Virtual Blog Tours and Guest Posts are a wonderful way to promote a new book or even just spread your name as an author and raise interest in your work.
In a virtual tour you’ve received (usually through solicitation) invitations to post to multiple blogs or respond to online interviews within a brief period of time. This is a virtual way to get out and meet the public similar to going to bookstores and speaking with customers – the advantage is that your reach is far greater and your post remains available long after your appointed time.
Blog owners who make space available usually do so to pay it forward (there are some who charge a fee as a business), return a favor, as a show of support, or simply to be a “nice guy”. Despite the desire to be generous and helpful, all blog owners also appreciate the increased exposure to their own sites.
What can you do to make yourself a welcomed guest who will possibly be invited back for another chance to promote?
If you are soliciting the gig, ASK don’t just tell that you would like to be a guest blogger. Query the blog owner and ask about the possibility. Find out specifics – recommended word count, subject, graphics, etc. Be prompt in getting the requested material in on time so the recipient has time to input it without a last minute frenzy. Make sure that your submission is edited, it’s more than just your reputation on the line when your post appears on someone else’s site. Sometimes the blog owner will ask about including a giveaway or contest – if this is possible, do so, if you can’t, ask if it would be okay to skip it, don’t just assume.
Promote the appearance, don’t leave it up to the blog owner to publicize the blog post or interview. Be sure to use FaceBook, Twitter, Google+ or whatever social media you have. The day that the post appears send emails and social media again to drive traffic to the blog site. Do NOT re-blog the post to your web or blog site and direct people there – the blog owner is hoping for the increased traffic and you will take that away from them.
Finally make sure that you log in to both thank the blog owner for the opportunity and also to answer reader comments. Log in several times that day and even check back for the next day or two. And by all means, return the favor when you can.
Writing Exercise: Pick one of the major characters in your book. Describe in detail the best OR worse day of their lives – preferably something that takes place before the book’s beginning and is not a part if the main story.
Writing Prompt: Have you donated clothing to a charity recently? Pick any one outfit you donated and describe the person you can “picture” wearing it today and what they might be doing.
