~ GUEST POST ~ I’m delighted to introduce author and marketing expert Phyllis Zimbler Miller at my blog today ~
Use Videos Posted on YouTube to Attract Readers to Your Books written by Phyllis Zimbler Miller ~
If you’re a book author, it’s important to realize how helpful videos can be to promoting your book.
Let’s review the situation:
There are zillions (perhaps I’m exaggerating a tiny bit) of books competing for attention online and in book stores. How are your books going to stand out – especially with the people most likely to want to read your books?
Book trailers similar to movie trailers have become popular. Often these short trailers (2-3 minutes) cost a lot of money and are done by a professional. The cover of the book, other graphics, quotes from reviewers, etc. may slide in and out of the screen.
But after I paid to have such a video created for my novel “Mrs. Lieutenant,” I realized that the video (while done quite well) perhaps didn’t resonate with my target market.
Instead, I wanted to tell book clubs why “Mrs. Lieutenant” would be an excellent choice for them to read and discuss.
Yes, I already had downloadable book club questions on www.MrsLieutenant.com, but I wanted to personally share my thoughts with potential book club readers.
The solution was to have my business partner, Yael K. Miller, video me talking about the reasons why I thought book clubs would enjoy discussing “Mrs. Lieutenant.” This video did not require any fancy graphics – just me talking.
And then Yael optimized the video for keywords when she put it on YouTube before embedding the YouTube code into the “Mrs. Lieutenant” website. Now people could find the video on YouTube and come visit the book’s site, while others already visiting the site could access the video directly.
Compare my two book videos:
Here’s the one with just me talking — http://www.mrslieutenant.com/book-discussion-questions/
Here’s the one done professionally — http://www.mrslieutenant.com/fiction-teaches-us-history/
While the professional one is interesting, it doesn’t encourage a social media relationship with me – and it cost money to have produced.
You can do your book promotional budget a favor and use a video of yourself talking about your books – it’s your passion that can help “sell” the books.
FYI – Writing this guest post reminded me that I should make a video for my brand-new book – FOUR COMEDY SCREENPLAYS. I’m hoping that using social media to promote this book will connect me with Queen Latifah, for whom I wrote the fourth screenplay in the book – “Dr. Soapy.” (You can read about the screenplays at http://www.millermosaicllc.com/four-comedy-screenplays/ )
© 2010 Miller Mosaic, LLC
Phyllis Zimbler Miller is the co-founder of the social media marketing company Miller Mosaic Power Marketing. Download the new FREE tips booklet HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO INCREASE YOUR BUSINESS at http://www.millermosaicllc.com/tips-booklet/
Thanks Phyllis ~
As it’s a Friday, I’ll try and keep my bit short.
I’ve watched Phyllis’s trailer and video. Personally, I think if you could have both, then have both.
Youtube is one of the biggest search engines on the web, almost every product that is launched these days has accompanying videos from the product makers and bloggers are embracing it more and more as a way to communicate with their readers. Read more at ProBlogger.
A professional book trailer is the norm now so having one done if you can afford it makes sense. A video with you talking to the camera about your book is easier to achieve and if you have the time to create one, do it. As Phyllis said, who would show more passion and enthusiasm for your book than you?
A book trailer works well when it stimulates all the senses by using visuals / images, music, written words or a voice commentary for example. Some people are more taken in by the visuals, others are affected by music, others prefer to listen to a voice or read words. Interest is created when you can combine all these factors well or excel using a few. Anything less, it helps if it’s humorous.
This is not to say that a video of the author talking about the book is not as valuable.
After seeing the book trailer, people may want a closer connection to the author and the book – that’s when the video would give them the opportunity to have that experience. This is especially true for someone who wishes not only to read the book but also to discuss it in a book club or class.
How do you feel about videos and book trailers?
What do you think? Are they worth it?
Have a great weekend.
“You gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face. You must do that which we think we cannot.”
Eleanor Roosevelt – Social Activist and First Lady of the United States
CURRENT STATUS: Reminder, Motivator and Review Meeting (Read on if you want to join me in my Corporation of One meeting)
What l have learnt:
- When to withhold suspense in a novel and when it shouldn’t be done (via Edittorrent).
- 10 Steps to a better story (via The Blood-Red Pencil).
- Boost your book sales with the magic of niche marketing (via AlanRinzler.com).
- 10 Important Things I’ve Learnt About Indie Publishing by editor and publisher Alisa Krasnostein.
What I have done:
- Created Twitter accounts for @insomniacfoetus which focuses on science fiction and fantasy; and @jessiemacnovels which focuses on adult fiction and crime thrillers. Not sure how this will go but I thought I’d give it a try. Whilst my main Twitter account @jessiemacwriter will focus on general fiction, writing, marketing, blogging and films.
WORD COUNT: Night Walker 144, 000 words in total. Monday 2 August 1,000 words; Tuesday 3 August 1,000 words; Wednesday 4 August 2,000 words; and Thursday 1,000 words.
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