For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers

Authors Tour the World with Virtual Book Tours by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Over the years, authors who wanted to promote their books directly to the public had one main option; you had to physically travel across the country conducting book signings and readings in various bookstores and praying that people would show up. This meant spending money on flights, hotels, transportation and meals. This traditional type of book tour is expensive and very few publishing companies are willing to pay for them. But now, authors have a new method of ‘touring the world’―the virtual book tour.
Virtual book tours (also known as virtual author tours, guest blogging, blog tours, or VBTs) are a simple concept. The author tours various blogs and sites that pertain to a theme in the book or to writing in general. This way, you can potentially reach thousands of avid readers each tour day from the privacy of your office or home.

The goal of marketing your book is to expose it to as many people as possible in an exciting, cost-effective and entertaining way. Guest blogging can achieve that goal. Most blogs are archived, so your post becomes permanent and often viral, spreading from site to site. That is leverage. You are in essence leveraging your internet presence and duplicating yourself with every VBT stop. Your blog tour is working for you even while you sleep. Try doing that at a bookstore signing!

Read Cheryl's article Authors Tour the World with Virtual Book Tours on John Kremer's Book Marketing site.

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Comment by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on September 14, 2007 at 11:47am: Thank you, Charlotte. Your comments are much appreciated.

I've been an avid online marketer for over 4 years, and was very lucky to have strong sales skills. When I had a j.o.b., I worked in marketing, promotion and advertising, as well as consulting and motivational speaking, so having that background has proved very beneficial.

There are many ways for authors and booksellers to promote online, although I still enjoy doing some book signings. I think they are necessary (and often a source of unexpected contacts). By December, I'll have done close to 200 signings in the last 4 years.

However, I have never done a signing in Istanbul. lol :)

Online marketing is really only limited by one's imagination. Almost anything is possible. For instance, although it may not be feasibly and financially possible for an author like myself to come to Istanbul to your store for a signing, it is possible to do a different kind of promotion.

Let's say, for instance, that you decided to order in 5 copies of Whale Song. I would certainly be agreeable to mailing you some signed bookplates...and then you could sticker the books as "autographed". :) So the contact alone is a plus for authors and store owners.

Virtual chats and discussions can also be set up online to benefit bookstore book clubs.

Now, I'm off to read your column. :)

Comment by Charlotte McPherson on September 13, 2007 at 10:49am: Hi Cheryl! The internet is limitless…I think what you have written has been so helpful. I have only been a bookmarket. Ning member since early August and it has provided me with such good information and a great network. I am co-owner of a bookstore in Istanbul and we have hosted Book Signings and I have done Book signings in USA. You are so right that these days the best grass-roots marketing that can sell lots of books happens on the internet. It is making me rethink many things. I want to become more informed of a few tricks of the internet trade so I could reach a wider audience, sell more books as a book store owner and as an author and, of course, do it while spending less money! Thanks for the stimulating thoughts on VBT.
If you have time read my column:
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/yazarAd.do?kn=68