In-person author tours halted mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic are now back in action. Many authors have found success with a blend of in-person and virtual events. If you're contemplating various book marketing services, organizing a tour can be an excellent strategy to gain media visibility during your launch. Collaborating with a publicist can be beneficial, as they possess the expertise and media connections to enhance your outreach. It's essential to keep your target audience in mind while planning your tour. Finding ways to connect with them will determine your success.

One of the primary benefits of going on a book tour is the chance to connect with local and regional media outlets. The coverage you achieve with these outlets can significantly boost your exposure on a national level. Local media strongly influence their communities and can attract large audiences. Leveraging social media, your website, blogging, and potentially a podcast can help you gain visibility beyond local borders. Engaging with local and regional press can help you cultivate new fans at each stop, many of whom may follow you on social media or subscribe to your newsletter. 

Additionally, meeting fans face-to-face, often at bookstores and events, is a key advantage of touring. In today's digital world, recording parts of your appearance can provide valuable online content for future promotion. While creating engaging online material can be challenging, using your events as a foundation can expand your reach significantly. Audiences from remote areas often show enthusiasm for events in big cities, places they've heard about but may never visit. There's no guaranteed way to ensure book sales, so exploring various methods is crucial, especially given today's competition.

As you develop your marketing plan and weigh the touring option, consider incorporating it with other strategies. Since time and budget are finite, it's important to prioritize the most effective options. Many media outlets, including television, are now more open to virtual appearances that they might have turned down in the past. While in-person presence still holds significant power, reaching a broader audience online is also worth considering. Promoting your book is challenging, and a well-planned tour can become a valuable component of your overall marketing strategy.