If you follow book blogs regularly, you have most likely come across the term blog tour. You may have even noticed that many posts across different blogs feature the same book around the same time. That is not a coincidence. Those are blog tours.
What are blog tours? They are coordinated promotional posts where a book is featured across multiple blogs over a set period of time. These posts often include a book review, additional graphics, buy links, book description, sale links, author information and contact details, excerpts, Q&As, and sometimes even giveaways. Instead of traveling physically, the book “visits” different blogs online.
Why are blog tours done? Blog tours are arranged to help authors and publishers get their books noticed by a larger audience. If, for example, ten bloggers host the same tour, that means ten dedicated posts highlighting one book. When those bloggers share their posts across social media platforms, the reach becomes even wider. It is a collaborative effort to increase visibility and connect books with readers.
How are they arranged? Blog tours are typically organized by a publisher, publicist, tour company, or sometimes the author. Bloggers receive an invitation email asking if they would like to participate. Dates are prearranged, usually around the release date of the book. Interested bloggers choose an available date and confirm their participation.
What happens after agreeing to participate? Once confirmed, the blogger usually receives a media package close to their scheduled date. This may include graphics, the book blurb, author information, excerpts, interview questions, and purchase links. Sometimes publishers also provide formatted HTML for easy posting. The blogger then prepares the post and publishes it on the assigned date.
Who participates in hosting blog tours? In most cases, participants are book bloggers or Bookstagrammers with an active platform. Consistency and reliability are important, as posts must go live on the agreed date.
When and where are the posts published? The dates are scheduled in advance, and the host publishes the post on their blog on the assigned day. Many bloggers also cross-post or promote their tour stop on platforms such as Instagram, Threads, Facebook, or X to increase exposure.
Questions:
- What if I don't like the book that I am agreeing to host the tour for? In that case, you contact the publisher and let them know. If it is too late to have the blog tour graphics change, they often will be pleased for the host to simply run a promo for the book on the scheduled date.
- How many tours should I do? That depends on your regular reading schedule. One person may choose to do one per month, the next ten, and the next person even more.
- I love the idea but I don't have the time, so how can I help? Featured posts with everything except the actual book review, therefore you do not have to read the book, are just fine. This still helps with the publicity for that particular book.