Book Trailers
Ranked #194 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #8,753 overall
What Is a Book Trailer?
The newest way to promote your book is with video! These videos are called Book Trailers. They are similar to a movie trailer, in that they are designed to build interest in an upcoming or current novel and to encourage people to buy the book that they are based on.
The main difference is that a movie trailer already has visual images to work with - clips from the film. With a book trailer, the maker (either the author themselves or a professional videographer) has to convert the written words into visual images. The trick is to convey a sense of what the book is about without giving anything away - and without really clearly defining what the characters look like, as most readers prefer to visualize what they are reading about as they imagine it themselves.
Most book trailers run from one to three minutes. They can be anything from the author reading a passage from the book, to an elaborate mini-movie.
Below, you will find even more information and links about this exciting new way of advertising and promoting your book.
How to Make a Book Trailer
S
toryboard your ideas out. Since you only have a couple of minutes to work with, think carefully about the length of time each image or section of video or animation uses.
The first thing you want to consider is how to convey the idea of your book, and get people excited about it - excited enough to want to buy it!
Watch several book trailers at YouTube (there are some on this lens). Think about whether you want something simple, such as you, the author reading a passage of your book? If you are uncomfortable with the idea of dong a reading, take another approach.
Perhaps a video compiled of still images. Or a mixture of stills and video. Some trailers use animation.
A musical background will add interest and emotion.
What method of changing from one scene to the next do you want to employ? Do you want to fade to black? Or use some kind of manipulation that gives the impression of a page turning, or a spiraled fade?
Think about good movie trailers, since most people are more familiar with those. What made you want to go see the movie? Did the intensity build as the trailer progressed? Did the music quicken, or become foreboding?
Here's a good tutorial
Don't trust your own technical skills? Try asking a friend who has experience making YouTube videos.
Maybe you could run a contest on your blog or website, offering a free copy of your book or a monetary prize for someone making a book trailer for you. Judge for yourself what the best entry is, or let readers decide.
You can even hire a professional.
Equipment for Making Your Own Book Trailer
Thinking of making your own book trailer? You're going to need some good equipment! This company offers new and refurbished computer and electronic products at the best prices. Check it out!
What Can You Expect From Professionals?
W
hat do the pros charge? What can you expect?
"COS Productions wants to reach out to all authors. Whether you're a NY Times best-selling author or a new eBook author.
We now have over 200 book videos in our vault. As we update the COS Production website those videos will be available to watch. Many are there now! Many of our clients are repeat customers. Some use only online distribution and some use television. Some of our clients have a budget of under $300 and some have over $10,000.
A Book Trailer Example
For a great example of how a book trailer should flow, view the trailer for Meet the Annas from Coral Press
Best Book Trailer Links
Visit the links below to learn more about book trailers and to see great trailers the have already been published.
If you know of another good book trailer site, be sure to add it to the list.
1
Ghostwriter Extraordinaire (GWE)
10 points
2
Schiel & Denver
Schiel & Denver Professional Book Trailers For more...4 points
5
Scrap Fairy Designs
1 point
7
9
AuthorsBroadCast.com
Book Video Trailer Production and Display1 point
10
http://youtu.be/VmK-T1-OUkM
Check out this book trailer that Darlene Panzera did more...1 point
11
12
Jim Minton Design Studio
0 points
13
Book Trailers Online
0 points
14
16
Tim Maguire: Books
0 points
17
YouTube - Rose Hill Mysteries
0 points
18
TrailerSpy
0 points
21
Christian Book Videos
0 points
22
The Lazarus Covenant - Vox
0 points
23
Drive Home Productions
0 points
24
Reader Views
0 points
25
YouTube - Is the truth out there... Ophiuchus: Last Days of 2012
Ophiuchus: Last Days of 2012 written by David L. P more...0 points
26
BookCaster.com - Book Video Trailers
Find book video trailers in a variety of topics an more...0 points
27
YouTube - New Media promotional video
Penguin/Pearson/Allyn & Bacon's cool new promo more...0 points
28
YouTube - Meet the Annas Trailer from Coral Press
Trailer for Meet the Annas, a musical novel by Rob more...0 points
29
YouTube - The Death of Bunny Munro Book Trailer
The Death of Bunny Munro trailer based on the book more...0 points
30
Video Production
Gila Monster Media is a small production company i more...0 points
31
tinyBigPictureshows on Vimeo
Visit btwfilms's profile on Vimeo. Use Vimeo to sh more...0 points
33
Death Water
A quality trailer.0 points
34
Black Christian Book Videos
Christian books by Black authors for Black readers more...0 points
35
Catholic Book Videos
Catholic themed books by Catholic authors for Cath more...0 points
36
Even Angels Need Miracles
Even Angels Need Miracles - by A.C. Moore Less tha more...0 points
37
The ONE And ONLY Novel by Stuart V. Goldberg
This book trailer is awesome and be sure to check more...0 points
38
NoWickiProductions.com
0 points
39
Zombies, Aliens, Global Swarming Trailer
They're getting a divorce and thought they were ha more...0 points
40
Swimming for Parents
Swimming for Parents is a vital resource for all s more...0 points
42
Book Trailers by BVC
Producing Book Trailers for authors, publishers, b more...0 points
43
"Fire Season" by VH Folland Book trailer
A book trailer for "Fire Season" by VH F more...0 points
44
Peek a Book Promos
Peek A Book Promos is a small, creative company de more...0 points
45
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNWiGh1ozCw
BookTrailers del Fantastico LIBRO : L'Imperatore D more...0 points
46
The Glossary -
Redefining what a book trailer should look like, T more...0 points
47
Four Short Trailers
Four short trailers for my three books.
