Support for Indie Authors discussion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I8Ai...

Hey friends. In addition to be a writer, I'm also a filmmaker and videographer. I put together a short trailer for my novel The Dreamer's Lotus. Take a look and let me know your thoughts. Additionally, if you have produced a trailer, what has been your experience? Has it helped generate sales? Stimulated buzz? Obviously I didn't have to pay for this one (if you don't count my own time), but I'm curious if people think they're worth it.

Cheers.

I make my own book trailers and feel that they are one on the most underrated tools in all of book promoting. Have I seen an increase in sales because of my trailers? No, not at all but it comes down to me not promoting them or knowing how. I suppose you can post links to it just like anything else but I feel there's a niche missing and audience that goes for these. I will continue my search in hope my trailers take off in views and generate sales.
Remember, if random people can become YouTube stars and get millions of hits overnight then there's gotta be a way for us authors to get our trailers notoriety.

Your trailer is very nice.
I love doing book trailers! But I find that they by themselves do not generate sales. They are introducing new readers at the top of the sales funnel and they are a great hook to get them to learn more, but you need to make sure to have a link to your website page on the series, or at the very least Amazon or Goodreads so that you can continue leading them on the sales journey. This is just one of many impressions one needs to make on a reader before they will buy your book.

Justin wrote: "I make my own book trailers and feel that they are one on the most underrated tools in all of book promoting. Have I seen an increase in sales because of my trailers? No, not at all but it comes do..."

Agree!

I've seen book trailers. Thought about finding out how to do one. But have never done one. Not interested in doing one at the moment.

you are here for honest critique so I'll give you just that. the pros are that the video was very good, I can tell that you're good at it videography. and by what I saw I'm assuming your book has to do with the universe and signs relating to the world. now the negative is that to me I feel it is a little too long, I felt like I was on my seat but then after that it was getting drawn out a little too long. I hope my feedback helps. overall i like it alot 9/10

Dwayne wrote: "you are here for honest critique so I'll give you just that. the pros are that the video was very good, I can tell that you're good at it videography. and by what I saw I'm assuming your book has t..."

Not to pile on but if you only had an idea what the book was about maybe that is also an issue?

Dwayne, thanks for the feedback!

Since you asked for honest feedback, I'm going to reply that, as a whole, I don't click on them. I've watched maybe 5 in my life (all in the last few months) and they just feel weird to me. Like they should be fast-paced like a 45 second movie trailer, but they're typically not and I read things slowly and time feels like it slows down all around me. I love an awesome book jacket with just enough info to hook me and then I want to jump in a book the rest of the way with blinders on.

But I did watch yours and I will say that it was the best of the 5 I've seen and it looks very well done. So many of the ones that I clicked on were cheesy and needed serious professional help. Yours was heaps and bounds classy.

But still, I'm traditional. I want to read my books. I want to watch my movies.

But EVERYTHING is subjective! I'm merely one person.

The visuals are really cool... but why not add narration? I'm always confused as to why writers want to add text instead of narration. In a video, the additional audio always works better... well, unless it sounds like trash. haha

Amie, honestly I feel the same way. If I weren't a videographer to begin with, I am certain I wouldn't have made one. I've always felt it's a strange thing to make a visual teaser for a novel. Tack on the actual view count that 95% of book trailers get (a few hundred - a thousand if you've really dialed out your launch, and more if you have a strong following) I don't think it's worth the investment. For me, it's just fun to make.

And Dylan, the voiceover was such an intense decision. I originally wanted to have it spoken through the voice of the main character who is 13 years old. Not having any young friends that could speak in a convincing way, I opted out to just do text. It's definitely a lesser quality than spoken words, I agree.

I lucked out on my trailer in several ways. I decided to go with an animated trailer. Since I teach media and have access to some good equipment along with eager students looking to build portfolios, making my trailer was pretty simple. And tons of fun.

I think I've sold all of one book from the trailer itself but I'll definitely do another one for the next novel.

I find book trailers a strange concept. I love books and I love movies, but I'm the same as Amie: I prefer them separate. I've seen authors use book trailers to promote their books, but as a reader I'm much more interested in the cover image and the blurb. I feel that they give me a better grasp on the actual story. I watched your trailer - it's very well done, I liked how the book cover came into it in the end - but I would still make my buying decision based on other things.

Mike wrote: "Amie, honestly I feel the same way. If I weren't a videographer to begin with, I am certain I wouldn't have made one. I've always felt it's a strange thing to make a visual teaser for a novel. Tack..."
I agree that your video is of good quality, clever use of stills, etc. but too long for today's generation as attention span is so short now. I also made a book trailer, as I am an experienced amateur videographer and it didn't take me very long. I decided to keep it short but hopefully it delivers its message and makes an impact. What do you think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCx2w...
I've also been able to post the video on my blog and facebook page. No evidence that it has made any difference to sales as yet.

