How to do BOOK TOURS ON INSTAGRAM: my experience trying 3 different types of "bookstagram tours"

No video

How to do BOOK TOURS ON INSTAGRAM: my experience trying 3 different types of "bookstagram tours"

Рет қаралды 5,234

Bethany Atazadeh - YA Fantasy Author

2 жыл бұрын

I've done 3 different kinds of "bookstagram tours" on instagram. In this video I'll share how I ran my own solo tour as well as how I worked with two different tour companies, and my experiences with each tour, including costs, time spent, sales results, and more!
Mentioned in Video:
◦ Sapphire Ink Tours: www.authorkathrynmarie.com/to...
◦ Storygram Tours:www.storygramtours.com
◦ Sending Your Book to Kindle (VIDEO): • How to Create and Send...
◦ I Got a BookBub Deal (VIDEO discussing sell-through): • I GOT A BOOKBUB DEAL! ...
___
📚 T H E S T O L E N K I N G D O M S E R I E S :
www.bethanyatazadeh.com/thest...
◦ COLLECTOR'S EDITION / BOX SET: amzn.to/34A9wFw
◦ THE SECRET GIFT: books2read.com/thesecretgift
◦ THE STOLEN KINGDOM: books2read.com/thestolenkingdom
◦ THE JINNI KEY: books2read.com/thejinnikey
◦ THE CURSED HUNTER: books2read.com/thecursedhunter
◦ THE ENCHANTED CROWN: books2read.com/theenchantedcrown
◦ The Stolen Kingdom Audiobook: www.audible.com/pd/B088FVQNJK...
___
📖 B E C O M E A P A T R O N :
Where you can receive digital early reader copies of my books, writing & publishing advice, help with your author platform, meet writer friends, and more!
/ bethanyatazadeh
💻 M Y A U T H O R N E W S L E T T E R :
Sign up for FREE exclusives (the first HALF of The Stolen Kingdom + a step-by-step self-publishing guide): www.bethanyatazadeh.com/contact
❤️ M Y M E R C H :
teespring.com/stores/bethanya...
📚 M Y S E L F P U B L I S H I N G C O U R S E :
www.udemy.com/course/novel-se...
___
📒 M Y O T H E R W O R K :
◦ EVALENE'S NUMBER: amzn.to/3sZPlKi
◦ PEARL'S NUMBER: amzn.to/3Kyp63Q
◦ MARKETING FOR AUTHORS SERIES: amzn.to/3pTrbPG
◦ THE CONFIDENT CORGI: amzn.to/36aJd9m
◦ Novel Planner Notebook (mug cover): amzn.to/3hYnzYo
◦ Novel Planner Notebook (laptop cover): amzn.to/3KwvW9Z
___
❤️ C O M P A N I E S I L O V E & A M A N A F F I L I A T E F O R :
◦ PUBLISH AND THRIVE: heartbreathings.teachable.com...
◦ WRITING STICKERS & the book launch planner (10% off discount code is BETHANY10): stoneridgestickers.com/?ref=Q...
◦ EPIDEMIC SOUND (where I get my music! If you'd like to try it for a month, using this link gives me a free month! Thank you in advance!): www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
◦ DRAFT2DIGITAL: www.draft2digital.com/bethany...
💬 L E T ' S C O N N E C T 💬
Website | www.bethanyatazadeh.com
Instagram | / authorbethanyatazadeh
KZfaq | / bethanyatazadeh
Patreon | / bethanyatazadeh
___
Thanks for watching!
❤️ Bethany
Note: some of these links are affiliate links and will support me with a little extra income at no extra cost to you. :)
#Authortube #NovelWriting #SelfPublishing

Пікірлер: 67

@tej7267 2 жыл бұрын

I admire how transparent you are on this channel.

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@ericarowanarts 2 жыл бұрын

I took SO MANY notes!! Marketing is for sure where I fall flat so all of this info was invaluable. Thank you for being so transparent and real about this stuff. ❤️ For real, I'd be lost without your channel!

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Yay! I’m so happy to hear it was helpful! Marketing is one of my fave topics, but I promise you nobody has it all figured out haha, it’s complicated!

@zrienkersh1475 2 жыл бұрын

This video was super helpful! Thanks for making this!

@ChadDarnell24 2 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU! This was SUPER helpful!

@markatlasauthor6969 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Bethany. As usual, there is a wealth of information that you present so professionally.

@kimberlygrymes.writer 2 жыл бұрын

Katherine is amazing and so talented!!

@kapriway4865 Жыл бұрын

I look at a lot of videos by indie authors. You are in the top ten of most impressive! Thanks for the video!

@cassie_hart 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for this information! I really need to get better at finding ways to promo my books and I hadn't actually considered this option.

