by Dana Lynn Smith
As publishers' promotional budgets shrink and travel costs rise, the traditional city to city author tour is waning in popularity. But what if you could reach a much larger, highly targeted audience from the comfort of home, and get people buzzing about your book? You can, with a virtual book tour.
On a virtual book tour, authors promote their books by making "virtual" guest appearances during a particular time frame on blogs, podcasts, radio shows, social networks, or other virtual venues.
So why should you do your own virtual tour?
1. You will sell books during the tour and afterward as a result of the tour.
2. Virtual tours are less expensive and time consuming than travelling. Generally the only cost of a do-it-yourself tour is the cost of mailing your book to tour hosts.
3. Reach far more people and a more targeted audience with a virtual tour. In contrast, live author appearances by authors who aren't well known may have low attendance.
4. The virtual tour provides quality, lasting links to your website. These links have search engine optimization value and may continue to bring new visitors for months or years to come.
5. Making a commitment to a tour gives you an incentive to get out there and promote your book and get content onto other websites.
6. If any of your tour hosts do a review of your book, you'll get the benefit of additional reviews.
7. Tours build buzz for your book and get people talking and sharing with others.
8. When others host you on their blog or show, there is an implied endorsement of you, which enhances your author platform.
9. You have the chance to interact with readers and potential customers.
10. Getting a lot of book sales in short period of time pushes up the Amazon rank of your book.
11. You get the chance to develop relationships with bloggers and other key influencers in your field or genre.
12. The content of a virtual book tour gives potential book buyers an opportunity to sample your work.
13. Nonfiction authors can enhance their expert status by posting content on other venues.
14. You get exposure to new audiences you might not reach any other way.
15. Additional traffic to your website during the tour gives you the opportunity to build your mailing list and blog subscribers.
For detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to organize your own successful virtual book tour, check out the Virtual Book Tour Magic guidebook for authors.
About the Author
Dana Lynn Smith, the Savvy Book Marketer, teaches authors how to sell more books through her blog, newsletter, guidebooks, training programs and private coaching. Get book marketing tips at www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com and download her free report, Create a Book Marketing Plan That Sells Books, at www.CreateYourBookMarketingPlan.com. If you're looking for a way to get your book in front of a huge new audience of targeted book buyers, then a virtual book tour is for you. You'll connect with potential customers, develop relationships with key influencers, and sell books during the tour and for months afterward. The Virtual Book Tour Magic guidebook will walk you through every step of planning your own successful virtual book tour! Learn more at www.VirtualBookTourMagic.com.
As publishers' promotional budgets shrink and travel costs rise, the traditional city to city author tour is waning in popularity. But what if you could reach a much larger, highly targeted audience from the comfort of home, and get people buzzing about your book? You can, with a virtual book tour.
On a virtual book tour, authors promote their books by making "virtual" guest appearances during a particular time frame on blogs, podcasts, radio shows, social networks, or other virtual venues.
So why should you do your own virtual tour?
1. You will sell books during the tour and afterward as a result of the tour.
2. Virtual tours are less expensive and time consuming than travelling. Generally the only cost of a do-it-yourself tour is the cost of mailing your book to tour hosts.
3. Reach far more people and a more targeted audience with a virtual tour. In contrast, live author appearances by authors who aren't well known may have low attendance.
4. The virtual tour provides quality, lasting links to your website. These links have search engine optimization value and may continue to bring new visitors for months or years to come.
5. Making a commitment to a tour gives you an incentive to get out there and promote your book and get content onto other websites.
6. If any of your tour hosts do a review of your book, you'll get the benefit of additional reviews.
7. Tours build buzz for your book and get people talking and sharing with others.
8. When others host you on their blog or show, there is an implied endorsement of you, which enhances your author platform.
9. You have the chance to interact with readers and potential customers.
10. Getting a lot of book sales in short period of time pushes up the Amazon rank of your book.
11. You get the chance to develop relationships with bloggers and other key influencers in your field or genre.
12. The content of a virtual book tour gives potential book buyers an opportunity to sample your work.
13. Nonfiction authors can enhance their expert status by posting content on other venues.
14. You get exposure to new audiences you might not reach any other way.
15. Additional traffic to your website during the tour gives you the opportunity to build your mailing list and blog subscribers.
For detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to organize your own successful virtual book tour, check out the Virtual Book Tour Magic guidebook for authors.
About the Author
Dana Lynn Smith, the Savvy Book Marketer, teaches authors how to sell more books through her blog, newsletter, guidebooks, training programs and private coaching. Get book marketing tips at www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com and download her free report, Create a Book Marketing Plan That Sells Books, at www.CreateYourBookMarketingPlan.com. If you're looking for a way to get your book in front of a huge new audience of targeted book buyers, then a virtual book tour is for you. You'll connect with potential customers, develop relationships with key influencers, and sell books during the tour and for months afterward. The Virtual Book Tour Magic guidebook will walk you through every step of planning your own successful virtual book tour! Learn more at www.VirtualBookTourMagic.com.
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