Thoughts from a Virtual Blog Tour
May 5, 2009 by Cherie
Filed under Cherie's Books & Blogs
The virtual blog tour to promote my book Internet Dating is Not Like Ordering a Pizza is over. This was the first time I had focused on a “tour” with a concentrated number of stops. Normally, when I promote a book, I contact people here and there and appear at blogs throughout the run of the book. I do that because I work full-time and it’s hard to schedule things in one block.
This time around, however, I wanted to try at least one “tour” to see if it made a difference in my book sales or media pickups. And boy, did it ever. It was worth all the work involved, to be sure. And it was a lot of work, especially the upfront posting and answering interview questions. (Fun work – I’m not complaining!) I started working on the tour when the book came out in November and had it finally in April. Here are a few emotions and thoughts I’ve had along the way:
- Amazed at the creative writers we have scribbling away at blogs today.
- Happy that the book received great reviews.
- Delighted to have worked with some of the best writers and Internet marketers we have today.
- Disappointed that some of the authors I’ve helped in the past didn’t return the favor.
- Surprised to see a few folks offer up blog space for the very reason that I have helped authors in the past. (In fact, I got on several high profile blogs this way.)
- Confused at people who love a book but start off giving it a bad review before they tell you they loved it.
- Thrilled to have the support of my favorite group of writers at Suite101.
- Sad that the tour has ended!
Would I do it again? You betcha. I’m debating it for the book I have coming out in a few weeks.
In a related note, I decided to start a blog which helps promote up and coming writers. The blog, Working Writers, has job leads and other news, but also includes interviews with writers. I received such blessings from this blog tour when it came to people helping me out, that I had to find to way to help promote other folks as well. I wanted one area that just had tons of great information for writers, either in the area of jobs, trends, or getting to know their cohorts. Thank you to everyone who helped me during this tour, you are welcome on my blogs anytime!
Until then, I’m back doing my full-time writing gig and thinking of future books!