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

So glad it’s helpful, and it’s a very fun marketing tool!

@illumine77 2 жыл бұрын

Super helpful! I was surprised that bigger Instagram accounts sell fewer books, but it kinda makes sense-smaller accounts probably have more engaged followers. And not promoting follow-up books in a series is a great note, and particularly helpful for me to know at the moment. Thanks so much for posting this! I really appreciate it!

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

It surprised me too! But that’s my thought as well, they’re probably able to interact a lot more and keep up engagement!

@amymirashi 2 жыл бұрын

This video is so helpful! ❤

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Yayyy! Thanks Amy, I'm so happy you liked it!

@adamjscholte583 2 жыл бұрын

This vid has been so helpful, thank you so much.

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

So glad you enjoyed it!

@storiesbydesirae 2 жыл бұрын

Super helpful! I never even knew about these options, so thank you for sharing. I think I want to try to work with Kathryn!

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@jeanshelbybooks4154 2 жыл бұрын

Woooww! I’ll have to watch this again since it’s 4:30 am and is way over my head already. Thanks for this! I’ve been wanting to do some of this for my next book. 😃

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

So glad it was helpful! :)

@celiaeven878 2 жыл бұрын

I have been following you for now… I think two years? Damn, Covid messed up my calculations. I think maybe three. Anyway, everytime I watch your videos now, my motivation spikes up. And I mean I could care a lot or not so much about the subject (not everything is my cup of tea or applies to me) BUT it never fails to motivate me. I don't know, I've created a weird habit, like when you train your brain to write/work in a certain place, with a certain setting… Well same thing here. Like I just foudn motivation to go work on an ordered cover design I have to do, and I didn't plan on it. So thank you for that

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Aww yay! That made my day, thank you! I get the same way with channels I enjoy so I get it! 🥰

@tracy-marie 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the video. Super helpful. I am always looking for new ways to get the word out on my books.

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@saagraphics3834 2 жыл бұрын

This video was super helpful!

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

@ScullyPopASMR 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Bethany just wanted to stay on the radar over here. I've been so busy with narration and making videos. It gets hard to get around to all the channels, yknow.

@DaraKFulton 2 жыл бұрын

This is so helpful fellow author ! I have several books that I'm trying to promote. I appreciate your tips and advice. I'm new to your channel and enjoying your content 😊

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@catherinedownen3359 2 жыл бұрын

We have the same opinion on these! I do my own tours now too, and offer ebooks to those who participate. I'm sending physical books for the first time for a future book but only for Tik Tok. I think that is the exception where a physical book is way more beneficial since they can hold it in the video.

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

That's awesome! Oooh now I'm intrigued to hear how you set up a tour on TikTok? Because the messaging system there is different, if I remember right? So it doesn't allow you to message a reader unless they also follow you? But maybe that's what makes it work well?

@catherinedownen3359 2 жыл бұрын

@@BethanyAtazadeh I feel like Tik Tok is changing their app settings every day. Right now you can message anyone you follow, if they don't follow you it goes to like "message requests" kind of like instagram. Personally, I think most booktokers are on instagram too, so I'll probably just message them there (way more user friendly!) And the tour isn't until October so I'm planning way in advance to give me time to message everyone and sign books. We'll see how it goes!

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Ahhh very cool, makes sense!

@jasminel9653 2 жыл бұрын

It’s so interesting to hear your experience with tours because they seem to be getting more and more popular. I always wondered if they translated into sales.

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah they do seem like they're getting more and more popular! I think whenever a marketing tool starts to get used by more and more authors, the effectiveness naturally goes down a little bit, but at least as of recording they're still valuable! :)

@GothicAngeles 2 жыл бұрын

I absolutely love your advice. It helped so much! Also, this could just me being blind as a bat, but do you have a video on where to find a wonderful editor or suggest good websites where I can find good editors? Thanks again! Keep it up!🙏

@lydiamacclaren6413 2 жыл бұрын

Currently reaching out to book reviewers for ARC reading and all of this information was super helpful!

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Yay! So glad it was helpful!

@MWinklerBooks 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I got a lot of good info from it and you saved me from having a "DUH" moment trying to tour my book 2.

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Yay absolutely! Haha that's exactly how I felt when I did the book 2 tour, I was like "crap, this was a dumb move..." LOL

@authormaryelizabeth 2 жыл бұрын

I love this bc I’m actually trying to figure out who all to reach out to for help promoting my debut novel coming out June 8th called Vampire Biology!! So this is something I really needed and I’m going to check out Sapphire Ink!

@helpmenaomi 2 жыл бұрын

You're not the only one I've heard having such poor results from Storygram. sorry that you had to go through that many times just to be able to confirm but I am glad you're able to share this information. Valuable video!

