| Book trailers are popping up all over the internet, | | | | "Jonas in Mexico City." In her mystery she features a |
| promoting both fiction and nonfiction books. In most | | | | great deal of the ancient and modern culture of that |
| cases these book trailers are similar to movie trailers | | | | sprawling metropolis. What if she makes a short |
| - sliced together footage of pictures and film clips, | | | | video on preparing a Mexican dish that her |
| often with a voiceover. | | | | protagonist eats in the book? |
| Movie trailers probably work best when they include | | | | The video should be entertaining and informative, and |
| footage of a film star that we all want to see in a | | | | it should feature Valerie herself talking about the |
| movie. We may not even care what the movie is | | | | recipe. At the end of her description of the recipe, |
| about because the film looks like good entertainment | | | | she adds that the protagonist in her book "Jonas in |
| and all that is required of us is to sit in a dark theater | | | | Mexico City" enjoys this dish very much. Doesn't this |
| and watch the film. | | | | sound like a more interesting video that watching |
| Yet, when using book trailers to motivate people to | | | | pictures and film clips of Mexico City while a |
| buy books, we need to consider what we are asking | | | | voiceover talks about the plot of "Jonas in Mexico |
| these people to do. We are asking them to spend | | | | City"? |
| more money than the price of a movie ticket and | | | | Now let's imagine Melvin has written the nonfiction |
| work at reading the book because, yes, it is work to | | | | book "Cacti of the American Southwest." Instead of |
| read a book even if you love reading. | | | | a video describing what the book is about, what if |
| And on top of that these book trailers don't have | | | | Melvin is filmed in his cacti garden sharing fascinating |
| any film stars to entice us to the movie theater. | | | | tidbits about these plants. And at the end, of course, |
| There's usually not even the added bonus of the | | | | he mentions that, if you want to learn more, get a |
| familiarity of a sequel. | | | | copy of his book "Cacti of the American Southwest." |
| Then should book authors abandon making book | | | | These are only two examples of the kinds of "book |
| trailers? Should they focus their book marketing on | | | | trailers" that can get your creative juices flowing. If |
| other venues and leave the trailers to the film | | | | you're a writer, you should be able to come up with |
| industry? | | | | a series of videos that entertain, inform and pitch |
| Hold on! Isn't there another way that uploading | | | | your book. |
| videos to YouTube and other free online video sites | | | | Leave the clips and voiceovers to movie trailers. You |
| can be utilized to promote books? | | | | use the visual medium to create a personal bond with |
| Here's an alternative approach: | | | | potential readers of your book while providing them |
| Book authors can make short videos (three minutes | | | | with information of value. Then upload your newest |
| maximum) of topics in their nonfiction books and | | | | masterpieces to the internet and who knows? Maybe |
| related subjects in their fiction books. | | | | your innovative book trailers will go viral. |
| Let's imagine that Valerie has written the mystery | | | | |