIY author. Consider taping a reading – either from a live event you are doing or set-up a reading specifically for use on blogs. You could also do a video interview. Have fans submit questions and then answer them in 2 – 3 minute segments. Then have blogs post the different segments. If you aren’t comfortable doing this on your own, check with local schools (college and high school) to see if a student needs a project. Is your book set in a real place? Consider doing a walking tour and point out places of interest that relate to your book.
Even though blogging often seems like a text medium, it is actually a visual medium. Don’t overlook the power of images. A word of caution – if you do not own the image make sure you have permission to use it. However, I do highly recommend using images you have taken or created as it adds a personal layer. Pictures of significant places or activities related to your book – it could be actual places mentioned in your book or ones that inspired places or objects – will add a richness to your book for readers.
This is just a few generic ideas. Think about what makes your book unique and see how you can use it to come up with a unique marketing option. Have you tried something different than the regular guest posts and interviews?
Social Media Links:
Twitter – https://twitter.com/girl_who_reads
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Girl-Who-Reads/273856382671730
Blog – http://www.girl-who-reads.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17980343-secrets-to-a-successful-blog-tour
Buy Links:
Amazon http://amzn.to/14Uf6Js (US)
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/129518l
Kobo: http://bit.ly/12iPtO7
Twitter Party: August 15 at 8:00 pm eastern #GWRchat
Prizes (2): 5 – 9 stop tour; $20 Amazon Gift Card
Schedule:
July 29
Fresh Pot of Tea http://alisondeluca.blogspot.com/ Review & Guest Post
July 30
Sarah Aisling http://www.sarahaisling.com Guest Post
July 31
1 Book Lover’s Opinion http://www.1bookloversopinion.com Guest Post
Aug. 1
What Shall We Blog About Today? http://kenowinsky.blogspot.com Review & TOp 10 List
Aug. 2
Jude Ouvrard Www.judeouvrard.com Interview
Aug. 3
Jamie Sheffield Www.jamiesheffield.com Interview
Aug. 4
From the desk of . . . R.E. Hargrave http://www.rehargrave.com Interview
Aug. 5
All That’s Written … http://lucypireel.wordpress.com/ Top 10 List
Aug. 6
Italian Brat’s Obsessions http://itlnbrt.com Review & Guest Post
Aug. 7
Author S.A. Jones http://www.authorsajones.com Review & Book Promo
Aug. 8
Karen Pokras Toz http://kptoz.blogspot.com Guest Post
Aug. 9
Lisa Bilbrey Www.lisabilbrey.blogspot.com Guest Post
Aug. 10
Elizabeth Lawrence, Author & Professional Oddity http://elizabeth-lawrence-author.blogspot.com/ Guest Post
Aug. 11
Aria Glazki Writes ariaglazki.blogspot.com Guest Post
Aug. 12
Rose & Beps Blog http://rosebeps.blogspot.it/ Guest Post
Aug. 13
Cabin Goddess http://cabingoddess.com/ Review
Aug. 14
Killer Chicks http://www.killerchicks.org/ Interview
Aug. 15
Twitter Party 8 pm eastern #GWRchat
Aug. 16
Library Girl Reads & Reviews http://librarygirlreads.blogspot.com Review & Top 10 List
Thank you for hosting me today. I hope this gives authors some new ideas to think about.
It’s been my pleasure, Donna.