If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the ways you’re supposed to connect with readers, take a breath. You don’t need to be everywhere at once. But you do need to be strategic—and that’s where virtual book tours come in.
Virtual book tours are a powerful, low-stress way for authors to show up, grow their audience, and make real connections with readers—without spending a cent on travel or burning out on back-to-back live events.
Let’s talk about what virtual book tours actually are, why they work, and how to make them work for you.
What is a Virtual Book Tour?
A virtual book tour is a curated series of online appearances or features—think podcast interviews, blog takeovers, ARC team chats, newsletter swaps, and livestreams—that help promote a new release or give fresh attention to your backlist.
Unlike traditional tours, you’re not hopping on flights or renting venues. Instead, you’re showing up online, in front of readers who are already paying attention to the content they love.
Done right, it’s a visibility boost without the hustle.
Who Is It For?
Virtual book tours are perfect for:
- Debut authors wanting to get seen
- Midlist authors with a steady backlist
- Busy authors who need scalable marketing
- Authors with global audiences
- Anyone looking for better ROI without burning out
If you’ve got a book to promote and want to grow your readership strategically, a virtual tour belongs in your toolkit.
Why Virtual Book Tours Work
The benefits go way beyond convenience:
1. No Geographical Limits
Your readers are everywhere. A virtual book tour lets you reach them all—no matter where they live.
2. Sustainable Visibility
Each podcast, blog feature, or video lives on long after the event. That means long-tail discoverability and ongoing traffic.
3. Less Pressure, More Connection
You’re not performing in a room full of strangers. You’re talking directly to communities that already care about books like yours.
4. Repurpose-Ready Content
Tour stops can be repurposed into social media posts, email content, or even media kits—saving you time while extending your reach.
How to Plan a Virtual Book Tour
Start with the Right Partners
Reach out to:
- Book bloggers in your genre
- Booktubers and TikTokers
- Niche podcasts
- Reader groups
- Fellow authors with newsletters
Focus on partners whose audiences overlap with your ideal reader—not just who has the biggest following.
Offer Value, Not Just Promotion
Instead of “Buy my book!” show up with:
- Behind-the-scenes stories
- Character Q&As
- Bonus scenes
- Author writing tips or real-life inspiration
Give people a reason to care. The sales will follow.
Make It Interactive
If you’re doing a livestream or Facebook group takeover, make it fun:
- Use polls and live questions
- Host giveaways or trivia
- Share exclusive excerpts or art
The more your audience engages, the more they’ll remember you.
Promote It Like a Launch
Treat your tour like a real campaign:
- Build a promo schedule
- Share each tour stop in your newsletter
- Create social graphics for every feature
- Tag hosts and link back to the content
Consistency creates momentum.
Don’t Forget the Follow-Up
After each stop:
- Thank the host or platform
- Share the content again later (yes, again!)
- Add tour content to your Press or Media page
- Invite readers to join your newsletter for more
Tech Tips to Keep It Smooth
- Test your audio, video, and internet before any live event
- Have backup files of images, excerpts, and links
- Prep your bio and media kit so it’s ready to go
When you make it easy for others to feature you, they’re more likely to do it again.
Still Unsure Where to Start?
You’re not alone. Planning a tour can feel like a lot, especially if it’s your first time. That’s where having strategic marketing support can help.
From planning stops to creating graphics, writing promo copy, and handling tech, I work with authors to take the stress out of marketing—and help you show up in ways that feel like you.
Let’s build a tour strategy that actually supports your goals. Get in touch today and let’s map out a virtual book tour that connects with your readers, your brand, and your bandwidth.
