Since I started promoting my new book tour group, Beyond Words Book Tours, I have discovered that there are a lot of book bloggers who enjoy hosting book tours, but there are even more who aren't familiar with them. With that in mind, figured I would share what a book tour host is for those of you who don't already know.
For those of you who are not familiar with what a book tour and book tour hosts are...A book tour is where an author goes on a virtual tour- stopping at different blogs to promote their book. A coordinator (kind of like an agency) will arrange set dates with the author and then find a 'book tour host' for each date on the tour. Hosts will then sign up for a specific date to host the author and their book.
The host can choose to post a book promotion, review, guest post, or interview with the author on their blog. Each tour will have different options available and often the author will provide the tour hosts with a free copy of the book they are promoting in exchange for a review. If you enjoy reading new books this also a great way to build your library.
Since book tours usually run 2 - 6 weeks, that can be 10 to 50 different blogs showcasing the book. So how does this help the host? Well, the coordinator will create a schedule and include all the dates with the blogs participating. The agency, and usually the author, will promote the tour and each individual stop. They will advertise the tour on their own blogs and websites, their Facebook, Google+, Twitter and other forms of social media, which will bring you new readers and followers. It's a win-win situation for both the host and the author.
On the day you post your tour stop, not only will you be promoting your post as usual, but the author and coordinator will also be promoting it. You can expect to see a great increase of traffic, followers and comments on your blog the day of your post.
Blog tours are great way to get the word out about your blog and make lasting connections with authors and other bloggers. There area a variety of blog tour sites that would be willing to have you as a host. You can be part of several different tour groups so don't feel like you need to limit yourself to just one. Do keep in mind that when you sign up for a tour, you tour post should be the main post on your page for the day you are hosting the tour. This means that any memes you would normally do on that day would need to be posted PRIOR to posting your tour stop. Your blog is linked to the tour with your main URL so you want to make sure that when tour visitors click on the link to your blog that your tour post is the first one on they see.
If you would like to join a tour group there are a few good ones posted below. Beyond Words Book Tours is actually a sister-site to Stephanie's Book Shelf which I coordinate as well. If you are interested in touring please be sure to join! We would love to have you!
A Few Book Tours You Can Host With:
Beyond Book Tours
Bewitching Book Tours
Tasty Book Tours
Bookish Brunnette - BB Tours
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