tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post6993177329825161762..comments2024-02-22T02:16:57.837-06:00Comments on Morgan Mandel Shares Books, Blogs, Dogs, and Networking : To Pay or Not to Pay For a Blog Book TourMorgan Mandelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-15070995986914669242009-09-23T21:48:40.031-05:002009-09-23T21:48:40.031-05:00I already have so much to schedule with writing de...I already have so much to schedule with writing deadlines and signings, and what feels like a million other things, I can't imagine putting together a blog tour on top of that. There comes a point in a writer's life when she needs to delegate some of the chores of the writing business. I am happy to delegate this chore, especially to someone as well-connected, hard-working, and competent as Dorothy.Sheilahttp://www.sheilasplace.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-75779564526231374692009-09-23T21:47:19.254-05:002009-09-23T21:47:19.254-05:00Morgan, you sure do know how to get people to comm...Morgan, you sure do know how to get people to comment! I want to thank you for this thread...there are people who need people and there are people who are self-sufficient and prefer to do it themselves. It would be kind of sad to note there wasn't anyone out there who was an author and didn't know how to promote themselves. My kudos to those who at least have the confidence to think they can do it themselves. They perhaps will be the most successful at this. For those authors on a deadline, etc., then well, we're more than happy to show them the way.thewriterslifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09408434848838447115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-48557441805134519262009-09-23T21:26:05.176-05:002009-09-23T21:26:05.176-05:00Hi! I'm going to pop in here a little late and...Hi! I'm going to pop in here a little late and to play devil's advocate as well...<br /><br />I am a tour coordinator and I love my job. It has its moments, but so does every other job. But, I will acknowledge that some authors...just don't need us.<br /><br />It comes down to two things: time and knowledge. If you have the time to set up your own tour and the knowledge of how to do it, then have at it.<br /><br />Otherwise, we're always here... :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-75734237025038247812009-09-23T14:06:04.691-05:002009-09-23T14:06:04.691-05:00What a great post, Morgan! Tons of excellent inpu...What a great post, Morgan! Tons of excellent input from everyone commenting as well. Since I work with Dorothy and the girls at Pump Up with being a blog/tour host, I have such fun. I have also worked with authors who put their own tours together and either way, I feel that it is a lot of work for everyone involved. One thing, I think, is that if you go through a company, you will have a wider exposure to publicity, etc. Though, I imagine that all depends on how much time the individual author wants to put into all the background work of the tour themselves, or would rather skip all of that and focus on their book and getting it out there and really making a strong effort on the tour stops that are set up for them.Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02026539637409766437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-81247504842642721872009-09-23T11:45:23.218-05:002009-09-23T11:45:23.218-05:00I've worked with both authors and publicists a...I've worked with both authors and publicists at Pop Syndicate's Book Addict blog. The publicists are in house, or hired - like Pump Up Your Book Promotion.<br /><br />It's been good and bad working with both. Sometimes authors don't understand deadlines for tour posting, and sometimes publicists aren't familiar with the process and leave me hanging.<br /><br />On the flip side, I have several really terrific publicists AND authors who are just spot on when they drop by. They are organized, efficient, get their stuff in well before the post date and understand the importance of driving traffic to our blog. <br /><br />No matter which method authors chose, they STILL need to be familiar with the process. It is a good idea to do a small, seven-day tour to get your feet wet, to understand the process of how to set up and promote your stops, before you hire someone to do it for you. With this understanding, you can hire the best person for the job, plus be proactive with information needed for the tour.<br /><br />IMHO, of course. =0)Angela Wilsonhttp://www.popsyndicate.com/booksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-65713586736979855122009-09-23T10:18:03.849-05:002009-09-23T10:18:03.849-05:00Great comments everyone. I'm so glad many of ...Great comments everyone. I'm so glad many of Pump Up's clients chimed in here because we like to know how we're doing. And Joanne, I sure hope you come back with your Civil War series because I really want to read those books.