Virtual Book Tours: What Can You Expect From Yours?

As authors are preparing their book campaigns and signing up more than ever for virtual book tours as one of their most efficient methods to sell books online, there raises a few questions as to what to expect.

For first time virtual book tour aficionados, many want to know how this combines with a live tour if they have prepared one, just how much online exposure does a virtual book tour generate and if the tour itself is going to fun or a lot of hard work.

Some authors prepare their book tours themselves; others leave it to their publicists. And then some head to publicity agencies to prepare theirs for them.

Whichever method you choose, you will get more online exposure with virtual book tours than any other kind of publicity and that's a known scientific fact.

J.L. Miles, author of several books including Dear Dwayne, Divorcing Dwayne, Cold Rock River and Roseflower Creek, opted for a publicity agency to put together her tour as she was a little hesitant doing it herself.

We interviewed J.L. to find out about her experiences during and after her virtual book tour – sometimes called a virtual blog tour – which I believe will help clear up any misconceptions about the value of this wonderful method of promoting books online.

Thank you for this interview, J.L. You toured twice with Pump Up Your Book Promotion with two separate books. How would you compare your virtual book tour experiences with a live tour?

J.L.: Less travel!

Did you combine a live tour with your virtual book tour? I know some authors try both, hitting both audiences.

J.L.: Only local booksignings and appearances.

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank your tours in terms of increased online exposure?

J.L.: 10

Overall, would you consider your tour a success? If so, in what way?

J.L.: Yes. I received more online exposure and many reviews.

I know virtual book tours are a lot of work for the tour coordinator as well as the author. What was the hardest part of your tour?

J.L.: Trying to do the Technorati stuff. I couldn’t do it, and I actually thought the technical parts would be done for me.

What part was easier? Filling out the interviews or writing the guest posts?

J.L.: Filling out the interviews.

Of the two, which would you have liked more of?

J.L.: The interviews.

In pre-tour preparations, how much time did you invest in the actual process of filling out interviews and writing guest posts for your blog stops?

J.L.: Many hours.

It’s very important to promote your tour for better results. How much time did you invest in promoting your tour?

J.L.: I really didn’t do anything other than what was asked of me.

Virtual book tours are a lot of work, but there are joys as well. What part of your virtual book tour did you love the most?

J.L.: Reading all the reviews!

What part of your virtual book tour did you find a bit disappointing?

J.L.: Not having the Technorati stuff done for me.

Did you notice your Amazon rankings change during your tour?

J.L.: Yes, very much so.

Did you notice more hits to your website or blog during your tour?

J.L.: Don’t know I don’t have a “tracker.”

How did your Internet presence change from the time you started your tour until the end?

J.L.: Much more exposure listed in Google.

Any final words?

J.L.: Overall, I was very pleased.

Conclusion:

J.L. had a successful tour in terms of online exposure which resulted in sales. She is planning a third virtual book tour with her newest book, Dear Dwayne, in the upcoming months. I chalk this up to the kind of results the author desired.

Some authors don’t know what to expect from a virtual book tour and it is only through going through the paces will they learn themselves that it’s a lot of hard work, but the hard work pays off during their tour and long afterwards because the beauty of virtual book tours is that they are perpetual. Long after your tour is over, those Google results will still be working for you.

And you won’t have to do a thing but sit back and enjoy.