"Coach" more...0 points
Learn More About Book Trailers
These links offer some great information on Book Trailers
- Wikipedia
Book Trailers
A book trailer is a film or video advertisement for a book which employs techniques similar to those of movie trailers. They have been used increasingly in recent years. Since 2002, the term has been a US-registered trademark of Circle of Seven Productions, who began using it connection with their advertising campaigns starting with that for Mind Game, by Christine Feehan.
There is a very fine line between producing a trailer which allows the reader the freedom to create their own mental images of the characters and locations and one which goes too far and looks more like a trailer for a movie. This is a design issue unique to the book trailer genre.
Like anything else the skill consists of finding the right balance, the happy medium between cinematic over-production and an uninspiring series of stills and straplines.
Another fatal mistake is to produce a cinematic book trailer which looks and sounds more like a music video interspersed with short pieces of text and no voice-over. This seems to provide very little impulse to read anything let alone read the book that is meant to be the main reason behind creating the trailer.- The Guardian - On a Screen Near You
Read the book? No, but I loved the trailer
The days of judging a book by its cover are drawing to a close. Publishers have finally tapped into the MTV generation, and now it is possible to make your literary choices in advance online by watching a sequence of rapid-fire images accompanied by a thumping score, big flashing words and, if you're lucky, a deep-voiced American talking about 'one man' and 'his quest to find meaning in a world gone mad'. Yes: there are now trailers for books and soon, according to Steve Osgoode, director of online marketing at HarperCollins Canada, they will be everywhere.
Turning literature into moving pictures is a risky business. So how does one go about representing a 400-page tome with delicate themes and complex characterization in a 40-second video?- Newsweek
Seen Any Good Books Lately?
The movie rights for "The Thieves of Heaven," a new thriller about a secret Vatican treasure, have only just been sold, but you can already view a trailer online. Of course, it's not teasing anything that can be seen in theaters-the trailer's for the novel. Publishers and authors are increasingly commissioning trailers for books-some with dramatizations by actors that could easily be mistaken for movie trailers-that can be viewed on their Web sites and even aired on TV and in movie theaters. "We've seen a huge increase in interest [for book trailers]," says Sheila Clover, whose company, Circle of Seven Productions, pioneered the concept in 2002 and has trademarked the term "book trailer." "We're already booked solid this year." Other companies are now producing "book videos." HarperCollins Canada started offering book trai-sorry, videos-on its Web site in February, and The Book Standard last week announced the winners of a contest in which film students created videos for three new Bantam Dell titles.- SF Gate
Seeking readers via 'book trailer'
In his quest to bring literature to the masses, Jeffrey Lependorf turned to an unlikely ally: YouTube.
Lependorf, executive director of the Literary Ventures Fund in New York, recently invested $10,000 to help promote a French memoir on the verge of being published. Instead of the usual press releases or book tours, his money was
used to create a short video about the book that was distributed on the popular online video site that attracts an estimated 20 million visitors per month.
The "book trailer," as the promotional video is called, is living up to its name. Complete with actors, arty cinematography and a noirish voice-over, it's the closest the book industry has come to a movie-style preview for a new title.- Big Bad Book Blog
Book Trailers: Now Showing at a Bookstore Near You
By Dede Schatz
We all love movie trailers. They pull us in with drama, comedy, even fear, and get us longing to go to the theater. Now publishers are joining the act and producing "book trailers"-short previews to show off how books will keep their audiences on the edge of their seats. But how can a book trailer reach the number of people who see movie trailers?
Actually, a good book trailer can reach more people. Thanks to popular sites like YouTube.com-which has 900,000 unique visitors a day-iTunes, Google Video, and Yahoo, publishers and authors can post their trailers for the world to see. The key is to create a video that people want to pass on to their friends and connections. To add more punch and make the trailer viral, use special offers, humor, or suspense.
Helpful Book on Video Production
Book Trailer Info
Google News
More on Book Trailers
Book Video Awards
Book Trailers® win Davey Awards
Book video marketing gets international recognition
Of the over 3500 commercials sent in from all over the world, Circle of Seven Productions walked away with an award for every entry they submitted. The small, specialty production company has put book video in the forefront of the entertainment industry with four International Davey Awards.
