Support for Indie Authors discussion

So a couple authors I know (most notably, The Creative Penn, a.k.a. J.F. Penn) have a Youtube channel. They have author interviews, writing advice, etc.
What I was wondering is, does anyone here have a Youtube channel? What are the benefits? Does it work? What type of content do you post?
That's all.
I'd love any feedback you can give.
Thanks!

I have a YouTube channel, and the greatest benefit I have experienced so far is getting to connect with other authors. I also use my YouTube to promote my books.

Teymour Shahabi has a youtube channel which is pretty entertaining, as well. You can find the link on his goodreads author page.

I've briefly considered starting a YouTube page; the only thing holding me back is not knowing how to generate content on a regular basis (like, content beyond "Buy my books!").

J.D. wrote: "I've briefly considered starting a YouTube page; the only thing holding me back is not knowing how to generate content on a regular basis (like, content beyond "Buy my books!")."

Whatever you would blog about is also what you should vlog about. If you begin to think about it in those terms you will have a hard time fitting all of your ideas into your schedule! Do you have a friend willing to follow you around and record? Hit the mall or the park or the street - ask people why they read, what they like to read, what novel they would write if they had the time, if they could lie on the beach with a good book what beach would it be etc. Get their email addresses and promise to notify them when the clip is up. Guess what? You've just gained content and a potential new reader.

Tara wrote: "Teymour Shahabi has a youtube channel which is pretty entertaining, as well. You can find the link on his goodreads author page."

Thanks! I'm checking him out now.

Tara wrote: "J.D. wrote: "I've briefly considered starting a YouTube page; the only thing holding me back is not knowing how to generate content on a regular basis (like, content beyond "Buy my books!")."

What..."

That's a good idea. Do you blog or vlog?

I'm excited about starting an author site/blog but I can't say I'm sure how to go about it lol. I've been using my goodreads blog as practice and it's a lot of fun.

Natalia wrote: "I have a YouTube channel, and the greatest benefit I have experienced so far is getting to connect with other authors. I also use my YouTube to promote my books."

How do you connect with authors on Youtube?

Tara wrote: "J.D. wrote: "I've briefly considered starting a YouTube page; the only thing holding me back is not knowing how to generate content on a regular basis (like, content beyond "Buy my books!")."

What..."

But what if I can write decently but I'm not entertaining on video LOL

interesting, I've got a youtube thingy, but never use it.

Does anyone here have a Youtube channel?

Yes.

What are the benefits?

Listening to me ramble has been known to cure gout, cause pumpkins to grow and to ward off badgers. If your house is infested with badgers, watch my channel.

Does it work?

Yes, it works pretty well. You click the buttons and the videos play.

What type of content do you post?

So far, just me babbling like a ninny about writing. Eventually I plan to add content that's even more worthless.

I saw this thread and it got me really curious and its inspiring me actually. I have two channels however I use one for my book trailers and the other for poetry readings in the voice of celebrity impersonations.

I like the idea of doing more on Youtube as a way to connect with people and potential readers but I guess I just haven't thought too much about it to give it a try. I've seen people do book reviews on there as well as segments where they ask people questions such as Teymour whom Tara mentioned. If I can get all my ducks in a row I'll look to add this to my repertoire.

So basically, it can get you more readers. You can publish book reviews, book trailers, advice, etc. Just like a regular blog, you just have to show your face.

Grace wrote: "So basically, it can get you more readers. You can publish book reviews, book trailers, advice, etc. Just like a regular blog, you just have to show your face."

From what I've observed, it all depends if your potential readers go to YouTube to find new authors. In our case, it appear they don't. We avoid social media because people who tend to enjoy what we write don't look for books on social media, and they do tend to look down on authors who are active on social media (as far as we can tell), so we believe we stand to lose more than we might gain.

Your potential readers are likely to have similar attitudes to yours, so if you use YouTube (or any social media) to find and follow authors, they probably do too. And they are probably interested in similar things, so that could serve as inspiration for content.

If you are trying to connect with readers, however, I believe it's necessary to think like a reader. A vast array of things fascinate me personally as an author, but I've learned that our readers generally consider these to be duller that dishwater, so I try to keep my mouth shut on those topics (with indifferent success).

Best of luck!

