I’ve noticed a new trend when it comes to book promotion. The book trailer. I was a bit skeptical at first, wondering if readers would take the time to watch these teasers, and if they were worth the promotional $’s spent. One of the first companies to release book trailers was COS Productions http://www.cosproductions.com. If you get a chance, drop by their site and check out a few of their offerings. If the price is right, I might just have a trailer made for my upcoming vampire historical.
So what do you think of book trailers? Do you enjoy watching them? Do you think they’re worth the promotional dollars spent?
I do enjoy watching them…if they’re well done and fairly short. Not sure if they’d prompt me to buy a book. It would probably depend on the visuals. What a trailer can do is peak my interest enough to pick up a book and read the blurb. So I guess in that sense they’re successful.
Comment by Jordan Summers — December 18, 2006 @ 4:36 pm
They don’t have a smilie for wrinkling your nose, but if you could see me, that’s what I’d be doing.
I’ve seen only one book trailer, so I’m probably unfairly biased, but that one trailer was so badly made, and outright corny it was almost embarrassing.
Unfortunately, that experience has scarred me. It certainly did not make me want to buy the book!
I will probably be a bit resistant to trailers until I’ve seen quite a few more. In the meantime, I’ll content myself with reading the back cover blurb and looking at the cover.
Tracy
Comment by Tracy — December 18, 2006 @ 4:38 pm
I have only seem one trailer. I have SLOW dial up and they do not play well.
I cannot see myself buying a book because I watched a trailer.
Comment by Estella — December 18, 2006 @ 5:02 pm
This is me speaking as a web-surfing reader, and not a writer — I don’t have the patience for trailers! Lol.
I’m the same way with all the cool “Intros”. I always click the “Skip the Intro” buttons. I like a good, well-written blurb — for whatever reason, my brain wraps around the written word better than pictures. That’s just a personal thing though — I think the trailers are really cool, and lots of people enjoy them!
Comment by Jolie — December 18, 2006 @ 6:05 pm
I don’t care much for them. I’ve only seen one I liked a little bit. I would prefer not to have them at all. I’d rather read the blurp, I get more out of it than I do out of a book trailer. It’s a waste of money in my book. But if you want to waste your money go ahead, I’m sure someone out there is glad to take it.
Comment by Tammy G. — December 18, 2006 @ 6:34 pm
I’m not a great fan of book trailers, although I think they will be a hit with younger readers because of Myspace and Youtube etc. They are far more visual! Personally I’d rather read a blurb and a page of the book!
Kate
Comment by Kate Pearce — December 18, 2006 @ 6:35 pm
I enjoy them as long as the quality is high and the running time short. However, I can’t say that I have ever been inspired to buy a book because of a trailor. Therefore as an author on a tight budget, I’ve yet to invest in one. Someday though… when the time is right and I have a bigger budget, I’ll take the plunge. If one is creative, I believe a tralior can be a positve marketing tool.
Comment by Beth CIotta — December 18, 2006 @ 9:17 pm
Thanks for the wonderful comments today! Seems like the majority doesn’t think book trailers are a good idea. It will be interesting to revisit this topic about a year from now to see if things have changed.
Hope you all have a great Christmas!
Comment by Julia Templeton — December 18, 2006 @ 11:00 pm
I am no fan of book trailers and they don’t influence my decision if I buy the book or not. For me are excerpts more important
Comment by Danny — December 19, 2006 @ 4:34 pm
Julia good topic. I’ve been noticing the trend myself and tempted to take the plunge. But when forced to bring my computer to be repaired at Best Buy, I perused the software. There I found a piece of software for under $50 that does flash movies and banners, and weighing the cost of one trailer and banner, I purchased the software to try it out. I taught myself to do my own website, so I figured I could do this … hopefully. We’ll see. I won’t know until my computer comes back from being repaired. Am on my son’s right now.
It was wonderful to hear all the answers. Thanks and Merry Merry to everyone.
Comment by Annette Blair — December 19, 2006 @ 4:43 pm
Hi Julia!
I like book trailers and have one on my MySpace page. However, if you get one I’ll take it down and put yours up.
Comment by Melissa — December 19, 2006 @ 5:12 pm
Hi Julia,
I enjoy book trailers if they are well done and if they are short. Do they prompt me to buy a book? Not yet they haven’t, but they have increased my interest in a book, made me check out the author’s website, etc…so in that respect, I think they can be a great tool.
Comment by Patrice Michelle — December 20, 2006 @ 2:39 am
Annette,
The software sounds great and it’s so inexpensive! I’m anxious to see your first trailer. You’ll have to share it with us on the blog.
Comment by Julia Templeton — December 20, 2006 @ 5:22 pm
Mel,
What’s your myspace name? Do you have a link?
Comment by Julia Templeton — December 20, 2006 @ 5:23 pm
If you are a fan of the new book trailer genre than you should take a look at the MySpace site for the page named “eustonworms”. This is a 7 minute trailer which is about a Victorian crime drama about terrorism in the period following the Great Stink. Some of the images are authentic - including the photo of Bazalgette - the great-grandfather of the producer of Big Brother. There is a spooky 7/7 connection (which is based on fact) but the book was finished before the similar event took place. Luckily this is a teaser and not a spoiler so you will see just enough but not too much to spoil the plot.
Comment by Ruth Lawless — January 31, 2007 @ 11:08 pm
The direct web links for the above are:
http://www.myspace.com/eustonworms
and (for the author’s own site)
http://www.william-sutton.co.uk/
There is also the publisher’s website which current showcases the trailer :
http://www.mercatpress.com/
Comment by Ruth Lawless — February 1, 2007 @ 12:02 am