Are book trailers useful?

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Are book trailers useful?

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1MaryChase
Nov 29, 2011, 4:21 pm

I need to start writing again, but before I really dove in I thought I would work on a little book trailer for Fool's Journey. Took me almost as long as writing the book, but it's done now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Oui1S8VaY

As a reader, do you think book trailers are useful? Interesting?

Writers, have you found them to be effective marketing tools?

Going back to writing now!

Mary

2ErisofDiscord
Nov 29, 2011, 4:51 pm

As a reader (and amateur teenage writer) I think book trailers can be useful, if done properly. Bad ones make me snigger and like a book even less, like the ones for the YA books Fallen and Silence, but a good one can encourage me to read a book, such as this one for Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tojCn2Y41ig or for Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWrNyVhSJUU

Maggie did the artwork and the music for The Scorpio Races trailer herself, rather than her publishing company, so I respect her, as a reader.

By the way, Ms. Chase, I love the cover for your book! I appreciate book covers and wish you good luck in your endeavors. :)

3MaryChase
Nov 29, 2011, 5:19 pm

Thank you so much! Both the book trailer and the cover were done by Andrea Paulus at thinicedesign.com -- I will certainly check out the trailers you've cited.

4C_S_McClellan
Nov 30, 2011, 3:16 pm

As a reader, I never look at the darn things. I'm not interested in anything but the words. A trailer isn't going to tell me anything that I need to know in making a decision about whether the book is worth my time. Only a sample can do that.

As a writer, I don't intend to waste my time on trailers. Writing, editing, creating a cover, and keeping up an online presence that's personal rather than exploitive, take up all my time and energy.

5jhanel
Dez 7, 2011, 12:26 pm

My book trailer was fun to create, and a great way for me to really break down some thoughts in my own head. It hasn't HURT my sales, but I haven't seen much of jump in sales, either.

I say, if you've created one, or you want to create one to satisfy your own curiosity or desire, then go for it. Just don't expect that one act to cause a spike in sales.

6lilithcat
Dez 7, 2011, 12:29 pm

> 1

As a reader, do you think book trailers are useful? Interesting?

Never look at them. Give me a good synopsis and a preview of the book so that I can tell whether it's well written. That's what I need to make my decision.

(Frankly, I think film trailers are pretty useless, too, and that's the same medium!)

7krolik
Dez 7, 2011, 1:16 pm

Ordinarily book trailers seem pointless to me, but Gary Shteyngart's latest is pretty funny:

Link here.

8MaryChase
Dez 7, 2011, 3:13 pm

7 It is pretty funny :)

9gilroy
Dez 9, 2011, 3:10 pm

The only trailer I pay attention to is the one related to a movie. Now if a book trailer were to precede, say, the movie that is based on the book, I might pay attention. Beyond that, I don't watch them.

10brianjungwi
Dez 10, 2011, 6:14 am

>7 krolik: that's hilarious, thanks

11zstopper
Fev 14, 2012, 4:42 pm

I don't know if they're useful or not but I had fun making this one,
so I figure I can't lose. I chose to make the video an entertainment
unto itself. I'll report back later on how much it helps, if any.

http://youtu.be/AltIvluLGH8

12MarkSouza
Jul 29, 2012, 3:16 pm

I would say book trailers are a waste of time unless you create exciting or humorous content that might make the trailer go viral and truly create a buzz. Otherwise, it's just going to sit there in cyberspace collecting virtual dust.

13MarkSouza
Jul 29, 2012, 3:27 pm

Now that's what I'm talking about, zstopper. Very fun video - great song. I just posted it on facebook.

14megwaiteclayton
Ago 5, 2012, 2:02 pm

We did two trailers for my second novel, one that was a true trailer and the other really a taped interview. They show up in all sorts of interesting places, including the Random House website, the Amazon Page for the book, YouTube, and in the blogosphere.

But I'll confess I rarely watch them, and am not sure they are worth the cost, which can be substantial. I think the most play they've gotten is by bookgroups who have already read the book.

If anyone is interested:

http://megwaiteclayton.com/trailer.shtml

15rmiltonquibner
Dez 13, 2012, 6:23 pm

It depends on who's looking it over, doesn't it? For me, I really enjoy book trailers, the funkier and more amateur, the better. The slick ones stink of hype, IMHO.

I have one myself and it's loose and funky:

http://youtu.be/5FWDbnvm14A

It's more a simple intro to the book than a full-on trailer, which I think is more authentic. You decide!

16krolik
Dez 14, 2012, 2:50 am

17Argyle_Dollhaus
Jun 10, 2014, 7:26 pm

Hello everyone!

I love discussing about book trailers, because I have made a few myself. In my personal opinion I think book trailers are a great thing to have. I say this because sometimes certain people are more visual than others. If book trailers are done correctly it will heighten the readers desire in reading the book. Sure you can have a summary and it sounds great, but adding a really great trailer alongside it adds to the anticipation of reading the novel.

Here are both my trailers I did for Concurrent Relationships and Young Only Once by Lee Debourg:
Young Only Once Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_qT65sFd_Y
Concurrent Relationships Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoMgt36m1nA

18ligature
Jun 11, 2014, 11:34 am

I didn't even know they existed until one of my favorite authors linked to hers. Even then, I didn't watch it. I have to admit that I don't really see the point to them.

19gilroy
Jun 11, 2014, 2:44 pm

I think a lot of this discussion goes back to two facets: The book the trailer is for and the viewer of the trailer.

I'm sure there is an even split on the thread regarding some people finding them useful, others not so much. Would a nonfiction book make for a better trailer than a fiction book? Or vice versa?

I've said upthread that I don't pay attention to book trailers. Think they are not the type of marketing that will attract me. But that's just me.

20AleksGeorge
Jun 13, 2014, 9:21 pm

I think book trailers are useful and I agree with Argyle_Dollhaus when he said that some people are more visual than others. I think it's more on how you present your book trailer and how you target your audience (provided you have a very good book) that will determine the success of your work.