<br /><br />Hi Stephen, good to see you around here too. Best of luck with your book. See you at The Dabbling Muse.<br /><br />CherylCherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03470069911115912344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-21842473295169838742009-09-23T10:01:35.576-05:002009-09-23T10:01:35.576-05:00I'm putting together material for a 15 or so b...I'm putting together material for a 15 or so book blog tour. I'll go it alone. I can;t see paying someone to do what I caould do for free. Besides, I like to learn everything I can about something, and doing it yourself provides that opportunity. <br /><br />Oh, and I'm wearing my favorit T-shirt. <br /><br />Stephen TrempAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-57414618227769999982009-09-22T22:55:08.840-05:002009-09-22T22:55:08.840-05:00Hello!
I write historical romance and had need,...Hello! <br /><br />I write historical romance and had need, with the release of my fourth novel, for a quick marketing fix and help with promotion. I've done some blogging and touring on my own in the past, but this time ... well, I didn't have any time to set up a virtual tour. When I came across Pump Up Your Book Promotion on the Net, I was immediately "hooked" on seeing if they could help. They could and they did!<br /><br />For a minimum fee, I received gold treatment and bang for my buck. I hit the national circuit through blogs, newspapers, posted reviews, and blog radio. Despite my first three books receiving good reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, and Romantic Times, I was in a jam with my fourth release, Meggie's Remains. I didn't have time (for reasons too many to note here) or the know-how to put together a decent, professional, virtual tour. From my first contact with Dorothy Thompson, I was "hooked" on her professionalism and willingness to put together the best tour possible for me. Yes, I had some homework to do but I never minded this. Ms. Thompson was nothing but professional, helpful, energetic, communicative, prompt, friendly, supportive ... hmmm ... I guess I liked her ... I really liked her! <br /><br />I'm considering working with Ms. Thompson again on my Civil War series, out next year. If nothing else, our names and our book titles hit the national scene under Ms. Thompson's expert hand! <br /><br />This has all been win-win! No losers need apply, heh heh.<br /><br />My very best,<br /><br />Joanne Sundell<br />www.joannesundell.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-69861211651837193922009-09-22T20:16:22.616-05:002009-09-22T20:16:22.616-05:00I joined the book chat groups, advertised on the b...I joined the book chat groups, advertised on the book websites, contributed to book discussions, and reached my personal limit as to how to do marketing. Dorothy Thompson took my marketing to the next level and helped me to gain a presence on blogs I may never have discovered. I am well pleased with the service.<br /><br />And besides, Dorothy is just SUCH a BABE! How could a guy resist?<br /><br />Yours,<br /><br />Randall LangRandall Langhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12858813962583586561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-26526408877772385922009-09-22T18:21:58.175-05:002009-09-22T18:21:58.175-05:00I am a busy tenth grader and I have a hectic schoo...I am a busy tenth grader and I have a hectic school schedule. Pump Up Your Book is doing the virtual tour for my debut book "Ginger High" in October. I do not have the time to arrange all the tour stops. It is definitely worth the money for the tour to be arranged for me. <br /><br />Dorothy has been great during the preparation stage and has been very supportive.<br /><br /><br />Melissa Burmester<br />www.gingerhigh.comMelissa (Books R Us)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05463033020119927860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-62940059957902206922009-09-22T17:47:01.830-05:002009-09-22T17:47:01.830-05:00I don't think I'd pay for a blog book tour...I don't think I'd pay for a blog book tour per se, but I'd pay a professional publicist/promoter to line up various events and promotions (including blog book tours) for my books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-33192065448615737022009-09-22T16:36:48.031-05:002009-09-22T16:36:48.031-05:00I'm happy to pay someone else to do all that w...I'm happy to pay someone else to do all that work.<br /> <br />At the moment I'm simply too busy trying to finish my second Mike McCabe thriller (A follow-up to The Cutting). I think Dorothy's worth it.