Blog Tours: theory and reality

[cyn]

I feel another rant coming on . . . this time about blog tours. Of recent weeks I have become very disenchanted with the realities of the blog tours in my world. If I was to place the blame with any one person for spurring my thoughts, it would be Rebecca Miller!

Recently Rebecca has been doing her darnedest to get the word out about Christian fantasy. Her method is to challenge readers and authors to recommend 3 books to # of people.

It was the method that made me re-evaluate what was happening (in my experience) on blog tours.

Blog tours for books are intended to spread the word about the novel, right? Members of the tours read, review the book and then post good things on their blog for others to see. In theory, new person comes along, likes what they see and purchase the book. All is well. Blog owners get hits and up the rating of the blog and the novelist sells books.

The blogs on the tours with which I've experience seem to speak to the same people, over and over again. And, none of blogs have a substantial and varied readership. Members of the tour go around to other members and read what they have to say; sometimes they comment. But, these aren't the spectators that tours should be aiming for!

Who cares about Technorati ratings for books? I've tried to search for the book ratings and have found the specific page once on my own. Yes, I can use the link that Bonnie Calhoun provides on the CFBA, but this means nothing to a would-be book customer.

Would-be customers can do a google or Yahoo search for the genre and the blog posts come up; this is a good thing, but the only positive I can come up with.

The Christian fiction blog tours preach to the converted--each other. Those that rave about a book make up a healthy contingent of the would-be fans. Problem is that they don't equate to sales. They've read the book supplied by the publisher. There is no reason to go out and purchase it.

The other issue is that many of the tour members are authors or budding authors themselves. Our market needs to be made up of more than authors supporting each other in the hopes that turn around is fair play.

What publishers and authors need to do if they are keen on the blog tour concept is locate those blogs and sites that have a decent readership (>100 people per day at a minimum) and approach them.

I did reach one site like this with a press release for Frank Creed, a site that receives 1000 hits per day. The site owner contacted me for a copy of Flashpoint. someone reviewed it and posted the review. Great. Now, my mission is to find more sites like this and publicize my novels using a different tactic. I'll continue to promote TWCP novels on the CFRB tour out of loyalty, but I'm not going to approach any other organized tour.

c.

[Frank Creed]

There was a lot of conversation over the weekend on the LGG list about blog tours organized by PR firms who charge $1500 upwards. Outfits like GlassRoads PR do all the leg work to set up a tour for you.

Their site states that they contact over 100 bloggers and the tour runs from 60-90 days; the cost is $1750. Is it worth it?

[sdent1]

I'd have to say no it isn't worth it. Why? Because they don't even seem to know what they offer. When I contacted them it was because they claimed they could get you on the CFBA blog tour which Bonnie Calhoun had deemed CBA/ECPA exclusive. I told them I wasn't CBA affiliated and they said this was no problem. Then I asked them how they got around CFBA's exclusivity rule. They told me they'd contact CFBA as they weren't aware they were exclusive.

Ding, ding, ding! No one was aware CFBA was CBA/ECPA exclusive until Nov. of 2007. Next thing I get is a scathing e-mail from Bonnie Calhoun that said no one not even Glass Roads could get me on the CFBA tour then she thanked me for being unprofessional. How nice!

Glass Roads then told me that they didn't think I'd be happy with their blog tour if getting on CFBA was what I wanted. I told them I just wanted what they promised and that was the end of that.

Very interesting development indeed.

[Caprice]

It all depends on WHICH bloggers will tour the book. Do said bloggers have huge hit numbers? Do they actually read and like the genre? It does no good if all the blogger's readers are Louis L'Amour fans.

**IF** I had that kind of $$ to spend, I'd want a LOT of specifics about just what that money is buying.

I heard a "rumor" you can get on CFBA for a mere $500 now that Ms. Calhoun is going to make her living that way, so if CFBA is all the PR firm has up their sleeves, run the other way!

[cyn]

It all depends on WHICH bloggers will tour the book. Do said bloggers have huge hit numbers? Do they actually read and like the genre? It does no good if all the blogger's readers are Louis L'Amour fans.

Exactly! If they are counting on blogs like mine, they will be sadly disappointed.

[M C Pearson]

Hi! I was told about this discussion by CFRB. I wasn't going to post anything because I don't want to cause any hurts or rumors about FIRST not being affiliated with the CFBA anymore.

I like the discussion about where blog tours are headed and what they should really be for.

I totally agree that we need to be trying to reach unbelievers. It should be our number one desire. Telling Christians about new books should be second.

I disagree that the goal to only get on blogs that have a huge readership though. I understand that is a great idea...I mean, that would be awesome to have such a big blog member. BUT, I believe that the little people can do big things. I allow brand new bloggers to become members...since I've expanded FIRST into three alliances and a wild card group, I've had a ton of Teen bloggers start blogs so they can participat. These guys/gals are awesome! They have friends that aren't Christians as well as belong to fan groups. One of my new teens has brought flyers to places about her blog and FIRST! Too cool.

Just so you know, a certain blog alliance does not allow new bloggers. A blog with a minimum of 50 posts is needed before being allowed to be a member. I think that is a huge mistake. People are starting blogs all the time, why limit it? I have been told that Internet 'spiders' don't pick up posts that are on blogs with less than 50. But who cares? The idea is to spread the Word...friends and family of those new bloggers read the posts. The only reason for this rule relates to Technorati.

I have members use the ASIN link to Amazon to have it go on Technorati, but that is not my number one driving influence. I am not sure how much it matters, but if it helps get the word out...why not?

I'd also like to add that I am so excited that new alliances are popping up. I don't see it as competition...I see it as more missionaries to help spread the Gospel.

