Lately, I have been receiving inquiries as to how to arrange Virtual Book Tours (VBTs) and what is involved.  I decided to write a blog post about it in order to share the information with other interested authors.

A virtual book tour (VBT) uses similar concepts as a book tour except it is done virtually on the Internet. Blogs are the brick and mortar book stores where book tours are held. Instead of physically going on a tour visiting book stores, you visit blogs.

When you are arranging a VBT to promote your book online, research different blogs to determine if their readers are the target market you are promoting your book to, as well as how much traffic that particular blog gets. Are there a lot of site visitors/readers?

After you select the blogs, which meet your criteria, contact the owners to arrange a date for you to virtually stop by to visit with their readers. Then you will need to supply the blog owners with a copy of your interview, graphic image of your book cover, and your picture. The media standards are you provide the interviewer with the questions and answers for your interview. Although, the blog owners will get a lot of traffic, due to your book tour, you should offer them something for being a host. Maybe a discount or a free copy of your book.

On the day of your tour visit, the blog owner will post your interview, book cover image, and your picture on their blog. You and the owner will want to encourage audience participation, as well as create an incentive for readers to visit the blog site on the day of your tour stop. You want as many site visitors as possible in order to promote your book or e-book.

The best incentive is to give away a copy of your book to a randomly selected visitor. There is a website called random.org where you enter the e-mail addresses of the site visitors, and it randomly chooses one. The contest can be something along the lines of all who post a question or comment on the day of your visit will be entered into a drawing for a free copy of your e-book or book.

You will check in throughout the day to see if there are any questions or comments that need addressing. This can create a dialogue or conversation, which in turn, will generate more audience participation. To make it more exciting, the owner of the blog can post the winner’s name after they have been notified that they are the lucky winner.

Following is an example of an interview I did when promoting my e-book to give you an idea of what type of questions and answers you can use to construct your interview:

TH: Why did you write this book?

RC: My goal was to create a handbook, which entrepreneurs and small business owners can refer to when they are searching for online marketing tools and/or new marketing ideas. I wrote it for new entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as for those who have been in business a while.

TH: Tell me about yourself

RC: I’m originally from Arizona and now reside in California. I earned my bachelor’s degree (with Magna Cum Laude honors) from Arizona State University when I was 44 years old. After graduation, I couldn’t find a job; therefore, I decided to start my own business offering online word processing services, which was 7 years ago. At that time, I was not aware of the virtual assistant industry, which I am now a member of. So, I guess you can say I was ahead of the curve.

TH: What qualifies you to write this book?

RC: Approximately 2 years ago, I started maintaining a blog and writing articles in order to implement the article marketing strategy. (I talk about using this strategy as a marketing tool in my e-book.) Also, while attending college, I learned how to write. I had to write. I remember my English professor saying I should be a writer, because he thought I had the skills. I didn’t take him serious. I was just trying to get through college.

In regards to the subject matter, my background and education in marketing and my experience from operating an online business provide me with the necessary qualifications to write this e-book on the topic of online marketing tools.

TH: How long have you been an entrepreneur?

RC: I have been an entrepreneur since October 2002. Although I started out as a small business owner, I have become an entrepreneur. There are differences between entrepreneurs and small business owners. In fact, I wrote an article on the differences. It is titled, “Are There Any Differences Between an Entrepreneur and a Small Business Owner?” Ezine Articles is one of the article banks where you can find it.

TH: What is the e-book about?

RC: This e-book contains information on various online marketing tools, along with some examples and in-depth descriptions of the tools. There is also a resource section that lists websites where you can find the online marketing tools, including “live” links to the websites. The resource section will save your readers a lot of time in Internet research when they are searching for information on online marketing tools.

TH: What do you want the readers to get out of this e-book?

RC: I wanted to provide those readers, who have a shoestring marketing budget, with information they can use in their online marketing plan or, at least, generate new marketing ideas. Most entrepreneurs and small business owners do not have a large marketing budget. The marketing tools I discuss costs little to no money.

TH: Can we look for more books from you in the future?

RC: Yes. One of my clients, who is a coach of Christian leaders, and I are currently working together on an e-book. It will be geared towards Christian leaders and Christian virtual assistants. So be on the lookout for that in the near future.

TH: How can the readers contact you if they have any questions?

RC: Your readers can reach me at 760-631-1335 or toll free at 866-651-3073 or send me an e-mail at rjcartw[at]rjswordprocessing.com.

TH: Where can the readers purchase your e-book and how much does it cost?

RC: They can click here to purchase it, and it only costs $3.98.

TH: Rita, thank you for stopping by my blog on your tour.

RC: You are very welcome. Thank you, Tina, for having me.

Overall, virtual book tours are more cost-effective than physical book tours. Plus, you reach a much broader, larger audience, including an international audience. If you don’t have time to arrange a virtual book tour, outsource it to your dependable virtual assistant.

Cordina Charvis, CEO of CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal, began her virtual book tour today and has just arrived for her first stop on her tour.  We are discussing how to start a virtual paralegal business, her new e-book, The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide, plus much, much more.  Also, after Cordina’s visit, there will be a drawing for a fr^ee copy of her  e-book.  To qualify, just post a comment or question for Cordina.

