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
- Blog tours are a fantastic way to support authors!
When I receive an email about a novel that catches my eye, my little readerโs 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! ๐๐ป 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 โก๏ธ 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 ๐)
3. Blog Tours require a PLANNER
When I was a baby blogger, I had no idea how much this hobby would change my lifeโฆ 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 mindโฆ 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 Iโm addicted to my phone. Whatever you chooseโฆ
4. Itโs 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 authorโs picture, their bio, the book, social handlesโฆ 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 canโt do it all the time. So, my advice is toโฆ 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 doesnโt make you happy, then whatโs 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 thereโs a lot of traffic to be had in the morning! Moreover, the author is probably waiting for your post because, hey, itโs nerve-wracking to put your work out there!
To avoid having to get up before dawn to get my post online at 6am, I scheduleโฆ when WordPress is kind enough to let me do it! Thereโs also a weird satisfaction to see a list of scheduled postsโฆ Plus, I sleep better knowing all is ready!
8. If you donโt 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!! ๐)
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 ๐
Remember to HAVE FUN with blog tours!
Here are a few blog tour organizers. Many more are out there!
Liked it !
And are you a suits fan (your GIFS seem to tell that)
Because I am !๐ ๐
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๐ I am a huge Suits fan!
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Me too ! ๐ “Huge fan”
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I guess the many gifs gave it away ๐
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๐๐๐Absolutely
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I regret nothing ๐๐
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Thank you for including BOTBS Meggy. Great post. X
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Thank you ๐ X
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I adore blog tours, I love how many authors and bloggers Iโm able to connect to via thesw tours
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Me too! And I love sharing other bloggers’ posts! x
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Love this post Meggy! I have a love hate relationship with blog tours mostly because in the past I also took on too many and became overwhelmed. I learnt the hard way and only do books I want to read or listen to. One thing that does bug though is when organisers don’t get back to me especially if I have to give up on the book and can’t give a review or extract as I don’t want to recommend it on my blog. It’s mostly the publishers in this case and not independent blog tour organisers. xxx
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I understand. It’s difficult to interact with them at times. I don’t see extract as a rec, though, I usually share them to give friends a taste of the book without involving myself ๐ It’s hard on both sides as organizers have to answer to authors xxx
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A great post for newbie bloggers!
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Thank you! I thought it’d be nice to share a fun post about tours x
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Excellent post Meggy. I’ve pulled back a bit from tours the last while as I was struggling with the commitment but I still do a few to keep in touch! x
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Thank you! I don’t often write this kind of posts so I am glad you enjoyed it ๐ Every week, I tell myself I’m going to cut back on tours… It doesn’t work very well! ๐ x
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Iโm new to blogging and blog tours and agree itโs so easy to over commit. I want to sign up to every tour Kelly sends out but am learning to stick with what interests me.
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I’m an old blogging bat and I still struggle not to over commit, haha! But it’s definitely better for us if we choose carefully ๐ We’re glad to have you on our list! x
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Tha is lovely! So far it has been a fun ride and Iong may it continue ๐
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Even if I don’t do blog tours, I loved your post. It comes across as very sound advice. Personally, I am not good with commitment (of any kind… ), so I know myself well enough to stay away from blog tours. But I enjoy reading the posts from other bloggers, who participate, it really is impactful when a bunch of people review the same book.
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Thank you very much! ๐ฅฐ I agree, I love the energy brought by tours ๐ xx
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I am a part of those tours. But with the crisis on, my reading is affected and the other chores took on priority. So my Tours have also gone down as I started reading gentler books, and now want to read my books as I bought too many. (and yes.. I blame you for my CC ringing)
But Tours are the ones that have kept my reading in status quo, otherwise I would have been staring into nothing.
Great post
The key point – do what is fun. Enjoy the now
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Haha, I am 100% guilty! I look at all the books I own and feel so bad! I am trying to cut back on tours but 2020 is filled with books by authors I love!
Yeah, we tend to forget the fun part after a while. That’s always what gets me into a reviewing-slump! xx
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True that. I took up Tours this year for it would keep me reading
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Great post! I’ve had times when I over committed as a baby blogger – like many, it was a mistake I quickly learned from.
