Christine Feehan started this interesting trend of having a Book Trailer made for each of her books. A book trailer (trademarked by Circle of Seven productions who stared the book trailer wave) is a short video representation of a book. I remember when I saw the first book trailer I wondered if it would take off. I mean, we all learn/absorb things in different ways. Some people are audio learners, others are visual…and I wondered if the video captures the visual learner. And now with the popularity of internet sites like YouTube, these trailers have a great place to be displayed and played!
Check out this new video book trailer for Island Heat by Susan Kearney below. Do you like to watch trailers? Do they impact you enough to make you want to buy the book?
I’m always curious and I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Island Heat Book Trailer
Note: I received Susan Kearney’s permission to use her video in this blog post.
-
Hi Patrice
Love the blog!
Anyway I wanted to get in on the book trailer discussion. I have to say that when done correctly and by a reputable company like Circle of Seven, a trailer, teaser or the like can be a great tool for getting new readers interested in your work or letting established fans visualize what you’ve written. In fact, just recently several authors have said that traffic to her website increased after they put up videos.
I think in this day and age when everyone is so bent on watching TV rather than picking up a book, this is a great way of getting them interested.
Of course this is just my opinion 
by Lisa
on January 5th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
-
I have an older computer and sometimes these don’t work, so no, I usually pass them by. I would rather see a cover of the book and a short excerpt of what the book is about. Hope this helps
by Joy
on January 5th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
-
Hi Patrice
I have to agree with Lisa’s comment on book trailers. I watch them myself, specifically Circle Of Seven’s, in my opinion, the best out there today. By watching these book trailers, they’ve gotten me interested in books I wouldn’t have purchased had I seen them in the bookstore. Hope this helps!
by Rose
on January 5th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
-
I started watching christine feehan book trailers done by COS so I could get a little taste of what it was going to be about. Then I went on the COS myspace site and got to see other book trailers. Whenever I think about buying another book I look at the trailers to see which ones I would be interested in. Its so much fun. My daughter even likes watching them She can’t wait to get old enough to read christine feehans books..She loves the trailers so much
by Brandi
on January 5th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
-
Hey Lisa, thanks for the compliments on my blog. Yes, I agree COS does a fantastic job with their trailers! I kind of see trailers as another avenue to gain readers.
by Patrice
on January 5th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
-
I hear you, Joy. I know that slower computers would make trying to watch these videos painful to say the least. 
And if I ever decided to do a trailer, I would do one in addition to having my book cover, a blurb and an excerpt on my website.
by Patrice
on January 5th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
-
Hi Rose! I think the trailers work for some people and not others. Personally, I find them very entertaining. 
by Patrice
on January 5th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
-
I’ve watched a few book trailers and they’re okay I guess. They certainly aren’t what I use to choose the books I’m going to read though.
-
Hi Brandi,
I watched Christine Feehan’s first video as well…and I do agree they are a ton of fun. From a marketing perspective, these can be shown as a commercial too.
As for your daughter liking them…yey, that’s great! It’ll give her something to enjoy until she’s old enough to read the books.
by Patrice
on January 5th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
-
Hi Erin! Yes, I agree video trailers are a personal preference thing. I find them fun to watch…and they might make me click on the author’s website to check out the book, but it’s the blurb and the excerpt that ultimately sell me on the book.
by Patrice
on January 5th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
-
I’m not one for the trailers as I have a hard time accessing them. If an author can grab me with her story and the blurb, that’s a much better way to get my attention.
by Latesha
on January 5th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
-
Great blog! You have a lot of topics here that are interesting.
I thought I would chime in for a moment. And, in the interest of “full disclosure” I need to say that I am the CEO of COS Productions.
I have found that there are two schools of people. Not so much those who like and those who do not like trailers, but those who are traditional readers and those who are are not.
Traditional readers are the ones most likely to use the back cover blurb, an exerpt or reviews to choose a book. They are established readers. They don’t need a trailer to get them to pick up a book. Though, many will watch them to see what’s coming up. And some trailers are really just announcements that the book is out. The reader will buy it regardless.
What I term the non-traditional readers, are those who usually watch TV, go to the movies, play video games and spend far too much time downloading to their ipod. lol
You have to really reel them in to get them to pick up a book.
With the number of readers shrinking and publishers doing all sorts of interesting things to get people to buy (does anyone really like those larger size books?) we have to acknowledge that we need to bring in more readers overall.
Get them while they’re young! Like Brandi’s daughter!
If Book Trailers work the way they are supposed to, it won’t just sell books for the authors who buy them. It will bring in a whole new demographic. It will help bring those visual people over to books. It will remind them that they can watch scenes play out, in their mind.
It would be great to have so many readers that all author benefit, instead of having publishers and authors competing for current (and shrinking) number of readers.
Even if you don’t like them yourself, or don’t use them, if they bring in more, new readers, aren’t they a wonderful tool?