The Davey Awards are judged by the International Academy of Visual Arts (IAVA) and honors the finest creative works from small businesses around the world. IAVA represents acclaimed media and advertising firms such as: Yahoo!, Wired, MTV, MySpace, The Ellen Degeneres Show, HBO, ADWEEK and many others. The award competition was sponsored by The Creative Group, ADWEEK, Fortune Small Business Magazine and OnRequest.
Book Standard Video Awards
You can also download the videos on iTunes.
The hottest new filmmakers at top U.S. film schools have created Book Videos for three of the hottest debut titles of Summer 2006. Winning Book Videos are being streamed over Billboard.com, Bebo.com, YouTube, The Book Standard, BantamDell.com, this event website and over Sprint cell phones via MSpot, our exclusive mobile communications partner.
What Do You Think About Book Trailers?
Sign My Book Trailers Guest Book
Was this lens helpful? Did it tell you what you needed to know about book trailers? Let me know what you think of this lens or just post a note to say hello.
Please help promote this page!
My Squidoo Pages | Contact me | Join my fanclub
Lensroll this lens | Add this lens to your favorites | Email this lens to someone
Thank You for Visiting!
~ Crystal Booth
-
Reply
-
Tolovaj
Dec 26, 2011 @ 1:01 pm | delete
- Book Trailers is very likely not new idea, I believe it started with Chap Books, demand from many publishers to sent them synopsis and first chapter or two. From there to Book Trailer is not hard to get... Well chosen topic, Making Trailer Books can be great business opportunity!
-
-
Reply
-
GGGMarketing
Dec 22, 2011 @ 11:30 pm | delete
- Very nice lens Crystal. I really like how you used some good css. As a web designer its really awesome when I come across a lens that is as well put together as yours. Also besides the graphics you have added some great info. Thanks for providing a great lens to the squidoo community
Cheers!
Gary @ Naples Web Design
-
-
Reply
-
Gerwin
Dec 20, 2011 @ 11:30 pm | delete
- Very informative! I just made my own Book trailer: bit.ly/sQIiQK
And will make animated trailers for anyone for cheap: http://gigbucks.com/Advertising/3988/create-an-awesome-booktrailer
-
-
Reply
-
waldenthree.net
Dec 18, 2011 @ 4:38 pm | delete
- valuable topic. . In Commnity TV Language we call "Book Trailer" type productions PSA or Public Service Announcments. Have a few to share from past. I Like your discussion . Congrads on reaching level 53. Just did so myself today.
-
-
Reply
-
TheGourmetCoffeeGuy Dec 15, 2011 @ 1:02 am | delete
- Very interesting lens, enjoyed it very much!
-
- Load More
Additional Book Lenses
Read reviews on my favorite authors and novels.
Follow Me On Facebook
Facebook Fan box widget may not always appear in the Workshop. Please preview or publish your lens to see the widget.
Lens Info
Book Trailers
© 2011
This lens is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution -
No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
About The Lensmaster
I
n the real world, I am a wife and stay at home mother of three beautiful kids. I have many interests - reading, RPG computer games, and surfing online - just to name a few. Online, I am a home based business owner, a data entry operator, an affiliate marketer, a bloghost, and a Squidoo lensmaster.
I offer articles and information on a variety of subjects. To learn more about me, visit my lensography. For updates, join my fan club and follow me on twitter.
by Crystal_Booth
I'm a book lover and a very avid reader. My favorite genre is horror and I read authors such as Stephen King, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz, John Saul, and Bentley... more »
- 52 featured lenses
- Winner of 9 trophies!
- Top lens » Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Series
- This lens » Selected as Lens of the Day
Explore related pages
Amazon Spotlight
Making Videos for Money: Planning and Producing Information Videos, Commercials, and Infomercials
Amazon Price: $11.76 (as of 02/11/2012)
Learn how you can make money creating videos. "Barry Hampe tells you everything you need to know to get into and thrive in the corporate video production business . . . The book is replete with juicy war stories that provide the reader with personal knowledge gained from the 'school of hard knocks' about the world of working with clients."-Gary L. Kreps, Ph.D., dean and professor, School of Communication, Hofstra University
Amazon Spotlight
Teen-Centered Library Service: Putting Youth Participation into Practice (Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides for Young Adult Librarians Series)
Amazon Price: $44.99 (as of 02/11/2012)
Great book for teens! A practical guide that can help you get teens involved in your library-in everything from book discussions, working with children, and author visits to collection development, community outreach, and even fundraising. Drawing on research and best practices, as well as anecdotes and success stories from around the country, Diane P. Tuccillo makes the case for youth participation and shows you how to achieve it.
Cool side note: This lens, Book Trailers, is listed as a source for this book!
