Book trailers are all the rage, putting a writer's story in front of a reader's eyes in hopes of grasping their attention, just like the parade of movie trailers we watch before the feature film. Book trailers do pretty much the exact same thing, telling the watcher a little about the characters and the plot of the story.
Now there are some fantastic book trailers out there- very high quality stuff. Videos that were obviously done by someone professionally and probably cost big bucks. I've also seen some simple ones too....basic slide shows set to music with wording added in. I made one for my book, A Bitch Named Karma, you can check it out here. It's far from fantastic, but I think it works and the music is perfect for my main character. I used Windows Movie Maker on my computer and it took me several days at a couple hours each day to do it and get it just the way I wanted. I was happy with it till I started reading other blogs about book trailers. Some blog posters and commenters think that if you can't do it up big, then don't do it at all. I don't agree with this.
Take websites for example. It's no longer something neat to have..it is an absolute, bare minimum must. Some people put tons and tons of money into website design...and they look fantastic. It's well worth the money. But what about the rest of us? I simply cannot afford it. I do what I can for now, dreaming of the day I can pay someone to do something fantastic. But my simple little site is much better than not having one at all.
Isn't it safe to say the same is true of a book trailer?? It's a promotional tool, just like a website, blog, Twitter page, Facebook Fanpage...etc.... It's something that gets your name and your story in front of a reader's eyes...to entice them to want more. I can't afford to go pay someone to make a fancy trailer for me right now...but is it fair to say "Go big or go home" on this??
I'm interested to see what my blog friends think of this. I know most of you are in my same exact place....newbies starting out with low or zero cash flow for stuff like this.
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I definitely wouldn't have the money for a fancy book trailer! So far, I have enjoyed any book trailer I've seen. It's new to me that books even have such publicity available to them and I agree with you-do what you can! With what you have. I believe that's a pretty famous quote. LOL :)
ReplyDeleteKeep it up, you are doing great!
Good luck with your book trailer!
ReplyDeleteI have one book trailer for my YA novel, Dreams of Beauty, but it didn't do much to generate sales.
http://www.youtube.com/user/aubriedionne#p/a/u/1/j0KggYpatKA
Thanks for the encouragement Anne!!!
ReplyDeleteVery cool Aubrie!!!
I think it's worth doing one even if you can't "go big" so to speak. Book trailers don't do much for me personally (I much prefer books to TV and whatnot, so I think this is purely a medium thing). But I can see where people enjoy them and how they might garner more excitement about the books themselves, so I think it's worthwhile. I don't think everything has to be professional or not at all!
ReplyDeleteI took a poll on my blog after another author put a poll on her facebook about book trailers. Almost without exception, people said book trailers didn't work, or that they'd never even heard of them.
ReplyDeleteI still like them. I think if it's done well it could make me more interested in a book than I was, and if it's not done well, I blame it on the medium and not the book.
I've seen expensive trailers and websites done by professionals that were terrible, and cheap ones done well. I'm in the camp that says money isn't everything. Write a really good book. The rest is just a way to get it out there.
Thanks Heidi! I post mine on Twitter and Facebook, the link it posted on my website and I post it here too. My friends have even posted the trailer on their Facebook pages, which they've gone and done without me asking so the support has been wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteI don't think a book trailer is something you can just throw up on Youtube and expect people to find it...you need to put it in front of people. It's music and pictures to entice readers rather than just a written blurb. Cause in the end...what do we really have to entice readers...just the back flap and in my case, since I'm being published digitally, all I have is the blurb that will be pasted under my cover online. The trailer will be used on social networking sites and every where else I can get it to attract readers to my story.
When you're just starting out, you need to do every litle thing you can to promote yourself.
I agree! I did the same thing - getting it out by facebook and twitter and writer forums; several people copied it on their blogs (love them!!) and I put it on my website and emailed that link to everyone I knew. I think it helped garner some interest long before I had a cover and an Amazon page – especially among people who wouldn't have otherwise heard of the book or stopped to read a blurb about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. Every little thing. And especially if you aren't spending hundreds of dollars, I don't think it can hurt!
There's an award for you at my blog :o)
ReplyDeleteI like book trailers, as long as they aren't too long or too textual. I thought yours was great! They're also fun to make just for yourself, so that when you're flagging a bit in inspiration, you can watch that trailer and get excited all over again.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Summer!!! Thanks for the compliment!! And I agree....I do get excited when I watch my trailer...as soon as the music starts I think of my MC!