Virtual Book Tours - Does it work for you?

[Tina Martin]

I paid $400 for a virtual tour last year. Earlier this year, I did my own 8-stop tour. Have you done a virtual tour? Was it successful? Are book blogs receptive to inviting you to be a guest blogger on their blogs?

 

I am looking to get the word out about my novels, and was wanting to do something that actually works instead of paying for tours and wasting money.

 

Tina

http://ibetterfindyourlove.blogspot.com/

[Mac Campbell]

  This is probably the hardest decision to make as a writer. What will work? 

    Before I started writing, I was an unsuccessful musician. A large part of that community made its living off the other part: lessons, piano accompaniment, etc. The whole thing reminded me of a snake eating its own tail. 

   In order to succeed, I think you need to spend outside the circle of writers and bloggers. Get a real ad agency, and get the word to people who will buy. Get a fan base. Don't listen to too much to advice (like mine:)) and try to go your own way. I'm still trying to think of that magical thing that will get me noticed. 

      -Mac Campbell

       http://iwritehorror.blogspot.com

[Felix Timothy]

Hi Shawn, I'd really love to hear about your tour too. This is because, I'm also cracking my brain thinking which is the best virtual book tour agency? Will it work? Should I just do my own tour? You know its pretty y a big deal trying to decide which is the best way for you to get a word out there about your book.

Felix Timothy

[Felix Timothy]

Hi Tina, you hit the right nerve. I'm currently in the same dilema, trying to decide which way to go to pay for bog tours or to go solo. Many of the virtual tour agencies I've made inquiries to promise its gonna be a blast but I don't know...what if its just a sales pitch. I'll follow closely to this discussion and hear what others have to say.

Felix Timothy

[Tina Martin]

I've noticed that many of the blogs they have you visit are not all that popular and do not have a following, so how can you get the word out about your novel on some unknown blog? That's my frustration.

[LM Preston]

My advice is - do your own whenever possible. It's just cheaper. Anything and everything you can possibly do your self do. Spend the money on a publicist that can get you into places (ads, radio, etc) that you can't do yourself. But first do all the free advertising you can. Purchase 1001 Ways to Market your book. It was a great start for me with setting up a draft marketing plan.

 

 

[Stephanie BeautyBrite.com]

Hey there.  I am a book reviewer with two blogs!  Please stop by and visit me at http://beautybrite.com and http://beeskneesreviews.blogspot.com.  You will notice that we have several book reviewers on Bee's Knees Reviews.  If you'd like us to read and review your books, we'd love to!!!!!  Also, a few of our reviewers have another blog in addition to being a writer on Bee's Knees Reviews. 

 

I would love to have you as a guest blogger too!  :)  If you'd like to sponsor a giveaway, we're open to that!!!  just let me know!

 

Stephanie

[Tina Martin]

Thanks Stephanie!

 

[Stormi Johnson]

Wow, I just started a promotional business called Lightning Book Promotions, and I am only charging $100 for a blog tour. Which is just to organized and gather bloggers and make sure they all receive their books and post on their date. I also make a custom banner. I will do extra's like press releases, etc for extra cost.

 

I am very curious to know what all was included in these blog tours you participated in that cost so much?

 

Stormi

[Tina Martin]

It didn't include any more than what you're offering. It was about twelve stops and some of the book reviewers didn't even take the time to read my books which really frustrated me because I provided books free of charge. So that was another waste of money.

[Stephanie BeautyBrite.com]

Hi Tina,

 

  I wanted to invite you to our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/253073624727635/  We're a group of book reviewers who write on Bee's Knees Reviews.  Some of us write on other review blogs!  Please pitch us your book(s).  We would also welcome guest posts, author interview, etc. 

 

  I completely understand how you feel about reviewers not even reading your book, it bugs me when I see other reviews of a book I read and you can tell they didn't read the book. 

 

Stephanie

 

 

[Amy Neftzger]

Great thread - I have never tried a virtual book tour so this is very interesting to me.  Does anyone know if it works better with certain types of books?

[aparajita basu]

ON THIS NOTE I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU BLOGGERS & AUTHORS LIKE - 

I HAVE RECENTLY BEGUN A VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR WEBSITE, WHERE WE HELP PROMOTE BOOKS AND STRIVE TO TAKE IT TO THE VIRTUAL LEVEL. WE ARE FAST GROWING WITH TOUR HOSTS MEMBERS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO EMPLOYING OUR SERVICES FOR MAJOR AND NEW AUTHORS ALIKE. 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE- http://tourzdecodex.blogspot.com

Tourz de Codex is an online virtual book tour hosting organization started by Aparajita @Le' Grande Codex. Everyday millions of books come out in print, so our long term goal is an attempt to foster the magical and exciting moment shared between the author and their readers by bringing together a cost friendly and an exciting virtual blog tour program. Authors value the opinions of their readers a lot in shaping their book so it is a small attempt to do just that with exciting interviews, elusive book reviews, amazing giveaway and add some guest posts to the mix too and you get an exclusive and an exciting package of bookish goodness.

IF THIS SUITS YOU AND YOU WISH TO EMPLOY OUR SERVICES THEN PLEASE CONTACT US AT "[e-mail]"