In this writing piece, you will find everything you need to know about hosting a virtual book tour.
We will discuss the strategies for organizing book tours that publicize the events. You will also get to know the benefits of participating in a virtual book tour.
It can be hosted either through a recorded video presentation or any other type of digital communication giving an engagement-driven experience. This impactful event will surely exceed your expectations and will drive a value-added experience.
What Is A Virtual Book Tour
Let’s exchange thoughts online rather than in a physical location!
A virtual event is where people of similar mindsets exchange their thoughts. They connect virtually featuring webinars or webcasts, live streaming, or other sessions. The virtual tours are accessible and a flexible way to communicate with other readers.
Unlike live events where the attendance is present rooting for the performers, the online events amplify the exposure in a different way. It features financial efficiency and grows an online fan base to build relationships with bloggers.
You will get to see entertaining crowds of book readers on different platforms. The platforms include websites and email lists maximizing the publicity. All you need is to leverage your resources for readers in support during each tour.
What Is The Hype For Virtual Book Tours About
A virtual book tour is when an author shows up on a blog during a specific time. On a tour the author gives away copies of their books or some gift cards. It all started during the Covid-19 crisis.
With the Covid-19 crisis making on-site events unsafe they deal with the challenges to interact with others. Only for the love of books.
To help people plan their virtual book tour events, writers come up with different strategies. This also influenced Ghostwriters UK to lead to great opportunities for fan engagement. They were able to reshare all the news and bring a lot of attention from audiences.
Book tours were common and a well-known traditional promotional tactic for authors to launch a new book. But when things got worse, people had to isolate themselves and book readers came up with innovative creative ways of interaction.
The book tours will make you connect virtually with friends who live in different cities. You are going to feel comfortable having a large group for discussion. The virtual book tour will deliver a meaningful and rewarding experience for everyone.
How To Host A Virtual Book Tour For Global Reach
Arranging virtual events can go as limitless as your imagination!
While the increased challenges for traditional publishing are increasing one can easily promote their books in a virtual book tour.
One can surely not get bound by arranging virtual events. It gives a value-added experience that extends well beyond your screens.
Host a virtual event by following tactics for global reach.
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Grab audiences attention
Virtual events are easy to join and even easier to leave. All it requires is a click to join or leave the virtual call.
So, to capture the audience, avoid sharing too much of the content before the event. Try to make it visually appealing by enhancing your message and an enriched presentation.
You can also involve your audience by Q & A or live chat turning them from listeners to active participants.
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Know to stand out
Find a niche and arrange your virtual event by knowing your audience first. Ensure that it addresses their main concerns and offers digital tools and resources to add more value for attendees.
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Choosing a virtual platform and speakers wisely
Always ensure to consider your needs while making your selection. Whether it is the social media integration or the level of engagement the platform must meet your security and data requirements.
Find an engaging speaker to bring thought leadership and inspiration to your virtual event. The speaker must provide a fresh perspective along with perfect content and delivery.
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Creating a sociable atmosphere
Having a friendly and sociable atmosphere between speakers and participants is a must.
It creates a bond among the ones who are present in the event and reaches a maximum audience.
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Be prepared for technical issues
It’s good to have all the solutions prepared to help things run smoothly. Try to have backups for visual and pre-recorded videos throughout the event.
Now you are ready to host a virtual event and go big towards global reach from your home.
Benefits Of Hosting A Virtual Book Tour
A virtual book tour is all about hopping from blog to blog, podcast to podcast, and overall sharing knowledge.
In a bookstore crowded with individuals, an author might feel uncomfortable talking about his passion or real-life stories. So, why not organize a virtual book tour for potential readers and writers?
- Participating in a virtual book tour increases your credibility.
- You can get to know a writer about his personality a little more closely.
- Authors gain the ability to reach more readers.
- The shorter, virtual, and concentrated campaigns can boost the reach of your book.
- You will experience an increase in sales.
- The virtual book tour is far less time-consuming and tiring.
- You can grow your online fan base through blog and email subscriber lists.
- It helps to build prime opportunities to establish valuable relationships with bloggers and key influencers in your genre.
- It lets you gain additional reviews from book bloggers.
- Better interaction with new readers and potential buyers through social media chats.
- The exposure can lead to additional guest post requests, media opportunities, and interviews.
- It enhances your reputation and gets more people to share your content.
Reasons To Do A Virtual Book Tour
Let’s target a large audience from the comfort of your home!
Following are the reasons to organize a virtual book tour for the book enthusiasts.
