BookTalk.org

Hi everybody,

I thought perhaps I'd start up a discussion on the pros and cons of making a video for your ebook. I just did a 2 minute film for TOR ASSASSIN HUNTER and I must say it seems to help sell the book. However it is a lot of work and you need to be competent on film editing software.

What I find particularly helpful is I can link any banners I buy directly to the video on Youtube which in turn will have a list of sites they can purchase the ebook eg. Smashwords, amazon.co.uk, amazon.com etc. As the book is a YA novel I think my readers enjoy the idea of a multimedia blurb and it seems to encourage them to buy.

If you get time, check out the film at the link below and perhaps write a comment or click the 'like' box if you like it. It all helps to push it up the Youtube rankings.

http://youtu.be/8qDJp225b-M

If anybody is thinking of producing a film for a book can I suggest Ulead Video Studio. Simple to operate and seems to do the job. Also, pretty cheap!

Cheers

BBB

I have heard mostly good feedback about book trailers from people of all ages. They seem to be useful at stimulating multiple senses to entice viewers into reading the book. I have found that getting people to actually watch the trailers is a bit difficult, however, and if you have any advice on how to increase the number of viewers, I would be glad to hear it.

This is the newest version of my book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25mM2KmLRDQ

I used Windows Live Movie Maker, which worked well for the most part.

My books are just barely out, so I can't comment on the effectiveness of the trailers. But I had a lot of fun making them. You don't need to be too well-versed in editing software to make a decent trailer, because most of the software that comes free with your computer (iMovie, Movie Maker, etc.) is pretty easy to use. That said, I do have a background in video editing, so I found the whole process fairly easy.

Just make sure you have the rights to use the music and images you're using. I used my own artwork, plus images from wikimedia commons, plus the royalty-free music that comes with iMovie. I was even able to easily add thunderclaps, jungle animal sounds, and other sound effects, to make it sound a little more professional (especially on a nice sound system).

http://www.youtube.com/user/AuthorLonDee

There are a lot of uses for trailers. I made a YouTube channel, plus added the trailers to my website and my AuthorCentral page on Amazon. They're also great for advertising on facebook.

Book trailers surely help...

Hi all,

Book Trailers definitely help but they still have to compete with all the professional output that people are bombarded with everyday. If a trailer is going to achieve what you want it too, it still has to be as made to the same production standards, working within it's own terms as a piece of entertainment like any advert, or it can seem naff and actually undermine the perception of the quality of your product. (Hopefully a great book!) Professional production values take money or skills. If you don't have either, go off and learn one of the many cheap creative packages out there, (Apple's FCPX is a great one for newbee's to editing and graphic creation) or you really are better off spending your money and time marketing in more traditional ways. (30 hits on youtube, isnt going to seem just rewards for the pain and expence and just because it's up there, it doesn't mean that people will watch!)

I'm a film-maker by trade so I think my Book trailer is a good example of what a Book Trailer should do.
Maybe I'm wrong, you tell me?

The Great Hollywood Double Hustle - Book Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDa9Z4-xvIE

Check out the website 'Cast Page' page as well. I made some viral films to back-up the book trailer marketing campaign.
They are less finished than the trailer but still hopefully as much fun. I hope you enjoy them!

http://www.rorycantwell.com/the-cast_8.html

Cheers Rory