<br /><br />James HaymanJames Haymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17986770186817511855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-68681204317035348622009-09-22T13:39:57.650-05:002009-09-22T13:39:57.650-05:00I decided to pay for my virtual book tour. Having...I decided to pay for my virtual book tour. Having a professional promoter with experience running my tour was key to getting the word out for my new picture book. Dorothy Thompson from Pump up you Promotions was recommened to me. We spoke and I saw the amount of blogs, interviews and reviews that were included in a tour and realized right away that a publicity packet such as hers that is usually much more expensive. Pump Up Your Promotions was reasonable and affordable. I wanted to PAY to have someone professional do all the research as to which sites were appropriate for my book. I preferred to spend MY time doing the interviews and c rather than researching the vast number of blogs and internet sites to find appropriate blogs etc. Time is of the essence when a book is released and in a few days Dorothy Thompson of Pump up Your Promotions got me on a plethora of blogs, online radio shows and children's review sites so I could start immediately to PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE! The results were very professional and very useful on all my marketing material including websites. I believe if you pay for something you can demand excellence. It is also not true in my experience that paid reviewers give good reviews. IF they don't like the book they will say so! That is my advice.<br />best of luck to all!<br /><br />Susan Chodakiewitz<br />Author of Too Many Visitors for One Little House.<br />Founder, Booksicals, Encouraging a love of reading through the arts.<br />www.booksicals.comwww.booksicals.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-51171870042412813112009-09-22T13:26:09.586-05:002009-09-22T13:26:09.586-05:00I have no book I'm trying to promote as yet -a...I have no book I'm trying to promote as yet -and if I don't someday get off my duff and finish the research I was doing, all that stuff, and start putting it together, I never will have that book.<br />But, should that ever happen, I have this information you provided about ways to publicize my efforts -the pros and cons of going either route and would like to thank you for providing this for me and for probably a whole lot of other "slackers" like myself out there who dream of having a book of their very own someday. Good job, Morgan!Jenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425701332785470116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-36814276050699025302009-09-22T13:20:37.833-05:002009-09-22T13:20:37.833-05:00I decide to use and pay for a service that had bee...I decide to use and pay for a service that had been highly recommended by several other authors of historical fiction. That service is "Pump Up Your Book" run by Dorothy Thompson. With everything else going on in my life, plus writing anothet book, I have neither the time nor the iclination or the expertise to resarch and contact blogs on my own. My tour is currently in progress and I belive it is money well spent.<br /><br />Douglas W Jacobson<br />Author,<br />NIGHT OF FLAMES: A Novel of World War TwoDWJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07955543293635599553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-86709633259751144732009-09-22T12:54:51.179-05:002009-09-22T12:54:51.179-05:00I was a tour host long before I became a tour coor...I was a tour host long before I became a tour coordinator for Pump Up Your Book Promotion. I know that there are many authors out there that are more than capable of creating their own book tours. But, most authors have a schedule that doesn't allow them the time necessary to coordinate all of the aspects necessary in creating a tour that is beneficial. That is where virtual book tour companies come in. Great post, I have enjoyed reading all of the comments!Traceehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05006384589210256536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-64214994083689309492009-09-22T12:47:26.726-05:002009-09-22T12:47:26.726-05:00Hi Everyone,
I am okay with paying for a book tou...Hi Everyone,<br /><br />I am okay with paying for a book tour since I am very busy. My tour is with<br />Dorothy Thompson and the experience is great.<br /><br />Diana RumjahnDiana Rumjahnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-34240863283880265742009-09-22T12:45:16.453-05:002009-09-22T12:45:16.453-05:00I'm a do-it-myselfer out of financial necessit...I'm a do-it-myselfer out of financial necessity.Dana Fredstihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12802936840624512415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-5138158530626947842009-09-22T12:06:53.469-05:002009-09-22T12:06:53.469-05:00For the record, Cheryl is fantastic. I started out...For the record, Cheryl is fantastic. I started out with one client to test the waters. She was on social security and I knew she really couldn't afford publicity and she just had a new book come out about military brats - something I could relate to! So off we went. Now it's escalated to no less than 20 authors