I’ve been preparing for my virtual book tour, also called a blog tour, which begins on June 1. It will consist of about 22 stops at popular blogs. That sounds great, right? It is, but…It also means that, with a few exception, I must write new and unique content on the same topic 22 times. That isn’t so great.
I now understand why when I asked Joanna Penn for a guest post for my blog at the end of one of her virtual book tours she said something about not being able to write another word about the topic. It can be difficult to write original and different–meaning not repurposed–blog posts of anywhere from 500-1500 words in length on the same topic over and over again. It’s a bit like reproducing the same flower over and over again or creating the same blossom on the same stalk of a plant multiple times. Or like a snowflake. All the same but different.
I still have a few posts to write before I’m done, and I’m thinking of doing another blog tour in October (am I crazy or what?), but here are six tips I’ve learned to date that might help you prepare for your own virtual book tour.
- Group blog posts into different types of blogs. Some blogs may have a different focus or angle. This allows you to write from a different angle. Doing so makes writing more creative and interesting.
- Develop a list of blog titles by subject matter. If you are writing for a variety of blogs that focus on different subjects or have varying angles, come up with different blog post titles from which you can easily choose. You can also let your blog hosts choose from these.
- Vary the posts you write depending on the angle of the blog. By varying the angle from which you write, you will find yourself more creatively stimulated. For example, don’t write three posts in a row with a business angle. Write one with a business angle, and then switch and write one with a creativity, marketing or simple how-to angle.
- Spend some time reading each blog before you start writing. This gives you a fresh view of the blog’s content and voice. Look for other guest posts as well. You may gain new insight or ideas as to how to start your post or angle it.
- Don’t write more than two posts per day. This way you come at the writing fresh.
- Ask some of your hosts to give you questions to answer. This is a great change of pace and eliminates the need to write a post! Some bloggers may also be willing to post an excerpt of your book instead of a post.
To find out how to do a blog tour, I suggest signing up for John Kremer’s course, Blog Palooza, and reading Dana Lynn Smith’s ebook, Virtual Book Tour Magic. And please follow the How to Blog a Book virtual book tour.
Have you completed a virtual book tour? Do you have tips to offer? If so, please leave a comment! I’d love to read them, and I’m sure others would, too.
Photo courtesy of porshelinn.
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