Following is my interview with Cordina:

RC: Tell me about yourself.

CC:  My name is Cordina A. Charvis, founder and CEO of CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal, and I have more than 12 years experience working as a corporate paralegal and notary public. I have worked with several top law firms in the nation and in-house legal departments.

RC: Why did you write this book?

CC:  Law firms have been laying off attorneys in record numbers leaving lawyers scrabbling to find work. Some are working temporary positions, working as paralegals and others are considering going solo. Attorneys who consider going solo are hesitant due to the start up and overhead costs of starting a law firm. These attorneys reduce their overhead costs by hiring virtual assistants and virtual paralegals. Virtual assistants/paralegals reduce the cost of overhead for lawyers and small businesses.

RC: What qualifies you to write this book?

CC:  With more than 12 years working as a paralegal and almost five years as the CEO and founder of CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal, I believe I have enough insight in the business to share some of my struggles and successes that may help others who are trying to break into the business or for those who have started their virtual assistant/paralegal business but are looking for ways to grow.

RC: What is the book about?

CC:  The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide is an e-book where I discuss how I lost my first 10 clients while starting and operating my virtual paralegal business. This e-book is a step-by-step guide to starting your virtual assistant or virtual paralegal business.

RC: What do you want the readers to get out of the book?

CC:  I am hoping that this e-book will serve as a step-by-step guide for readers who want to break into the VA or PA business and will give experience VA and PA ideas on how to grow their business.

RC: How long have you been writing?

CC:  As a paralegal, writing is always a part of my professional life. I have to draft letters, memorandums, correspondence on a daily basis. But as a hobby I have always enjoyed writing articles about the legal industry.

RC: How can the readers contact you if they want further information?

CC:  They can email me at inbox[at]cdcvop.com.

RC: How much does the book cost?

CC:  The book costs $18.99.

RC: Where can the readers purchase your e-book?

CC:  Anyone interested in purchasing a copy of my e-book can do so at my website http://www.cdcvop.com.

RC: Thank you, Cordina, for stopping by and sharing with my readers.

CC:  Thank you for having me, Rita.

Just one more day until CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal worldwide virtual book tour begins right here at 9 a.m. PST.  Come on back tomorrow when I interview Cordina Charvis about her newly released eBook, The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide.  In Cordina’s eBook she discusses how to begin a virtual paralegal business, and how to avoid the setbacks that goes along with starting a new virtual paralegal business.

Also, Cordina will be giving away a fr^ee copy of her eBook, valued at $18.99, to a randomly selected visitor.  To qualify for the drawing, just post a comment or question for Cordina.  I will announce the winner right here.

Come back tomorrow to meet Cordina and enter the drawing for your copy of The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide.  See you then!

In just two days, Cordina Charvis will begin her worldwide virtual book tour.  She will make her first stop here on Friday, November 20th at 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. PST.  I will be interviewing her about her newly released eBook, The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide.  Cordina’s eBook includes tips for starting a virtual paralegal business, as well as pitfalls she suffered when she first started her business and how to avoid them.

Cordina will also be giving away a fr^ee copy of eBook, valued at $18.99, to a randomly selected visitor.  All you need to do to qualify is post a comment or question for Cordina on Friday, November 20th, to be entered into the grand drawing.

So come on by on Friday to learn more about Cordina, as well as ask her any questions you may have about operating and starting a virtual paralegal business.  You can also be the lucky winner of her informative eBook, The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide.  See you on Friday!

Cordina Charvis, CEO of CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal, recently wrote an eBook and will be going on a virtual book tour beginning this week to promote it.  Her first stop will be here at my blog on Friday, November 20th.  Cordina has agreed to write a guest post giving us an overview of her book.   Be sure to come back on Friday for my interview with Cordina about her eBook, as well as a chance to win a fr^ee copy of her eBook.  More details later this week.  Following is her post:

I started my virtual paralegal business because I wanted to settle down and have a family. I have always wanted to own my own business but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Friends and family have always asked me for paralegal help and I figured I had the skills and I am already helping others maybe I should research the independent paralegal business. That’s when I came across the virtual paralegal industry. I realized that I could create a business offering my paralegal skills virtually to attorneys.

With more than 12 years working as a paralegal and almost five years as the CEO of CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal I believe I have enough insight in the business to share some of my struggles and successes that may help others who are trying to break into the business or for those who have started their virtual assistant or virtual paralegal business but are looking for ways to grow.

In the eBook, The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide, I discussed the following among other things:

• How I lost my first 10 clients while starting and operating my virtual paralegal business.
• What is the most difficult part of starting a virtual paralegal or virtual assistant business?
• What are some of the obstacles I faced when starting my virtual paralegal business?
• What is the one thing I wish I knew before starting my virtual paralegal business? and
• Common business mistakes virtual paralegals and virtual assistants should avoid.

The Ultimate Virtual Paralegal Guide gives step by step guidelines for starting a virtual assistant or virtual paralegal business. It includes links to resources in the virtual legal business and more than 25 low-cost ways for advertising a virtual paralegal or virtual assistant business.

To network with other virtual paralegals and virtual assistants join the Virtual Outsource Paralegals group on LinkedIn.

Cordina Charvis
CD&C Virtual Outsource Paralegal
http://www.cdcvop.com