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This is one of the many questions I've had to answer since starting on my nationwide virtual book tour on November 1, 2006 ' November 30, 2006 to promote my first self-published promoting eBook, 'A Complete Guide to Promoting & Selling Your Self-Published eBook.'

A virtual book tour is simply touring 'blogs' instead of bookstores. It's a wonderful way to gain exposure for your book without leaving the comfort of your home.

Because this is a wonderful way to promote your books, whether they are in print or electronic format, we need to know just what is involved so that others can benefit from this wonderful promotional venue for getting the word out that your book (or eBook) exists.

Penny Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc (http://www.amarketingexpert.com), best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert claims the Virtual Author Tour, which is her biggest Internet program, is the single MOST effective way to promote a book because it actually works.

And, it does work.

If you want to start your own virtual book tour, you can, but there are some things you need to think about to get the most exposure.

The first thing you need to do is line up interested blogmeisters who would be willing to host you. To find them, put your topic in any known blog search engine, and pay them a visit. Don't spring it on them all at once, but visit their blogs, comment and let them get to know you first. Build up their confidence in you.

The main thing you need to think about is to find those blogs which get a creditable amount of traffic'and hopefully, updated daily'that would be interested in hosting you. The blogs that might be interested would be, of course, those interested in your topic.

Once you get your virtual book tour established, start announcing it on all your blogs and websites. You need to get people interested, and create a buzz before the big day.

To help explain the virtual book tour better, here are a few questions and answers that better explains.

How long should my tour be?

I've seen tours last for an entire month, but that's entirely up to you. It depends on how much time you want to devote to it. I chose a month-long tour, and it's turning out to be quite successful.

Why should anyone want to do this? Should I offer incentives?

Sure, incentives really work. I offered a copy of my eBook in exchange for a review, but you have to be very careful with this. If the blog or website has low traffic, it may not be economical to do. When this happens, offer them a sampler of the eBook so at least they know what it's about.

How are sales after something like this?

The thing is, a virtual book tour is just like any other book tour. Yes, the goal is to make sales, but that will happen. What you will want to do with this is get your selling page on as many blogs and websites as possible so the search engines will link up to you. Long after your tour is over, you'll find people visiting your site, and buying your books (or eBooks).

Why can't I just comment in people's blogs about my books instead of going through all that?

Because you'll come off as spam. No one wants to go to their comment section and see someone else promoting their books. The virtual book tour may require more effort, but people will see how much effort you are putting into this. Leaving your book information in the comment sections of blogs is a big no-no, and opens you up to being condemned from ever posting there again. Not only that, but a virtual book tour is so much more personable, and gives you a chance to answer questions that others might have questions about.

Setting up your own virtual book tour takes commitment and you need to be very organized, but once it gets going, you'll enjoy the tour. In order to get those sales which is what the virtual book tour is all about, it's just like any other book tour, but without having to leave the comfort of your own home.

If you would like to follow me along on my first ever virtual book tour, visit my blog at http://selfpublishedebookpromotion.blogspot.com/2006/10/virtual-book-tour.html.

Use the Internet to your advantage, and start your own virtual book tour!

© Dorothy Thompson