Of course there will always be those of us who love to go to our local bookstore, touch the pages, read the back copy, and enjoy the unique smell of coffee and books.
by Sheila
on January 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
-
Hi Latesha,
Thanks so much for stopping by and giving your feedback. I’m ALL for grabbing you with my story and the blurb! 
by Patrice
on January 5th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
-
Hi Sheila,
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective on trailers. COS seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. I know you’ve worked with a lot of authors, so I’m glad to learn your thoughts on the subject.
Like I mentioned earlier, I see book trailers as a way to reach another segment of the market via a different venue, but I wouldn’t expect it to replace good old-fashioned excerpts and blurbs. I see trailers as an additional side benefit. 
Patrice (who counts herself as one of those who LOVES to browse the bookstore aisles with coffee in hand! )
by Patrice
on January 5th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
-
Hi Patrice,
I am not a fan of book trailers, primarily because most I’ve seen look like poor powerpoint presentations with awful music and sound effects. Another issue with trailers are that many seem to move too quickly, with lots of competing images or too slowly, where I start daydreaming about rearranging the text placement or changing the colors while waiting for the next frame. Very few get the pacing right to keep my attention.
I am a dedicated reader and would not skip a book based on the trailer, but I am rarely intrigued by them.
I guess trailers are sort of like book covers - a bad one won’t turn you off an author you like, but a good one might attract you to someone new.
The only book I have purchased on impulse after seeing the trailer (done by COS) was The Stranger I Married, by Sylvia Day.
by juli
on January 6th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
-
Hi Juli,
Thanks for your feedback. I understand where you’re coming from. And I do think/hope that a trailer wouldn’t turn a reader off of buying a book if they didn’t like it.
I hope you enjoyed Sylvia’s book!
by Patrice
on January 6th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
-
Hi Patrice,
I really enjoy the book trailers and it has prompted me to buy several books by authors I do not usually read. They are really well done but I wonder if it is economically feasible for the author. Of course if you sell several thousand more books, I guess it would be. Since so many readers are tuned into websites, the trailer would get a wide audience.
Betty
by Betty
on January 6th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
-
Hi Betty,
With people using the net like we once used the Yellow pages, AND with the growing popularity of videosites like YouTube (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched Evolution of Dance and cracked up and marveled at the guy’s talent every single TIME!! LOL! ), that’s why I see trailers as an added bonus. Yes, they cost, but then the author just has to decide if she feels a new venture like trailers might bring readers she might not have attracted otherwise.
This is a great discussion. I’m enjoying it! Keep your comments and thoughts coming!
by Patrice
on January 6th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
-
I LOVE THE TRAILERS.
-
I’m definitely warming to the book trailer, and considering spending the $’s on one for my next book. I watched a few from Romance Designs and COS and was impressed.
by Julia Templeton
on January 8th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
-
Hi Sheila. I do too!
by Patrice
on January 8th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
-
Hi Julia,
You’ll have to let me know which book you’re considering doing this for.
by Patrice
on January 8th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
-
First, I want to thank Patrice for putting my trailer on her site. That was an awesome thing to do and I really appreciate it. Second, I know my books aren’t for everyone, but I’ve found lots of readers who have read my romantic suspense and will try a pararnormal because they trust me. And often they write to tell me they are now enjoying these stories set on other worlds. COS trailers help those new readers find me. I love strong heros and heroines and a fast pace with lots of action. I always create smart villains. Plus I like lots of sexual tension. I try to convey what a Susan Kearney book is in my trailer. I believe COS does a great job for me.
Best,
Susan Kearney
-
Hi Susan! Thanks for letting me show your trailer as an example. I think they are a fun and different way to reach readers.
by Patrice
on January 16th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
-
Thank you Patrice for allowing me to address the issue of cost for the trailers.
I’ll give a link to a site that shows you cost and examples at the end of this post.
A book video is a tool, like any other in your marketing arsenal. Just because you have one doesn’t mean it is effective.
COS has been around longer than any other book video company. We have networked for over 5 years specifically talking to booksellers, book clubs, readers, libararies and publishers (as well as authors!) about how we can make videos that they would be interested in.
We have many bookstores who put our videos on their site, or play them in their store. We have many bookclubs that use the videos. And, we have over 6700 MySpace subscribers that we send bulletins to when our videos go out. Between our MySpace and our regular newsletter we have well over 10,000 subscribers to our videos.
That’s not enough though.
We have studied online marketing trends for viral video placement. We have over 120 online networking sites where we can upload video for public display.
Authors get a product, but more importantly, they get distribution. They get extra service such as technical help if it is needed. We help the author identify ways to use the video other than just on their website.
Having a video isn’t enough. Having someone help you do something effective with the video is key.
Here is a site where you can see some examples of our services and products, costs, etc.
www.sf-english.com/Nov_2006_costs
Thanks again!
Sheila
