STATUS: Just a heads up that tomorrow morning I head to Salt Lake City for the World Horror Conference so I can’t promise I’ll blog on Thursday and Friday. I’ll try though.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? STAR 69 by R.E.M
Last year when the book THE MANNY hit shelves, there was a fun book trailer floating around blogs and easily spotted on youtube. If I could embed the link through the youtube site, I would but since I can’t figure that out, I’ll just add it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3leewFinQ4
I have to say this trailer was uproariously funny. I watched it several times and laughed heartily with each viewing but ultimately, I didn’t buy the book.
There in lies the rub. Book trailers can be great, fun, and generate buzz but do they sell books? That’s the million dollar question. If we could accurately measure the books sales generated by a trailer then that would help quantify whether it has a positive impact or not.
But ultimately it can’t hurt book sales so if you are creative, or have the dinero to hire professionals to make one, I say go for it.
Especially when the trailer is clever or quite funny as that in and of itself might get the link spread around. With that in mind, I give a huge thumbs up to Sherry Thomas’s new book trailer for her debut PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS, which just hit shelves yesterday for all you historical romance readers that have been eagerly awaiting the release.
I laughed outright while watching. No stuffy trailer here. Enjoy and let me know if it encourages you to buy the book. If it doesn’t, well….
I’ve had hooks on my mind for the past few days, er weeks, er… and while this video is funny, it’s not hooky.
The video works in and of itself, but doesn’t tell me enough about the book to get me to read it.
All I get is that a poor little neglected rich woman hires a “manny” (aka male nanny) and all sorts of scandalous things happen.
And this makes this book different/better/fresher than any other chick lit book… how?
It’s good to have a video promo that sticks in one’s head. It’s good to make the audience laugh, if the book one’s pitching has a certain amount of levity.
But it is necessary to make the reader want to read the book. If it doesn’t, no matter how well it’s produced, it won’t translate laughs into sales.
If the excerpt on her site or the blurb didn’t, I really don’t know what would. But I did so enjoy this. It was fun. I would have read it even if it had been crappy though, the book is just that great.
Oh my. I will certainly pick up that book.
Also, I will spread the YouTube link, because it is hilarious.
I like the idea of book trailers as another marketing tool. However, most of the ones I’ve seen are way too long, poorly produced, and rather dull.
Keep in mind I’m probably pickier than most people because I work in advertising. The trailers that appeal to me are more like a hybrid of a TV spot and movie trailer. Allison Brennan’s are a perfect example.
Kristin, I saw this trailer over at Dear Author and it did make me instantly order the book. I do read historicals, but not that many. I pick and choose. The trailer made a difference. The setting, as well as the author’s obvious sense of humor gave me that extra push. This is the first time I’ve bought a book because of the trailer. Though all the good reviews helped, too!
Okay, yes, that one actually *did* work. I’m putting it in my Amazon.com cart now. But it helps that I had heard good things about it before and had already been thinking of buying it. I generally don’t watch book trailers, though, as they have just never worked for me. Maybe I’ll give them another go.