For the last few weeks, I’ve posted an abnormally large amount of promo posts. Whether they were book blitzes or author spotlights, I mainly posted them because they were easy to create – most of the time, I was given everything that needed to be included in the posts and I wanted post something. I didn’t want to leave the blog totally empty for who knew how long. But while promo posts are easy to create when you need posts, they can also be a bore for your readers. I honestly don’t like don’t like promo posts that much. I know, I know, it sounds really hypocritical, but it’s true. Especially when it’s for a really popular book or author, then a whole lot of blogs are posting the same thing and it just gets boring. When I visit some of my favorite blogs, I want something new to read, I don’t want to read the same post over and over again on all the blogs I follow.
I mentioned how boring they can be because sometimes it seems that everyone is posting the same post, but they can also be boring because of their content. In most promo posts, or in at least the ones I’ve seen so far, the posts definitely wouldn’t win any awards for originality or being interesting. The content of the posts that I’ve seen really just give the title of the book, the synopsis and buy links and that’s basically it. Or maybe they’ll just feature the author and say so and so is blah blah blah. He / she loves blah blah blah. He / she has written these books and has these ones coming out soon. I know I really shouldn’t be that critical on promo posts because they are trying to do the same thing I’m trying to do – promote books and authors, but I just don’t think posting the same post over and over again on so many different blogs is the way to go. Or just posting it on one blog, for that matter. I think we need to think of a new way to do promo posts. Maybe create a twist that makes them more interesting so they can actually do what they were intended to do – promote the book or author it was meant to promote.
Do you like promo posts or do you hate them?
I don’t read promo posts, they always feel like spam/filler posts to me.
I know how you feel, especially when it’s kind of obvious the blogger just copied and pasted HTML…
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I very rarely read promo posts unless it’s for an author or a book I’m interested in. I think some of them can be really interesting and actually be quality content but most of the time, it just feels really irrelevant and meaningless.
I agree! I’ve seen promo posts with twists before like character profiles, which kind of spice up the post. But if it’s just the basic book information, I’ll pass please.
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I always skip promo posts and blitzes. They don’t interest me at all. They feel like advertisements being shoved into my face rather than genuine content.
I know how you feel. It’s like someone was trying to use their blog as a flyer instead of a place to write articles.
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I started doing some promo giveaways on my blog, but I do two different types – one is an actual promo post from a tour blog and one is a feature I created myself. I only do tours/blitz’s for books I actually find interesting and would want to read. There are so, so many of these and a lot of the time they make me turn off, so I only do one I think looks like a good book, and also I like being able to offer readers the chance to win something from the giveaways. The second type I do is called Author Spotlight, and it features a book review, author interview and giveaway – I either contact authors or they contact me, and again I only do them for books I’m genuinely interested in. I won’t lie though, sometimes they can be useful for content if I’m having a melt-down week, but I try to balance them so there’s maybe only one a week or less going up along with my reviews, memes and discussions. I don’t want to be doing a blitz or tour every single week.
I think your Author Spotlight idea is really cool and honestly the chance to win something is great too. I’m also guilty of using promo posts sort of like fillers, but I agree with you – one every week is a bit… much.
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I always skip them, they just seem like filler. I used to post them, then I thought ‘I never read them on other blogs’, so I’ve stopped now. I’d rather read something the blogger wrote themselves 🙂
I usually skip promo posts too and would prefer to read original content. But I still will post promo posts if I’m kind of desperate. 🙁 Kudos to you for stopping though! Now if only I can too…
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Great post! Usually I find myself skipping cover reveals or book blitzes on my feed. However, I’m guilty of posting promo posts myself. So I usually try to limit my promo posts and keep it to books I myself want to read.
Similarly with blog tours. If it’s just a review, I usually skip the post. If it’s say an interesting guest post topic from the author, I may read it. So lately I’ve been trying to get guest posts for any blog tours I may be on. I think it adds an additional element to just the promotional material and review. Plus I think it gives insight into the person behind the book.
I know exactly how you feel. On one hand, I find promos a bore, but on the other hand, they’re useful and easy when you have nothing else to post. I also agree with you about book tours. Reviews can sometimes feel overdone but author related posts can be interesting.
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