| it comes to convincing a reader to buy, sometimes | | | | responds to and incorporate that into your video. |
| there's nothing more compelling than a good sales | | | | Check out this video that MonkeyCMedia did for a |
| pitch. Yes, you can have excellent back copy, a | | | | book we worked on: |
| stunning cover, but nothing makes a reader morph | | | | Here are some ways to make the most of your |
| into a buyer quicker than a hefty pitch that pushes | | | | video: |
| every single hot button (and even a few they didn't | | | | 1) Have you been YouTube'd? If you haven't this is |
| know they had). Video as a means to promote a | | | | the #1 place to load your book video. |
| book is a great sales pitch, but only if it's done right. | | | | 2) Put your video on your own website, don't let a |
| What do I mean by "done right"? | | | | single visitor land on your site without getting the |
| With all the talk today about using video to promote | | | | "touch and feel" of your book. |
| your book, it's easy to get caught up in a | | | | 3) Send a sample of your book video to every media |
| YouTube-driven world. It's a great idea certainly but | | | | contact you pitch. Never let a press kit leave your |
| there's one catch: you've got to make your viewer | | | | office without a disc. |
| feel something. An example of this is a recent video | | | | 4) Got a social networking page? If you do (and you |
| posted to Yahoo videos (it also landed on YouTube) | | | | should) add the clip or a link to it on the page. |
| about a contestant (Paul Potts) on Britain's Got | | | | 5) When you pitch the media, don't forget to insert a |
| Talent. While not an author (yet) the video shows us | | | | link to the trailer in your email. Don't send it as an |
| clearly what we mean by emotion. Don't believe me? | | | | attachment; chances are an overaggressive spam |
| Take a look for yourself. | | | | filter will have it for lunch. |
| The video became so popular (almost overnight) that | | | | 6) Blog about it every chance you get. No, I'm not |
| within a few days it made it to the U.S. and into the | | | | talking about repeating a blog over and over but blog |
| hands of millions of viewers. Why? Well, let's think | | | | on what success you've had thanks to your video. |
| about this. If you've ever watched an episode of | | | | And oh, yes, add a link to the book video too. |
| American Idol or a version of the program you know | | | | 7) Trying to get a signing but have been |
| that the most favored contestants are the | | | | unsuccessful? Let your book speak for itself, literally. |
| underdogs, the ones who just show up and blow the | | | | Drop off a copy of your book trailer to an |
| judges away. That's the biggest emotional hot button | | | | as-yet-unconvinced bookstore person and I can |
| on any of these types of shows and that's why the | | | | almost bet you'll get a signing in the store. |
| Paul Potts video made such an impact online. Of | | | | 8) Ready for your close-up? There's no quicker way |
| course he had talent, but talent in the absence of a | | | | to a potential producer's heart than through his eyes |
| true underdog factor wouldn't have made this video | | | | and ears. Seeing a book come to life can sometimes |
| as successful as it was. | | | | be a great way to sell someone on the concept of |
| In fact, not only that but every major media outlet is | | | | turning your book into a movie. |
| clamoring for an interview with Paul. He's become a | | | | 9) If you're doing a signing bring the book video to |
| sensation. The video gave him exposure to people | | | | show while you're signing books. I've known authors |
| globally and it tapped into an emotion - but more | | | | who've done this and they sold almost twice as |
| than that, it tapped into the right emotion. That is | | | | many books. The video really pulls in readers! |
| key. If the Paul Potts video had been scary, or | | | | 10) Just like you can tell a book by its cover, you can |
| disturbing, or flat out boring, who would have cared? | | | | often tell a book video by its packaging. Get your CD |
| So if you're considering doing a book video for your | | | | cover professionally printed, don't skim on the first |
| own tome, don't sell yourself short by just "telling the | | | | impression! In fact, why not have your video burned |
| story," do it in such a way that grabs your reader, | | | | to a business card size cd that you can pop into the |
| engages them and hits them right in their emotional | | | | card slot of a presentation folder? |
| hot buttons. Know the triggers your audience | | | | |