Going into my second book launch, I find myself going through some of the same steps as I did before my first. One thing I did really big last year was a blog tour. Seems most authors have a blog and are happy to share their platform. They get to take a break from coming up with their own original content, and you get to reach many new audiences.
Here is a simple, step-by-step guide to blog tours.
Four Months to Launch
Make a list of influencers you know, and begin informally asking if they would like to be a part of your blog tour to promote your new book. If they say yes, collect their email address and let them know you will send more details in the coming weeks. The more the merrier.
Develop a standard form via website or email that requires necessary fields such as contact information and what sort of content you’re willing to offer. You can find my live sign-up form here.
Common blog tour content includes the following options:
- You, the author, write a post relevant to the host’s audience
- The host posts a book review
- The host conducts a giveaway from you to their audience
- For all the above, you provide your book cover, blurb, author photo, bio, and purchase links for the host to post
- Other media:
- Podcast guest
- YouTube interview
- Instagram feature
- Print article
- Physical appearances and book signings
Three Months to Launch
Send away!!! Contact that long list of friends you’ve collected. Follow up in two weeks if they haven’t replied but expressed prior interest.
For those unconventional platforms, hammer down details ASAP so the recording, filming, and booking can be done and ready to go for your launch week.
Two Months to Launch
Follow up with each outlet individually. Confirm their chosen format and tell them to expect the content in one month. Remind them when to post it to their platform (either the week leading up to or the day of launch). Make it as easy as possible for them, because they are doing you a huge favor.
One Month to Launch
PROVIDE THE CONTENT!!! Thank the host and remind them again what day to post it.
Launch Week
You guessed it…remind them again (but always subtly). For example: “Hi Tiffany! Thank you again for posting your review this week. Tuesday is going to be such a huge day for me and I am so grateful to share this with you. You’re absolutely amazing. Let me know if there are any hiccups or if you have any questions about the content before it goes live on Monday. Cheers!”
Put it in your own words. I’m just an extremely chipper person.
Launch Day
And finally, on launch day, relax. If someone forgot, oh well! Many people are cheering for you and are genuinely excited for your success. You will quickly find that, in the fiction world, authors give the hand out as many times as they have been given the hand up. This is the entire reason I post these marketing tips.
Want more marketing tips and tricks? Check out my four-hour intensive class on marketing during the Colorado Gold Conference on Friday morning. Good luck!!!