Monday, September 24, 2012

Blog Tours 101 for Authors, Part 4: The Author's Role

Blog Tours 101 for Authors
Part 4: The Author's Role
by Audra Jennings, Litfuse Publicity Group

Whether your publisher sets up your blog tour for you or you hire an agency for the job, there is still work for you to do! In order for an author to be truly successful, he/she must make a connection with readers.

Your publisher or publicity team can give you a list of blogs and links so you can keep up with what has been posted, but you should also set up Google Alerts so you can keep track of everything being said about your book online. As bloggers post reviews, visit each blog and comment on the blog post, thanking them for their review, joining the discussion readers might be having about the book, etc. The blogger and their readers will be grateful you took the time to read the review, visit, and interact with them.

When you get a really great review, share the love by posting links of that review on your Facebook page, Twitter page, etc. In addition to more people seeing glowing reviews of your book, it helps the blogger gain readers. When a blogger gains readers, more people will be able to learn about your next book when the blogger reviews the next release. The benefits grow and grow.

It's also a good idea to offer some sort of giveaway on your blog or website during the blog tour in order to draw people to your website to enter. While they are there, they will be able to learn more about you and your other books.

Also, be willing to answer a few questions for interviews as they come up. Interviews are one way bloggers make their post unique (which is always desirable). Yes, it might require a little bit of time from you, but it’s worth it to make a personal connection with readers.

All of us live a life full of more to-dos and commitments than we can ever hope to get done. We understand how busy a writer’s life can be, but always make time to interact with your readers and do what it takes to promote your book—even if your next deadline is right around the corner. If it weren’t for readers of your current book, you wouldn’t be able to get your next book deal! 

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