per month. What I teach my authors is what I've been doing with Pump Up...making sure people find out about you. Either they are interested or they're not but at least you can say you did your part.thewriterslifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09408434848838447115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-10118472220571911362009-09-22T11:59:31.851-05:002009-09-22T11:59:31.851-05:00TBH, I'd never even thought about paying for a...TBH, I'd never even thought about paying for a blog tour! Interesting, though. I'll have to give it some thought.Katie Hineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03279118592523922756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-40498114578690179482009-09-22T11:38:40.492-05:002009-09-22T11:38:40.492-05:00Barry, you're the best. I can't actually ...Barry, you're the best. I can't actually take credit for founding Pump Up, as I came along after Pump Up began. Dorothy started this business all on her own and she did a great job before I came along; so great that it was impossible to continue her one-man show and I came on in October 2007. I was actually a blog host for Pump Up for several months before coming on as staff.<br /><br />Since then, we've added three more people, and we will tour a record number of 26 authors next month. <br /><br />It's been one wild ride for sure. I can't tell you how many wonderful people I've met as a result, just like Morgan, Meredith, Diane, and some others who have commented here, and you.<br /><br />I'm enjoying this discussion. Thanks for bringing up this topic today, Morgan.<br /><br />CherylCherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03470069911115912344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-54045313085038943892009-09-22T11:29:19.336-05:002009-09-22T11:29:19.336-05:00Thanks so much for the plug, Barry! Both Cheryl a...Thanks so much for the plug, Barry! Both Cheryl and I are honored and are very excited..maybe we can clear up a few misconceptions about virtual book tours through a paid service..unless you want to talk about haunted cabins, lol.thewriterslifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09408434848838447115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-23124302690721028712009-09-22T11:26:36.195-05:002009-09-22T11:26:36.195-05:00I'll be short and quip, the math is worth ever...I'll be short and quip, the math is worth every penny, literally: the expertise, the goodwill, the exposure, the education, the information, the connection, let alone the time, patience, determination and effort (that you may not have)! Would you be willing to do the same value for free? I didn't think so.ThePerukeMakerhttp://www.outskirtspress.com/theperukemakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-77797167041149180872009-09-22T11:04:40.166-05:002009-09-22T11:04:40.166-05:00I forgot to add, many of the comments mention the ...I forgot to add, many of the comments mention the Pump Up Your Book Promotion group. Have your say to two of the founders tonight...<br /><br />Tonight a special hour long chat show where the special guests are so special we will have not one but two hosts. Barry Eva (Storyheart) and Kim Smith will be chatting with Dorothy Thompson and Cheryl C. Malandrinos two of the wonderful people behind Pump Up your Book Promotion amongst many other things, and both authors in their own right. So many people want to chat to these two ladies it will take both Barry and Kim to try and keep the show in order during the one hour special. I have been doing some research and it's amazing what you find........<br /> <br />TUESDAY 7pm EST<br /> <br />A BOOK AND TWO CHATS<br /><br />http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond<br /><br />To dial in and talk to the Dorothy and Cheryl....Call In Number : (347) 237-5398 <br /> <br />The show will be archived after for people to listen to who can't make the live showAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606924722814682221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35940445.post-30203086204834394802009-09-22T10:32:08.682-05:002009-09-22T10:32:08.682-05:00This is fun hearing everyone's comments. I nev...This is fun hearing everyone's comments. I never even thought about the paying for reviews angle. From what I can tell, most stops don't feature reviews. It would be a boring tour if they did. When I did mine, I may have had one or two reviews, but I tried to vary my posts. <br /><br />Usually, no matter where you get reviewed it is a courtesy to offer a free book to the reviewer. If they ask for a pdf that's great, but the offer for a print book should be made unless it won't be out in print. If it comes out digitally first, then in print, I'd still offer a print book for later if the reviewer prefers to have one.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://www.morganmandel.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.com