3 Must-Haves for a Successful Virtual Book Tour (+ Bonus Tip)

Planning a book promotion strategy can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to gain traction as an indie author. If you’re struggling with reviews or just want to get your name out there, a virtual book tour might be the perfect solution. It’s a highly affordable and effective way to create visibility, establish online presence, and rack up reviews.

Here’s the thing: virtual book tours aren’t necessarily meant for boosting sales. Their true superpower lies in exposure—getting your book, name, and links on blogs, websites, and search results. If someone Googles your name, these links and references will populate, making your online footprint more credible.

If you’re interested in diving into this strategy, let’s break down the top three must-haves to set your virtual book tour up for success. Plus, there’s a bonus tip included at the end to take it up a notch.

Why You Need a Plan

A successful virtual book tour starts with one critical ingredient: a plan. Without it, you’re just tossing ideas into the wind. Think of your plan as your roadmap—it ensures you know the “who,” “what,” and “how” of your book tour.

Ask yourself these questions to begin mapping it out:

Who are you reaching out to? Create a list of blogs or reviewers who align with your target audience.
What will you feature? Are you promoting a standalone book, a series, or a specific pen name?
Are you doing a giveaway? Decide what kind of freebie might attract engagement.

Your plan should spell out every detail so you can implement it smoothly. Remember, when you approach this with clarity, it allows others—like bloggers or collaborators—to jump on board easily.

Prepare Graphics and Text for Bloggers

Once your plan is solid, it’s time to prepare shareable graphics and ready-to-go text. This step is all about making life easier for the bloggers and websites that will host your content. Think of it as giving them a marketing kit for your book. The more prepared you are, the more likely they’ll want to support you.

Here’s what your bundle could include:

A high-quality image of your book cover
Downloadable links for your cover and any key graphics
A well-written book blurb or even a short excerpt

Mandy Stevens, a phenomenal marketer and my colleague at Finding Your Indie, specializes in creating materials like these. She also teaches a course all about running successful virtual book tours, complete with templates and printable guides that make the process even smoother.

Having polished materials on hand not only saves everyone time but also helps promote your book in the best light possible.

Always Include a Review Copy

A critical mistake would be to launch a book tour without offering a review copy. Bloggers and reviewers need easy access to your book to complete their write-ups. Don’t expect them to purchase it. That’s not how this works! Make sure you have a digital copy or ARC (advanced reader copy) ready to go when requested.

Your email pitch to bloggers should include:

Clear instructions for accessing the review copy
A brief, engaging message about your book and the virtual tour
The pre-prepared blurb, excerpt, or graphics if they’re interested in promoting your book

By doing this, you eliminate barriers that might prevent someone from reviewing your book. It’s all about streamlining the process!

Bonus Tip: Make Giveaways Relevant to Your Brand

While not a strict must-have, giveaways can supercharge your virtual book tour by drawing attention. But here’s the key: keep your giveaway relevant to your brand or genre. A random Amazon gift card might seem easy, but something aligned with your book will resonate more with readers.

For example:

For a fantasy book, give away themed merchandise like custom bookmarks or pins.
For a romantic novel, consider a unique book bundle related to your genre.

Tie the giveaway to your style or niche to make a stronger connection with potential readers. And if you’re marketing under a pen name, this is a solid opportunity to build out a merchandise line. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone.

Conclusion

A virtual book tour is an exciting, cost-effective way to amplify your visibility as an indie author. But it won’t work without the essentials:

A clear plan for outreach and goals.
Graphics and text bundles to make promotions seamless.
An accessible review copy for bloggers and reviewers.

And if you’re feeling extra ambitious, tossing in a giveaway can take the tour to the next level—just make it aligned with your book or brand!

If you’re curious about diving deeper into running virtual book tours, check out Mandy Stevens’ course on the topic. It’s packed with tools, printables, and pro tips to help make the process stress-free.