All About Your Book Tour
If you want to promote your book, a book tour is a great idea. This is because you have to get out there and spread the word. However, you shouldn’t just pack up and leave without a plan!
Here are six steps to help maximise your book tour and find success without getting overwhelmed.
1) Consider Teaming Up With Another Writer
The key to maximising your book tour is not to overburden yourself, especially if it’s your first time out on the road. The first step to book tour planning is teaming up with a fellow writer, especially one who’s been on a book tour before.
That way, you don’t need to do it alone, and you’ll get guidance along the way. Plus, you can make things easier by splitting up responsibilities, like booking stops and sending follow-ups. Pick an author you’ve known for a while, and it can be a delightful experience.
2) Market Your Book In Other Ways
As soon as your book comes out, you want to hit the ground running before other new books overshadow your release. One of the mistakes indie authors make is not marketing enough.
Word travels via many avenues so you must stay productive to reach your audience. Marketing ideas include:
- Making videos for your YouTube or TikTok channel;
- Going on local radio shows;
- Hosting a book giveaway on social media.
Stay active during your tour, and it could pay off in a major way! MORE: 5 Creative Reader Magnets To Help You Market Your Novel
3) Continue Working While On Tour
The tour takes time, but it’s still important to keep working. Take time to respond to emails, interact with fans on social media, and work on your next project. Most highly productive writers make it a habit to keep writing wherever they are.
You can write in your hotel between stops, sit on a park bench, or do what many others do and even use your vehicle as a workspace.
Stay organised and maximise your space by adding drawers to your truck bed or car trunk to hold your notebooks and materials. Accessories like onboard Wi-Fi and a portable printer can complete your mobile workspace.
4) Practice Self-Care Along the Way
Your book tour can be a whirlwind of activity, and it can be easy to get so wrapped up that you put your health at risk. That’s why one of the essential steps to surviving on the road is practising self-care.
Getting eight hours of sleep can help you feel well-rested for the next day and avoid sickness. Bring snacks and water wherever you go so you don’t get dehydrated or feel weak during long book signings and events. Pack your gym shoes and go for a run or walk to clear your head and build up your natural energy.
5) Stay Organised
Organisation is critical when you’re trying to maximize your book tour. Create an itinerary of stops so you always know where you’re going and what you need to bring.
If you’re staying at hotels along the way, create a folder of reservations, directions, and other essential information.
You can also stay organised by setting up a budget. Plan on how much you’ll need to spend on gas, food, fees, and anything else that may come up. Have that in advance so there are no nasty surprises.
6) Ground Yourself If You Get Stressed
There will be a lot going on at all times during your book tour, but it’s essential not to get stressed. Whether you’re starting to feel anxious or you want to avoid stress in the first place, consider some grounding techniques.
A simple one is to breathe deeply and think of the words “in” and “out” as you inhale and exhale. Take notice as each breath fills your lungs.
Another exercise is the five senses grounding technique:
- Sight: Focus on five items you can see and verbalize them;
- Touch: Find and name four things you can touch;
- Hearing: Listen for three sounds, like birds chirping or the sound of a lawn mower;
- Smell: Find and acknowledge two different items with two distinct scents;
- Taste: Eat a bite of your lunch or focus on the inside of your mouth and the flavor of something you ate in the past, like your last snack.
This grounding technique keeps you focused on what’s in your zone of control. The nice thing about these techniques is that you can do them easily while travelling, regardless of where you are, when you start to feel stressed.
Conclusion
These are the steps you should take to maximise your book tour. Whilst many of these tips relate to a ‘real life’ book tour, many can also be applied to blog tours as well.
Ultimately, don’t wait to be picked. Go on tour – IRL or virtually – be proud of your work, and try to have fun, and you’ll have a great chance of success.
Good Luck!
BIO: Charlie Fletcher is a freelance writer from the lovely “city of trees”- Boise, Idaho. Her love of writing pairs with her passion for social activism and search for the truth. When not writing she spends her time doodling and embroidering. And yes, she does love all kinds of potatoes!