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Cost-effectiveness
Virtual tours are less expensive. They can save you a lot of cost and time in all the hassle of arranging a physical one.
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Overall outreach
It reaches far more people and a targeted audience with a virtual tour. You can spread awareness and maximize the outreach.
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Bringing new visitors to the website
The virtual tour provides quality lasting links to your website. The links have search engine optimization which brings new visitors for months or years to come.
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Promotion of books
Organizing a virtual tour gives you the incentive to promote your book. You can easily promote books of all genres among the book lovers.
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Building a community
The book tours build a community of people and get people talking and sharing. They can engage in different sessions and develop positive relations.
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Implied endorsement
When others host you, there is an implied endorsement to enhance the author’s platform. The author gets the importance it deserves through a little act of appreciation.
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An increased visibility
A virtual tour will increase your visibility as well as the visibility of your book. It will improve your outreach among the others.
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Finding a new target market
The virtual tour can introduce you and your business to an audience in a new target market. They will be of various diverse backgrounds collectively attending a similar event.
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Easily discoverable
A virtual book tour can make your business more discoverable. The more mentions on the internet the more it will make it easier for people to find you and your business.
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A click-through purchase
A virtual book tour will help you sell more books. If you include its hyperlink to a site or cover image where the book is for sale, people will click through to purchase.
How To Start A Virtual Book Tour
Whether you are interested in joining an online book club or giving an online book tour we have some tips stored for you.
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Choose a structure
Choose a genre or a structure to function successfully. Decide on what type of books you will read.
Add a variety of books to help other members of your book tour select titles.
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Schedule the tour
Figure out your schedule accordingly!
Think about who will meet your online discussion and how your group will decide which books to read.
You can also add the event schedule to your website making it easy to fully schedule. It will keep the tour organized and the readers will see which events are best fit for them.
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Post the virtual book tour schedule on social platforms
Various social media platforms share their important news directly with fans. You can get the most out of such online platforms by tagging all the authors making appearances at events.
This way you will stand out to your audience among others.
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Answer questions to fans
People are getting used to the new reality of virtual events. It will be helpful to answer questions from fans.
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Share recaps from an early tour
Authors can share a lot from previous virtual events. They post fun photos from past appearances which could get readers excited about the upcoming tour stops.
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Host an after-party
Who said one can not let people engage in fun conversions at digital parties?
The after party will make you go crazy and it will surely be a memorable one.
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Ask authors to help launch your book
Let’s build a fraternity together!
When well-known authors share event details with their audiences it helps to attract new fans.
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Teaming up with other authors
Authors can also get partnered with fellow authors to market both of their books. Readers can watch as the author adds a personal touch to their books, sharing about their work.
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Partnership with bookstores
Virtual book tours provide a great chance to support bookstores. They have organized online events and encouraged fans to buy their books from them.
It is an amazing way for authors to get their names out there. They will reach new audiences which makes it more accessible without any additional costs.
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Writing out answers to fan questions
The written out answers to reader questions allow engagement with fans and publicizing their books. You will surely get to know them a lot through such engaging sessions.
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Posting book tour videos
This benefits you since the content stays on your channel. The fans can tune in anytime and you can get them monetized.
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Thank fans for participating
Thank the ones who gave your virtual book tour the importance it needed. Thanking them is like expressing your gratitude and showing appreciation to fans.
After the virtual book tour, create a highlight reel and share it on social media. You can also follow up with an email to any recording from the event. It is a great way to reach people who could not make it to the tour.
Get Media Attention Through Virtual Book Tours
A virtual book tour can help you attract more media attention. The more visible you are on the internet and have a strong online presence the more you will appear.
It will help you become a best seller for much longer. All it requires is creativity to devise post ideas and write them for interviews. One can turn their virtual event into a full-stack marketing machine with promotion, amplification, and follow-up support from event management platforms.
This will improve virtual event outcomes while encouraging engagement. The media engagement will increase your relevance leading to increased conversion.
Conclusion
From brainstorming ideas, and promoting book tours to getting new opportunities, an online book tour can do it all!
The virtual book tours happen online across multiple platforms. The tour consists of content formats including guest blog posts, interviews, book reviews, and much more. It also constitutes social media contests, webinars, and book giveaways.
You can raise awareness to gain more exposure for potential readers. The virtual book tour will get you more book reviews and your website will get referral links. It is an effective element. Once the links are on your website you can nurture them to become book buyers.
By putting yourself out there you can easily build relationships with book promoters. You can take the first meaningful step in a bigger marketing move for the love of books and an author career.
