Creative Reviews discussion

Do any of you have video trailers for your book? If so, can we see it? And what purpose do you think they serve, and have they helped your sales?

I am in the process of putting together a Trailer for Remnants of the Past. Due to a couple of things that went wrong when I originally published Remnants, I hope to do a relaunch of the Book before the end of the year. I am having a difficult time coming up with music for the trailer. I used the Mark has been Made by Nine Inch Nails to help me inspire the video but Now I have to replace it with something I would not be breaking any laws with. The piece by NIN would have been excellent and I just haven't been satisfied with anything else.
My hope is that the Trailer will create interest in the book, therefore boosting sales. I have to admit, Creating the video, as short as it is, has been fascinating.

Yeah, I'm thinking I should do one but putting it off for the launch of book 2. Anyone got good resources / hints? Or even seen a really good one? If so, do give us the link so we can go have a nosey.
JAC

I would like some info on this as well....

I found a good one on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3WYpJ...

This got me really interested in the book...But how do the authors get these out to people who would be interested, instead of just blindly running into them?

I think by putting them on their websites. and places like these

But if a person is already on their website, wouldn't they be quite interested in the author/author's work already?

Are people posting these to places like StumbleUpon where someone could randomly come across it?

I have never heard of StumbleUpon.

StumbleUpon is a site that lets you select things that you are interested in, and when you browse through the site, it throws things at you that have been tagged with the things you said you are interested in. It's a great idea because it can expose you to things you never heard of, but as with all these new social media sites, how to use them effectively has not been one of my stronger suits...there are soooo many to try to work out!

Take a look at one of Amanda Hocking's book trailers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jWsPm...

Amy, That trailer made me laugh! If I did schlock horror I would actually go check out the sample of that one.

The Amanda Hocking one was very pretty but spoiled slightly by a big ad for McCain's oven fries halfway through! Also poss out of reach of my purse at the moment, where the other might not be.

StumbleUpon... have heard of similar sites but not that one. Interesting.

The one for Amanda Hocking was good, the music was very cool for it, but it seems so over done with all of the ones I have seen. (the words went a little too quickly for me too, no time to soak them in...)

I loved the trailer for the other book, it made me laugh too, but the cinematography was done really well, and it wasn't a cookie cutter trailer like I have seen for so many others.

Yeah, I have to agree, I like the John dies trailer better. It has given me some ideas for the trailer I've been working on.

Well Amy, that was an interesting trailer. Lol. I have seen a few of amanda hocking's trailers and i do like them. I thinkbthe music is really important. How hard are these trailers to make yourself? Anyone know?

I like the trailer for Paradox: the Angels are here.

Cambria wrote: "Well Amy, that was an interesting trailer. Lol. I have seen a few of amanda hocking's trailers and i do like them. I thinkbthe music is really important. How hard are these trailers to make yoursel..."

You can do a lot with a free DL called AVS video editor. I have used it to develop my trailer, or what I have so far. You can create with it and preview what you have created (in full screen even) but when you go to hit the produce button it asks for that payment. You can however continue to produce your video. It will just leave a water mark in the center of the video until you pay. But like I said, before you produce, you can preview what you have created in full screen without any water marks. The software is easy to use and having used it, I can see where Amanda Hocking could have used software like AVS video editor. I am considering making the payment but I want to see how my trailer turns out before doing so.

I have made trailers for all my books. You can see them on my author site here at Goodreads. Currently, I have a link from RT Book Reviews online to my trailer for Kiss of Blarney. I really can't say whether or not the trailers have helped sales, but I believe it has helped in spreading my names around.

Bill wrote: "Cambria wrote: "Well Amy, that was an interesting trailer. Lol. I have seen a few of amanda hocking's trailers and i do like them. I thinkbthe music is really important. How hard are these trailers..."

Sounds easy....I might have to give it a try some time. When you do get your trailer finished be sure to post it here! And thanks for the advice!

@Penelope- did you do the trailers yourself or have someone else do them? Were they easy to do?

I made the book trailers myself using iMovie--an older version--which is relatively simple to use.

I've had fun making the trailers. It's like watching the book come to life.

I agree! Care to share the links to the trailers?

Hey Everyone~
We have a memeber here in the group (Angela!!) who'd awesome trailer is in a contest here on GR. Just go to the link and vote for her. It's trailer #5
Please vote.
Here's the link:
http://www.goodreads.com/bookclub/sli...

Please vote and show your support to a member of our group!

I've got ten book trailers--one for each of my books.

http://youtu.be/B5YtSuLjM6s

http://youtu.be/RDuAR6STkX0

http://youtu.be/RDuAR6STkX0

http://youtu.be/Zfrf1-9ux4E

http://youtu.be/XASVaiQwTtc

http://youtu.be/54iRqwcK6_o

http://youtu.be/e3JHGSFuC3w

http://youtu.be/a7W_tv23Ujg

http://youtu.be/XDgmReIqQ7U

http://youtu.be/0Q7OpFYazD8

Viewing all of those may take a while!

How did I miss this topic line? My daughter made my trailer using machinima in Second Life. She uses a bunch of stuff, I know all her software cost a ton... I think Sony Vegas was like $400 and she just got something called After Effects or some such. My book trailer has proven to be a great tool... I've had several people tell me they bought the book because they wanted to know what was after the "girl in the movie" I've posted it on my author profiles at amazon.com, smashwords, here, on my Squidoo page, my blog, in Second Life, on Youtube, shared on Facebook, on Twitter, places I can't remember... *gasps for breath*

Anyways, my official trailer by itself is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=...