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

That’s such a bummer to hear, I wasn’t sure if it was just me or not. But so glad it was helpful!

@rosannebowman2592 2 жыл бұрын

Sapphire ink is doing a cover reveal and a release tour. She's been wonderful to work with and I am interested to see how it pans out.

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Yay! She's awesome and I hope your cover reveal and release tours go amazing!

@gamexpress111 2 жыл бұрын

I actually did a book tour with one and I had a similar experience like yours but in this case, I sold none books--which was upsetting but like it was to be expected at the same time lol

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

I'm sorry it wasn't the best experience, I can relate. That's how we learn unfortunately!

@sarahhays3503 2 жыл бұрын

How long was the instagram tour you did yourself? thanks

@Falconlibrary 2 жыл бұрын

Do you do virtual reading groups as well as author visits? I was a school librarian for years and was always looking for authors who were willing to do visits. In-person is always best but virtual works as well. I also worked as a branch manager for Los Angeles Public Library and we booked authors all the time (paid, of course). LAPL is great for all kinds of programming and has a big budget for them. I didn't work under him, but I've heard nothing but good things about the current City Librarian (aka the Head Honcho) of LAPL. I ran a book club and we had author "checkins" where YA authors would visit us several times during the reading progress of our books to discuss them with the students. I don't want authors to ignore school and public libraries as potential sales/audience outreach platforms. Students and the general public who frequent libraries to check out books read a lot. 10% of my students checked out 80% of the books, for example. That's who you want to reach, especially if you're writing a series. Word of mouth promotion is also big with all audiences but especially YA, i.e., "My friend told me about this book and I was wondering if you have it". I'm sure you know this already, but teens do NOT like ebooks for the most part. I tried for years to get them to read ebooks and they insisted on "real books".

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

That'd be awesome, but it's not feasible for me in my current stage of life with a little baby and being a full time mama! But maybe someday!

@mariavalente6304 2 жыл бұрын

how would you like/advice authors to contact libraries in general to show up and talk to reading groups?

@Falconlibrary 2 жыл бұрын

@@BethanyAtazadeh That's why I suggested a virtual author visit (too hard to travel with a baby). Anyway, kids grow up fast: your son will be borrowing the car before you know it.

@Falconlibrary 2 жыл бұрын

@@mariavalente6304 It depends if you're offering in-person, virtual, or both? If you're offering in-person, I'd limit to the areas where you're comfortable traveling to (a day trip where you could drive to/from in the same day). Flying in for an author visit is for bestselling authors who get paid thousands to show up, so that's out. If you're offering virtual visits, then the world's your oyster. I'd focus on larger library systems that have a programming budget, such as in Houston, Los Angeles, etc. They have librarians in charge of programming. For LA Public, for example, go to their website and look in the staff directory. I don't know her personally, but the current Programming and Outreach Manager is Brooke Sheets. She can send you information. If you have a small local library that you're interested in, just contact the director but be aware that many smaller libraries don't have a programming budget, so you'd be doing the gig for free. Schools are a bit more difficult these days because of COVID restrictions, but again, either contact the school librarians directly or a director of library services if they have one. Ask if they have a book group (or do some research for a school or library by looking on their websites before contacting them!). Be professional: have a website that explains what you can do and how it will benefit your audience. Have an 'elevator pitch' ready to sell yourself (practice with a friend to make sure you've got it down pat). Think about booking some free gigs to get started and secure filming permission so you can have video clips on your website. That makes a powerful impression. Bring cookies or brownies for the librarian. You'd be surprised how easily we are bribed with sugar. Don't expect to make a lot of money directly doing this, but it can be a good marketing/brand-building tool. Audience loyalty is the key for indie authors. You may also consider offering other services (for a fee), such as a creative writing workshop, a class on how to market an independent book, etc. Expect a lot of rejection at first. It takes time to find out what works and doesn't work for you. Hope this helps!

@timtrottproductions 2 жыл бұрын

Did you check on the “media” postal rate?

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

Yes I always do media mail in the US (usually about $3-4). But that’s not an option internationally, and even at that rate it still gets expensive fast.

@arellysritchieauthor 2 жыл бұрын

I wanted to do a good reads giveaway for my book launch next year, but sadly they don't have options for authors outside US, currently, they are mainly doing giveaways options for US and Canada authors only which is sad, so my only options now are book tours, book bulb, and other promotional sites and bloggers and podcasts, question Bethany, have you ever promoted your books on podcasts? I am considering doing a book podcast tour to promote my book.

@BethanyAtazadeh 2 жыл бұрын

I've never done a podcast promotion, no. Good luck!