It's tricksy for me as I write under a pseudonym so can't actually vlog (unless I completely disguise myself) ;-P

But I do have a Youtube video as a book trailer. It doesn't get many views.
The other one seems to have vanished
(*reminder to self to re-upload :-/ *)

I'm with Owen on this. I've tried almost every social media website I've encountered except YouTube, but finally narrowed it down to Facebook and Twitter. I write more of a classic style of Science Fiction, and I don't think my readers can be found on a lot of social media, including those two, but Twitter does drive traffic to my website at least, and attention for free is good, whether they buy or not. I'm not sure FB helps at all, not even a targeted ad, and I still don't know how to connect with my readers.

I did think about a YouTube video, but I have no idea what I'd put in it except covers of my books swimming around onscreen, backed by a dramatic musical score, and I don't think that would hold anybody's attention. My best booster has been interaction on Goodreads.

Owen wrote: "Grace wrote: "So basically, it can get you more readers. You can publish book reviews, book trailers, advice, etc. Just like a regular blog, you just have to show your face."

From what I've observ..."
Thanks, that helped a lot!

Ken wrote: "I'm with Owen on this. I've tried almost every social media website I've encountered except YouTube, but finally narrowed it down to Facebook and Twitter. I write more of a classic style of Science..."

I hear you on what you'd put in the video. I have my book trailers and I read my poems in the voice of celeb impersonations but if I were to be serious and show myself I feel like I'd need to be committed and give and show quality content, I just don't know what that quality content is.

I have... but it's very time consuming

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSyG...

TL Clark (author of love) wrote: "It's tricksy for me as I write under a pseudonym so can't actually vlog (unless I completely disguise myself) ;-P

But I do have a Youtube video as a book trailer. It doesn't get many views.
The ot..."

You're running from the FBI, right? That's why the disguise?
Is there a reward? Just kidding, Miss TL Clark!

I've just begun a YouTube channel, still designing the banner art etc., but it is definitely a wonderful tool. Jenna Moreci is a YouTuber, and through YouTube, I found her book and many others have. I think it may be the most invaluable tool for us indies. On Goodreads, we're a group of authors, not an audience of buyers, for the most part. When people search for videos on YouTube, they are vying for entertainment (most of the time, sometimes its self-help and marketing stuff.)

I posted recently, asking indie authors to submit their novels for me to review on my channel. The feedback I've received in three days alone is insane. I actually have to close the thread shortly. That will be the cornerstone of my channel; reviews. Half indie titles, half traditionally published titles. I think it can go places.

I know that if you want your readership to grow, you have to promote, promote, promote. But this seems like it takes a lot of attention and demand of your time to make it even slightly successful. With all the work you do on social media like FB, Twitter, etc., etc., and as is with me, spending hours on Goodreads trying to connect with others, how do you have time to write?

And the outcome seems to be the same as all the other medias: Barely any traffic or sales.

One thing to always keep in mind guys, it's a marathon not a race. Some of the people that are "Over night" successes have taken decades to get where they are. It takes time and perseverance, but all you have to do is keep on trucking. Remember, before the days of social media authors still took off without publishing contracts, and then gained them once their books started taking money. Yes you need to get your name out there, but it's just as important to remember exactly why your write, and let your books do most of your talking.

Groovy wrote: "I know that if you want your readership to grow, you have to promote, promote, promote."

That's one way to do it. The way I do it is (and I am not saying this is better, just an alternate) challenge myself to write stories people will remember and make them want to come back for more. It is slow, damn slow, but my fan-base is growing little by little. The upside is I don't feel like I have to take a lot of time away from writing to promote all over the place. I toss out a couple of promos here and there when I have something new or free, but otherwise I let things coast. Sales increase... very slowly... but it is working.

Riley, I agree. It's important to remember exactly why you write, and let your books do most of your talking.

And Dwayne, you are soooo right. It takes time, but little by little your fan base will continue to grow. It is very slow, but we write because we love it, not for fame and fortune, although that wouldn't hurt. But, it's what you love to do, even if one person likes it.

I'm glad I joined this group. There's so much helpful, good advice. And I always get encouraged. Thanks!

I just added a YouTube channel yesterday and uploaded a book trailer for my ebook novel The Scimitar And The Snail. The trailer resulted from footage of St Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands NY that a videography company had which fit in with my story line (islands, antique wood boats in pursuit, etc) - voiceover done by one of the owners who has done real estate listing videos in the past. I'd be happy to post a link to the channel and video if the group is interested.

I use my You Tube channel to let people know what us happening with my books. Like today I have uploaded a video diary of my second book I am writing.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUCH...

Inspired by Sheree in Message 29 (easier to facilitate a discussion by showing instead of telling) here is the link to YouTube book trailer for The Scimitar And The Snail:


https://youtu.be/YuziArxB3Qs