I did have one uncomfortable experience though – I joined a blog tour to review – like you, I prefer to review if I’m taking part – a novel which turned out to be not to my taste at all. I emailed the tour organiser to ask for content instead and… no response! We got there in the end when I said that if I were to post a review I would be entirely honest about my views on the book, and finally got an extract to post/ I did phrase it nicely, but the whole experience was unpleasant and left me feeling like a passive aggressive ****.
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Thanks so much! ๐ I am sorry you had a bad experience with a tour organizer. I admit it happens, and I find it sad. Blog tours work when both the organizer and the hosts are happy. That’s why I chose to work with Kelly, who puts this part first. I hope you can get nice tours with more understanding organizers ๐ xx
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Thanks, Meggy. It was one bad experience – the vast majority of tour organisers I’ve worked with have been excellent and understanding with no problems whatsoever. Probably should have led with that to be honest! ๐ฌ
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It’s good to also share the not so good ๐ I’m glad you found more kind people than… not so kind ones! :)x
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Meggy this was a nice post to read as a change up to reviews. I think it will help new bloggers or new to tours bloggers too.
I’m totally agree that the organisers are usually so nice and helpful. The blog tour host I have used most is Rachel from Rachel Random Reads.
I love the book you chose to hold for the photo. One of my favourites that I’ve read. ๐๐
Amanda xx
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I felt like trying something different. I am so overwhelmed by the nice feedback I am getting!
Rachel is really nice ๐ I like to interact with hosts as a social media coordinator, and with the other bloggers as a blogger taking part in tours. There’s a nice energy to it.
Fixed Odds is brilliant, and this photo makes me smile. My red hair days! xxx
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Love this one and did all these! Being part of tour is both exciting and intimidating. It comes with both fun and pressure. I made many mistakes! forgot to post and noted wrong date on calendar… So sad I have to learn all these through experience. You cover all points. I hope this helps newbies.
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Thank you so much! โค We all make mistakes, don't worry! I once wrote the wrong book title! There is definitely a little pressure but usually it disappears when I think how I'm helping the author ๐ x
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Great post Meggy!
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Thanks so much! ๐ x
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I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not all that thrilled to do blog tours. I will, however, post a review on a specific date if the publisher wants me to do so. Not the same thing, but the blog tours I’ve taken part in either made me anxious or were for books I wasn’t going to read, and just putting up an excerpt felt… unsatisfactory to me.
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If tours don’t make you feel happy, then you’re right not to take part. I know the pressure can be so difficult, and sometimes I get disappointed by a book and feel so guilty! x
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I know, right? I feel guilty enough when I get an ARC that I don’t like and have to DNF it, and give feedback on NetGalley or Edelweiss why I couldn’t finish it. If I’m committed to a blog tour and that happens… I would feel really bad. Better to just keep away from them for me.
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Fab post, Meggy!
Hell yes to the planner! I even colour code things ๐
Blog tours are always so tempting and I always have to reel myself in ๐ I always have to remind myself that while reading and promoting news books is fun, it would also be nice to read some of my own TBR!
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Thank you, love! โค๏ธ
I color code things too!! I am trying to find the right balance between my own TBR and tours but we have so many great books coming up this year! xx
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Amen to every thing you’ve written here, Meggy. I’ve overcommitted myself…struggling with this right now, as between my online critique partners, book reviewing, reading, dealing with the headaches of a self hosted website, etc, I struggle to find time for my own writing. Staying organized is essential!
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Thank you very much for taking the time to read this post, Meredith! ๐
It sounds like you have a lot on your plate indeed! I hope things get better soon! I’ve found myself in this position a couple of times and it’s so stressing! x
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Thanks!
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Great blog post – I love a blog tour ๐
I wish I scheduled more – I used too, but I seem to be a last-minute blogger since Covid-19. I no longer have much time to myself or a quiet house ๐ ๐
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Thank you! ๐
The virus messed with our schedules, for sure! x
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Great post! I love blog tours, and always get OTT enthusiastic about taking part in them, so have definitely done the oversubscribing thing and left myself overwhelmed. Such an easy mistake to make!
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Thanks so much! I completely understand, tours are so exciting we forget the amount of time they require!
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