And her whole channel is at
http://www.youtube.com/user/EmberMark...

We're having a big online pARTy at the end of the month (something I do every month as an end of mae promotion) and she's going to do another more viral video. I have an art exhibit with 4 artists, a live musician performing and then I'm doing a reading. It's a monthly celebration of art of all kinds, hence the pARTy theme.

I'll be sure to post the new one when it's done. I love this group!

Cambria wrote: "Hey Everyone~
We have a memeber here in the group (Angela!!) who'd awesome trailer is in a contest here on GR. Just go to the link and vote for her. It's trailer #5
Please vote.
Here's the link:..."

Thank you so much Cambria, you're a better promoter than I am ... how did I miss all these threads?

Wow! Sounds like there is much to be learnt! Can't wait to get home and watch some of these...
JAC

Angela- i don't know if I am a better promoter, your end of the month party sounds Awesome!! You have fabulous ideas and your daughter is totally talented!! Yay!

Penelope- that's a lot of trailers!! WOW! i can't wait to watch them! Thanks for sharing.

Penelope! Great work on your trailers! There is a lot of time and effort put into those!!

Angela - at least you got in on the thread now! better late than never, right? And I love the spookiness of your trailer!!

Amy wrote: "Penelope! Great work on your trailers! There is a lot of time and effort put into those!!

Angela - at least you got in on the thread now! better late than never, right? And I love the spookin..."

If only I could take credit for the trailer... aside from building the set all I did was stand around and say "is it done?" Oh... and pick music ;p

Cambria wrote: "Angela- i don't know if I am a better promoter, your end of the month party sounds Awesome!! You have fabulous ideas and your daughter is totally talented!! Yay!

She is.... and I can take credit for her being my daughter ;D I'm so glad I always supported her computer play, cuz it paid off for me with the trailer.

Angela wrote: "Amy wrote: "Penelope! Great work on your trailers! There is a lot of time and effort put into those!!

Angela - at least you got in on the thread now! better late than never, right? And I lo..."

Hey, we all have our special jobs that need to be done!!! LOL

Amy wrote: "Angela wrote: "Amy wrote: "Penelope! Great work on your trailers! There is a lot of time and effort put into those!!

Angela - at least you got in on the thread now! better late than never, rig..."

*snort*

Angela- she is your daughter...you created her. therfore, you can have the credit! LOL

Hahaha! Well that's what I keep saying ;p

LOL. Mom's always get the credit.

"I blame the parents" may be the phrase you're looking for....
heheheh
JAC

Hi! I'm enjoying the book trailers posted here. It's great to pick up tips and other video resources too!

Here is a link to my book trailers for Guardian 2632 (science fiction adventure) and The Twelfth Paladin (supernatural/horror). http://www.youtube.com/user/Nora2632

Here's mine. I'm not sure if it's helped my sales. I have seen some increase in traffic to my website since posting it, however.

Without a doubt, making the trailer, has been the highlight of self-promotion for me. It was fun to do!

http://youtu.be/RmM-Uf6yG4w

Thanks for looking!

Nice trailer! The music was perfect.

I think book trailers are a great way to generate interest in a book. Most people spend a surprising amount of time during the week watching videos on Youtube. It makes sense to tap into that marketing aspect of your book. I made mine using royalty free images and music, or stock photos that I purchased.

You can view mine at http://youtu.be/nDmxkuxvAVk

Heather

How do you all post a powerpoint slideshow to Youtube? I've never posted before... my daughter did all that.

You make a good marketing point Heather! And I watched your trailer it was great, and I loved the music!!

Angela- I wouldn't ask that! I would be thankful I had soemone to do it for me! LOL

Lol... I am but I don't want to overtax her ;p

ooh can you make them in Powerpoint?? That makes me feel a lot better - Powerpoint I can blag.
JAC

I made one in Slideshare but you can't use sound in it apparently. I wanted to load it to Youtube but it wouldn't go for some reason. I was shocked at how many views slideshare got... 4,000 plus and climbing. I've never even heard of it until recently!

I have never heard of slideshare either....
huh
Sounds interesting tho.

I didn't make the trailer for my mystery, my publisher did. I'm afraid I just don't have the expetise to try one myself (I'm pretty much a technie luddite when it comes to making things). The trailer's about 45 seconds, which I gather is the preferred trend these days? It's for my first Casey Holland mystery, The Opposite of Dark. Here's the page, where you can click onto the trailer. http://bit.ly/i983XE

Thanks,
Debra

...er.... what is slideshare Angela?

Thanks Debra - will be intrigued to watch!
JAC

J.A. wrote: "...er.... what is slideshare Angela?

Thanks Debra - will be intrigued to watch!
JAC"

I found Slideshare through the recent Goodreads contest... otherwise I've never heard of it. Here's the contest link:
http://www.goodreads.com/bookclub/sli...

Duh! I went and had a nosey at your ad there too! Completely failed to notice what the site was though...
Thanks, will investigate with investigatory head on this time instead of looking at the pretty pictures....!
heheheh
JAC