9 Things I Learned About Blog Tours #bookblogging

I don’t consider myself a Queen of Blogging, but I have been around for four and a half years (I feel old!) and this time has taught me a lot about books, but also about how the online bookish community works. I remember being so shy and helpless at first. Thanks to amazing bloggers, I found a way to decipher the codes and have the best time. Some of my favorite posts are… Blog Tour Posts!

9 things I learned about Blog Tours

1. Blog tours are a fantastic way to support authors!

When I receive an email about a novel that catches my eye, my little reader’s heart swells. There is something exciting about joining a group to promote a book. Of course, our usual reviews count, but blog tours have another kind of impact, and when well-organized, they make wonderful ripples in the bookish ocean!

2. Join… When you feel ready!

There are no rules, you don’t have to take part in blog tours to be considered a blogger. Book blogging is a hobby, not a job. We don’t get paid, we do it for the love of books! If you’re happy simply reviewing at your own pace, just go with it! 👊🏻 If you feel like trying, there are many ways to find tours, check out Twitter and Facebook groups, for example.

It’s usually easy to get on a blogging list, you just have to sign up!

Check out Love Books Tours sign-up form ➡️ https://bit.ly/2MSb4B5

(This post is not affiliated to Love Books Group, it is about my personal experience. But hey, Kelly’s a great organizer, and I happen to work there 😂)

3. Blog Tours require a PLANNER

When I was a baby blogger, I had no idea how much this hobby would change my life… and my free time! I was giddy with excitement when I signed up for my very first tour, having all details and dates seared in my mind… But when blog tours opportunities because more numerous, I panicked! Lesson learned! It is ESSENTIAL to keep track of your commitments with a planner.

I used to write everything down in a beautiful diary, and later turned to my iCalendar as I’m addicted to my phone. Whatever you choose…

4. It’s never a good idea to over-commit!

When we say yes to a blog tour organizer, they send us all we need: the book cover, the blurb, the author’s picture, their bio, the book, social handles… Everything! Our part of the job is to keep those carefully, and depending on what content we agreed to, prepare a post for our specific day.

I almost always go for a review, I want to share my opinion with others and try to spark interest! But four years ago, the newbie I was made the mistake of saying yes to everything. I ended up buried under books, pressure coming from everywhere, and reading turned into a chore.

Even though we want to help, we can’t do it all the time. So, my advice is to… Only say yes to books you really want to read!

5. The best blog tour posts are the one you HAVE FUN WRITING!

My oh-so-long experience as a blogger *coughs and chokes* taught me that the first main thing for a good blog tour post is the passion you put into it. The second is the fun.

Do a giveaway! Ask for a Q&A! Play with the layout of your post. If taking part in blog tours doesn’t make you happy, then what’s the point???

6. Tagging is key!

Far from the tagging debate when we post a review of the book of our choice, when we take part in a blog tour, tagging is essential! And not just tagging the author, but the blog tour organizer and, often forgotten but so needed, the publisher! After all, they too want to see their book invading the Internet! I admit that I struggled with this point when I began blogging; I could never remember the publisher! Bad me! Now it’s become a habit and I’ve created good relations with several publishers!

7. Scheduling is your friend!

The earliest your post gets published on your day, the better for everyone, you included! Many bloggers check blog posts before going to work, so there’s a lot of traffic to be had in the morning! Moreover, the author is probably waiting for your post because, hey, it’s nerve-wracking to put your work out there!

To avoid having to get up before dawn to get my post online at 6am, I schedule… when WordPress is kind enough to let me do it! There’s also a weird satisfaction to see a list of scheduled posts… Plus, I sleep better knowing all is ready!

8. If you don’t enjoy the book, say it!

The worst thing for a blog tour is to get bad reviews. Blog tours are a way to promote books, so even if no blog tour organizer can’t tell you what to write, they expect a positive post. When I find myself unable to write a good review (at least 3,5 stars) I just email the organizer to be offered content to share on my day. Again, the sooner we let them know, the better! A spotlight, a giveaway, or a guest-post are great ways to let people know about the book!

9. Get in Touch!

Echoing my previous point, blog tour organizers, whether they’re in-house or indies, are kind and understanding people. It’s totally okay to reach out to them when there’s something we’re not sure of. They only want things to go well for everyone, and they’re always ready to give a hand! (let’s not send DMs at midnight, though!! 😂)

This post had been sitting in my drafts folder for weeks, but now that I have got the chance to be behind-the-scenes again, I thought I’d share the little things that make my blogging life easier 😊

Remember to HAVE FUN with blog tours!

Here are a few blog tour organizers. Many more are out there!

Damppebbles

BotBSPublicity

Love Books Tours