One more thing, I try to have FIRST be more of a sample of the book than an advertisement. Posting the FIRST chapter gives people an idea of the book...it allows people to see if they want to purchase the book. I also encourage members to post a review. I am also trying to give tips on how to make their blogs more popular so that more people will be seeing the chapter.

It is a lot of hard work to direct an alliance, especially if you have to coordinate address lists...but I feel it is a ministry. My little gift to God. I spend a lot of time on it...I may apply for grants or try to make it a non-profit organization some day...but I will never charge for tours. NEVER.

I sometimes use publicists to get books for the tours, but I don't pay nor do I charge.

I welcome any ideas to get the Gospel out better! I am hoping Wild Card Tours will be a cool new way to do this. Feel free to suggest things to me. ;D

[Frank Creed]

I have been told that Internet 'spiders' don't pick up posts that are on blogs with less than 50. But who cares?

Actually, the technorati spiders pick up a blog's posts just as soon as one claims the blog, writes a new post with some code, and then clicks on "release the spiders" -- that easy. There only has to be the one post, so, sounds like the info above is rumor.

I've always like the concept behind FIRST where you aren't so much about marketing as you are about informing. Of course, it helps the book/ author too -- the more exposure the better.

I agree that small and new bloggers can (and sometimes do more to) promote a book. Any mention in a web search is helpful to the author. And, everyone has to start somewhere! I'm glad you give new people an opportunity to become involved.

I did go over and check out "Wild Card" -- it does sound interesting, but I am not sure how it works. As well, is FIRST CBA/ ECPA exclusive? Inquiring minds want to know! and it is nice if authors/ independent publishers/ publicists know before making any inquiries!

Thanks for dropping by.

Faith,
f

[M C Pearson]

Cool about the spiders... I had no idea about that! ;D Guess it was a rumor!!! I never knew you could invite them. I'm not that tech savvy. LOL...but, I'm learning. (Just joined ShoutLife and am having a hard time figuring things out.)

Wild Card is still working out the kinks. I'll have to try to make the ABOUT US more clear.

FIRST has never been exclusive...but I have tried to tour mostly the 'popular' titles to boost membership. It also has only one post per month so I've been very selective...but with the new alliances: Teen FIRST and Non~FIRST, I put out three tours a month.

FIRST Wild Card Tours is going to be just that...WILD: anything can happen. It will not be exclusive at all! I will need to have readers (right now my hubby and myself are the readers, but I'm hoping to include others) to make sure that any self-published or POD books that want to tour are Christian and well-written. We will showcase Fiction as well as Non~Fiction in all genres.

We would be pleased to champion the small publishers on Wild Card.

If you want to contact FIRST Wild Card to tour a book or become one of the blogger group, just follow the instructions on the blog: firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/

[sonburst]

After being a Christian, I'm a writer, that's who I am, it's what I do. I started CFRB to give people a showcase for their work. There are all kinds of things that could and need to be done, but as imaginitive as I am when I'm writing, this business end is like foreign territory to me. Still I press on. I've just received word from Cyn that due to her other duties she'll no longer be able to help out at CFRB. This leaves us with a really huge administrative hole. I've been over at FIRST and from the little time I spent there I liked what I saw. If anyone, ANYONE would like to offer suggestions in making CFRB better than anyone else. I'm not in a competition. If I can help FIRST, I will. If they can help me, great. And if anyone can help either of us reach out to more people and be more effective, please contact via email.

God bless you all.
David Brollier
CFRB co-founder

[M. C. Pearson]

Sonburst: You asked if there were any suggestions...so here goes: One thing that both CFBA and FIRST do the same is that on the alliance blogsites, we do not put in our personal reviews. We put a link in the comment section to our own blogs when we post.

I'm not in this for competition either, the more the merrier I say. Try to just be yourself, not better than anyone else...and HAVE FUN! It should be a joy to you. Be creative. Also, being personable to all your members is key. I send out personal emails when blog tours are scheduled. Make it a family and ministry. Don't worry about the 'business end' because it will change the whole mission. But if you are thinking of making it a business, you should probably speak with Bonnie.

[Sue Dent]

Suggestions? Okay. If a blog tour is going to set rules or guidelines about how each review should be done, then the blog director needs to stay on top of this. When I toured CFBA, this was perfect. Not one problem. One blogger did go off on their own and posted something about my book without reading it but it wasn't on the blogroll and so didn't affect the overall purpose of the tour.

CSFF and CFRB don't seem to be on top of this. It should be a given. Follow the easy to follow rules (guidelines) or post what is given. There's no need to post rules/guidelines if they're not going to be followed.

[sonburst]

May 14, 2008 15:44:37 GMT -5 M. C. Pearson said:

Sonburst: You asked if there were any suggestions...so here goes: One thing that both CFBA and FIRST do the same is that on the alliance blogsites, we do not put in our personal reviews. We put a link in the comment section to our own blogs when we post.

I'm not in this for competition either, the more the merrier I say. Try to just be yourself, not better than anyone else...and HAVE FUN! It should be a joy to you. Be creative. Also, being personable to all your members is key. I send out personal emails when blog tours are scheduled. Make it a family and ministry. Don't worry about the 'business end' because it will change the whole mission. But if you are thinking of making it a business, you should probably speak with Bonnie.

Thank you. I never intend for this to be a business. It started out as a way to promote my book, but God changed things so that it would be a ministry to promote Him. Since then I have had such a marvelous time. I've met some of the greatest people. I miss Cyn terribly, but like me, she's not irreplaceable. One new member of CFRB volunteered to step in and handle much of what Cyn was doing, others have been giving advice all along. This isn't a one man show. First off, I'm the CO-founder, not the heart and soul of everything. I hope that would be Jesus. We work together. This month we're going to try something new. Stop by and give us a look. The tour starts Sunday.

David Brollier
cfrblog.blogspot.com