I also wrote about this topic here on  Quilting and Patchwork to let writers of quilting and fabric art books know they could become involved in virtual blog tours, too. 

I’ve also interviewed blog tour coordinator Dorothy Thompson at Home Biz Notes, about her blog tour business.  If you’d like to learn more about blog touring or hosting, check out my post at Yvonne’s blog.

Post from: Blisstree

Quilting & Patchwork Blogger Guest at Grow Your Writing Business

If authors of quilting and fabric art books have never considered virtual book tours, or thought they were only for novelists, it’s time for rethinking.  It appears that novelists may have been among the first to use this method of promotion.   However, many other writers, as well as workshop teachers, can utilize virtual blog tours for getting their name before the public.

Some writers coordinate their own blog tours which take considerable time.  Others work with a coordinator, like Dorothy Thompson, and use her expertise to organize everything.

Additional Resources:

http://www.homebiznotes.com/dorothy-thompson-home-business-e-marketing-specialistpart-1/

http://www.homebiznotes.com/dorothy-thompson-home-business-e-marketing-specialist-part-2/

Post from: Blisstree

Have You Considered Blog Tours to Promote Your Quilt Book(s)?

Today, I’m hosting author Pamela S. Thibodeaux at my Potpourri of Writing blog.  Although she’s not a quilt writer, taking a look at her interview will give you an idea of the usual format for a blog tour or appearance.

 Many quilt book authors publicize their books by giving talks and signing at bookstores or at quilt shows.  Nowadays the blog tour or virtual book signing has become a popular way of reaching one’s audience without leaving home.

I’ve seen mainly non-quilting authors utilizing the blog tour or virtual book signings.  However,  quilting and craft authors, as well as quilters and fabric artists who don’t write, might find the blog appearance an ideal way to publicize themselves.

When quilters appear on other people’s blogs, it’s fun, as well as a way to get the word out about their products, books, workshops…or simply sharing their quilting world.

I shall begin introducing blog appearances here at Quilting and Patchwork for quilters and fabric artists, as well as authors.  I did quite a bit of this (interviewing quilters) when I was a newspaper reporter and quilt magazine columnist. 

Post from: Blisstree

Promoting Your Quilting & Fabric Art with Virtual Blog Tours

Others use the blog as a more personal contact with their clients than their web site where they might operate an online store, either as an entity in itself, or as an extension of a physical shop.  Some store owners conduct online tours, whereby you visit the various blogs or web sites with shopping prizes and discounts as rewards.

Quilters, especially those who are authors, too, might like to take some hints from author/editor/publisher Dorothy Thompson who recently conducted a virtual book or blog tour.  Throughout November Dorothy visited various blogs, and I had the enjoyable opportunity of hosting her on my author blog, Mary Emma’s Potpourri of Writing at http://maryemmallen.blogspot.com .

Dorothy said her blog tour has been the most effective way of promotion…of generating book sales and traffic to her web site that she’s ever experienced, particularly for her new eBook, A Complete Guide to Promoting & Selling Your Self-Published Book. (www.thewriterslife.net )

“I have never seen anything like it and only with I had done this before,” mentioned Dorothy.

You might find some of Dorothy’s tips, as voiced in her interview, a way to generate ideas for a blog tour of your own, either as a quilter or quilter/author.

Post from: Blisstree

Promoting Your Quilting Through a Blog Tour