Do You Need a Trailer for Your Newly Published Book?

Introducing new elements into your book marketing strategy can work wonders to your book sales. With thousands of books released every year in the US alone, getting discovered by your target audience will require a bit of effort—which is why you need to find ways to be innovative and unique.

Book trailers are one such element that you should perhaps consider implementing into your book marketing strategy. We know about movie trailers. In fact, with a well-made movie trailer, producers can attract a large number of fans even before the official movie launch date. Why can’t the same be applied to books and book trailers?

What exactly is a book trailer?

The aim of a book trailer is to grab the reader’s attention by presenting the story via visuals, graphics and music. You give away just enough for your reader to be hooked, without spoiling the entire plot. Just like how it works with movie trailers. 

A book trailer can feature a visually appealing summary of the plot of the book without spoilers, the author talking about the book’s journey, an introduction to the world you have created (if it’s fantasy) with maps, etc.

Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of having a book trailer for your book.

Pros:

1. Videos are easy to share

Millennials are perhaps the most sought-after audience in the advertising world because of their internet presence and their tendency to engage online. According to an article published by Unruly, a video ad tech company, 18-34 year-olds have global spending powers of $2.45 trillion, and are 112% more likely to share ads online than any other demographic.

This is why making a book trailer can be revolutionary. You’re appealing to an audience that loves sharing videos for its convenience, rather than spending hours on blog posts and reviews.

2. You can communicate your story faster

According to Dr James McQuivey’s Forrester study, a minute of video is equivalent to 1.8 million words! The logic behind it is quite simple. “If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video has to be worth at least 1.8 trillion words,” reasons Dr McQuivey.

73% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase after watching videos that explain a product or service, says Animoto. Also, let’s be honest—would we rather read a 1000-word article on why something is amazing, or watch a 3-minute video on YouTube? You know the answer!

Cons:

1. Violates the imagination rule

It’s a common belief within the literary community that a reader needs to pick up a book with their minds like a blank slate. Which means they shouldn’t have any preconceived images or visuals of the story, instead letting their imagination run wild.

Making a book trailer violates this unspoken rule. It depends on the reader whether they prefer to start off with a blank imagination, or have a bit of help visualizing characters and settings.

2. Can be too costly

As a self-published author, it can be quite challenging to have to cover all the costs involved in marketing, designing, editing, etc., unless you’re already good at it, or you’re a quick learner. The same applies to book trailers. Unless you can quickly get the hang of making quality videos, you’ll have to spare a portion of your budget to hire a professional.