As I plan for my Adironack-chair-on-the-porch portion of promoting my novel, The Divorce Girl, I'm excited about the possibilities of being two places at once without leaving home. Yes, I will actually go many places and do readings, talks or signings, but it's likely I will reach more than half of people who will buy my book by doing virtual touring.
Why I'm doing some touring from home is because it makes sense, saves money and time, and can be a far more effective way to reach an audience. I remember driving to Oklahoma City a few years ago -- a six-hour drive from my home -- to read in a bookstore, only to discover the book did no publicity about my reading, and the only people who showed up were related to me. Having had many such unfortunate experiences, I've been researching ways to truly connect with readers without wiping myself out, having to fill the gas tank on my own dime, or arriving at places caffeine-and-driving-jittery only to find no sign whatever (literally at times) that I'm supposed to read there.
So here's four ways to tour from home, and three out of these four are free (except for the time involved, by driving to places to do readings often takes more time). These four armchair tours are all interlocking pieces too: the more you put yourself out there via facebook, the more opportunities you'll have for skyping into bookclubs, which can lead to more people hearing about you through word-of-mouth, then looking up your videos or reading some of your blog tour columns. Marketing is like that: it's cumulative, one thing not simply added to another but multipying the effect of another if done well and thoughtfully.
Thanks Caryn. Really good information. I'm finishing my first memoir - Divine Amnesiac: Love, Cancer, and Killing the Crazies and I'm enjoying finding other memoirists. I cannot wait to read your book and I really appreciate all the information you have shared.
Lucinda, what fun! I am so new to Twitter... I've just followed you and I'll try to join in on Thursday am - a bit late, but I'll be there.
FYI: I decided to do a Twitter Party, maybe this can be beneficial to some of you as well to include in your book marketing. Here is a link to mine ad you can join in to see how it operates. http:/ / lucindacross.com/ beredeemed/ twitter-party-beredeemed/
This is such wonderful, practical advice! It can also be fun to make videos that spin off from your topic somehow, or ones where you are being interviewed by someone else. And I had no idea that blog tours were purchased and arranged - I thought you pitched yourself to various blogs and they were interested or not. Fascinating!
Thanks so much for commenting, Beth, Jolie, Catherine, Julie, Suzie and Melva. Marcia, if you scroll down, you'll see my reply to someone else about finding bookclubs (it's hard to see because of the amount of comments, but keep going, and you'll find it).
Love the Skype and Book Club idea - any suggestions on how to find book clubs?
Love all your suggestions! How do you find the book groups?
Excellent article. I'll be promoting this article at LL-Publications blog. I agree 100 percent about Facebook. As an author, I can't afford to NOT be involved in Facebook.
Great post, also wild coincidence! I am currently promoting my novel 'The Divorced Lady's Companion to Living in Italy' - a slightly kinky story of rebirth in Milan with espresso and linguistics! I'm a disorganised FB user, Twitter novice, blogger maniac. Not all armchair however - I'm off to London for the launch for me that means eating Asian food instead of Italian for a week! Good luck, cat
Thanks Caryn, for your concise post – packed with good information. The blog-tour price is something not so widely shared. It's so helpful that you included numbers/facts instead of just promotional concepts.
Caryn, again thanks for even more timely information. It's nice to hear from one who has experienced the work.
Really useful and timely post as I have a book out in the next few months. Really nervous about the marketing side of things. Thanks for this!
Lucinda, I also second Nancy's advice to create your own fb page for the book. As for contacting bookclubs, I plan to put together a flyer and then write a personal note, mailing sets of these to various bookclubs, but I'm guessing I'll get more invitations simply through facebook and the blogtour.
Thanks again, Caryn. I can't wait to see how it works out for you!
Thank you so much, time to create the page...thanks
Lucinda, I've been strongly encouraged by my agent and publisher to create a special FB page just for the book, although I haven't gotten around to doing this, either, but am looking into it. It makes sense, though, as you will be driving potential readers to your book directly. It's a place they won't have to navigate around as much because it's devoted solely to your book.
This book is right on time. Although I have several fanpages on FB should I still create one just for the book? I have also searched google for book clubs do i send them a letter about the book for them to review and a free chapter or just a letter stating why my book is a good read for their club.
Thanks for this...my book Road to Redemption is coming out next month and I am behind time but i will start my couch potato book tour without spending a dime on travel. thanks
Thanks so much, everyone! Angelina, I appreciate you taking the time to comment, and you too, Eunice and Joanne. Nancy, I've been learning the hard way when to say yes or no, and sometimes I still show up places where I wish I hadn't. Natasha, as far as how to find bookclubs, stay tuned! I plan first to contact book clubs connected to my local bookstore, which is in touch with several. I think many local or even Barnes & Noble stores keep lists of book clubs, and then you could get hold of those lists and contact them. i also plan to list my willingness to visit bookclubs (from a distance) on facebook, my blog, and in the blurb about me that will appear in all my blog tour bio on those 12-15 blogs I'll be visiting. But I'll let you know how it goes. It's all a happy experiment!
Excellent post, Caryn. Thanks for telling us about your experience and for the information.
Thanks Caryn. Sounds like great information. I'm going to go back and read it as often as it takes. :-)
This is really great advice, Caryn, and something I've been wondering about in light of several invitations I've received to read or do signings. Love the idea of synchronous meetings or phone conferencing. I use these VOIPs in teaching and they are a great way to save time, money and still be accessible and promoting your work. Thanks!
More great ideas! Thanks again, Caryn.
Hi Caryn,
This is a very helpful post. Thanks! I have a question about the bookclub tours. How did you find the book clubs? I tried to do that with my first book, and didn't have any success at all. I think it's a wonderful idea.
Natasha Bauman