Dylan wrote: "The visuals are really cool... but why not add narration? I'm always confused as to why writers want to add text instead of narration."

I can think of two reasons.

1. We're writers. We like typing words.
2. Voice narration in movie trailers seems to be a passé thing.

Dwayne wrote: "1. We're writers. We like typing words.
2. Voice narration in movie trailers seems to be a passé thing. "

I agree with the first point. But the second point... huh? Sure we don't hear the standard trailer narrator as often anymore but certainly some kind of vocal track is preferred.

Some of us don't hear that well, and a narrative voice combined with background music is not good for us. Speech takes longer, too, whereas captions can encapsulate the meaning briefly, like a newspaper cartoon.

I'm starting to read advice that says book trailers don't really sell books. Not sure if that's true. I've never done one myself because I have no skill in that area, I don't know anybody who does, and I don't make enough $$$ in my day job to hire it out if it isn't going to sell books. And frankly, I've never watched a book trailer, either. I'm an avid reader, and depend more on book descriptions, suggestions from others and social media, surfing by categories, etc. Reading is a different form of entertainment than movies or TV, so what applies to selling things on the movie and/or TV screen don't always resonate on the tablet or ereader screen.

Don't think it's worth doing a book trailer unless you enjoy making videos yourself and having fun with it, as I did. There are many better ways to get your book noticed - Goodreads, bloggers, FB, Twitter etc.

And I totally watch book trailers, just don't finish them if they're bad... yes, I've actually looked up books based on a trailer :)

I love book trailers, and frankly I think the literary community has only scratched the surface on their potential. I'd like to see more creative approaches from filmmakers like yourself!

To be honest, I have never watched a book trailer unless someone asked me to and I never bought a book solely due to the book trailer. So i'd say if you like doing it or if you can make one for your book at low cost, sure, but don't spend a whole lot of money on them. Again that is my pov. It doesn't mean other people don't actually search book trailers when they are in the market to buy a book.

I really enjoy watching book trailers and have looked up ebooks of genres I wouldn't usually read- solely due to a good trailer.

Agents and publishing professionals are getting very interested.
I once heard a literary agent give a speech about how an eyecatching trailer has the potential to pave the way for a blockbuster movie- mix with good editing & an agent with top publishing contacts and a six figure deal is a real possibility even for a debut author.

Agreed, Ariel. And apparently many agents and producers really rely on a great trailer to induce them to take the next step of contacting an author. Finding the right agents and producers is a challenge, though. IMDB Pro has literally thousands of agents, producers and even "A" list actors to whom you can send an email...

Book trailers are fun, in my opinion!
It can get you really hyped for the book, you know?

You don't need to spend a bazillion dollars but be prepared to spend a few hundred. A homemade trailer has as much appeal as a homemade book cover. I've made both mistakes. Thing is. As indie writers we should be focusing on our writing craft, learning what makes great writing and stories. The audio visual side is a whole other animal. We can't be jacks off all trades, so don't be sour on trailers just because you're unwilling to part with the money for a good one. A trailer gives you a get link to spread around without sounding like a spammer. Your trailer has your purchase info in there... most trailers do fall short because you have to read them. They aren't mixed with voice overs and sound, because that really does require someone who knows what they're doing.

I think it's untapped because indie authors watch their pennies because honestly most of us don't make much money at all. We want people to buy our books but aren't willing/able to spend the money with professionally edited work, professional covers, professional interior design, or professional extras like book trailers. If our work and associated work doesn't match the VISUALS of traditionally published work it just makes ours look inferior, even if the quality of the story is great.

I say cut out Starbucks and extra stuff, save your pennies and get a professionally done trailer, cover, etc. give your work what it deserves :)

https://youtu.be/9dtBTTi0nh8

I could never have done this by myself and quite frankly, knocks most book trailers out of the park.

Janell wrote: "You don't need to spend a bazillion dollars but be prepared to spend a few hundred. A homemade trailer has as much appeal as a homemade book cover..."

I've seen some "homemade" trailers and covers that were very well done, actually.

Hi Dwayne! Yes of course there are always those with the visual skills for sure! But I'll go out in a limb and say that most of us don't have this skills, and trying to teach ourselves photoshop, in design and Final Cut Pro and sound editing are really too much to master while trying to write. There is only so much time in the day;) so I agree with you to a point. It's never an all or nothing, I'll venture and say most.

My husband and I make our own book trailers and we put them on Youtube. So far we have made15 trailers for our books. This has been a wonderful PR tool for sales. For those who feel they have no talent for the visual, there are sites where you simply point and click to make a nice trailer. Highly recommend it.