A-ha!

Blogging Book Tours

For many authors, the idea of going on a multi-city book tour is the pinnacle of success. However, for many authors, unless you have connections, a lot of money and free time, and a killer book that will garner you a seat across from Oprah, Jon Stewart, or on Good Morning America, the chances of going on an all-expense-paid book tour are slim.

BUT, all is not lost. A blogging book tour may be the way to go. Now, I have to caution you, you may not sell hundreds (or in some cases, even tens of books) but the publicity and exposure could help boost numbers and pique the interest of someone who may have never heard of you but had certainly heard of the blogger who is spreading the word about your book.

There is a post out there that shows the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to blog book tours. The information on the blog could prove invaluable to the author looking to invest in a blog tour coordinator or who may be operating on a shoestring budget and plan to do his or her own blog tour.

From the coordination of, the follow through with, and the potential for book sales, a blog book tour may be the wave of the future. But, as with any marketing tool, it should be looked at as one of the many steps an author must take to get his or her book noticed.   

How "famous" do you have to be?

In a recent post by Sandra Beckwith she notes that even famous authors like Gary Hirshberg who authored, Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World, has "only" sold 5,000 copies of his book. I say "only" with that being a relative term. Most authors would be ecstatic to sell that many copies. But for someone with the clout that I think Hirshberg has behind his name, and with the initial print run being 37,000, I imagine it was expected to sell more.

Hirshberg and many writers (obviously) struggle to make their numbers and push the books. Authors like Hirshberg need to be out there peddling their wares -- making the rounds on the speaking circuits, selling books in the back of the room, promoting it like crazy no matter where they go. With my book, I carry copies in my car and am more than happy to tell everyone about it. I stopped telling the bank tellers about it as they were "treated" to seeing the cover each week when I went in. When I make introductions, I always drop in the fact that I co-authored this book. Hey, it make take years for royalties to come flooding in, but it won't be for my lack of shameless self promotion.

In addition to telling everyone you meet that you have authored a book, you need to be in front of the media in any way you can. Is there something relevant happening today that you can address and then point to your book? Can you get yourself signed up to speak at events? Start local, go to the Rotary, Chambers of Commerce.

Get a blog, go on line and do guest posts on topics relevant to what a blogger is talking about but also what is relevant to your book. Don't, and I can't stress this enough, don't go to blog sites and just drop information about your book and only that. A blog site is not your personal advertising space -- be relevant -- start a buzz.