What is Your Opinion of Book Trailers?

[AllenMitchum]

I'm wondering what people think of book trailers, both from a reader's perspective and an author's perspective. For readers, would they persuade you to purchase or try out a new book? For authors, are they worth the investment of time and/or money? Any success stories with trailers?


I'm interested in your thoughts. Thanks!

[DebBennett]

I have no interest in them myself. I just don't get why anyone would want to watch a trailer for a book?

[Eliza Baum]

I've watched a few out of curiosity, but I've found the majority of them to be pretty boring. I've even watched a couple after reading the book and thought, "Wow, glad that wasn't the first thing I saw about this, or I might never have read it." There's only been one I can think of that really enticed me into reading the book:



I think there were two reasons for this. 1) I was already interested, but just not convinced yet to spend the money. 2) The book was loosely based on a series of vintage photographs, so the visual medium was appropriate.

[nogdog~6op6ou]

Previous threads here (among several):

Would you be more likely to read a book because it has a book video trailer?

Has a Book Trailer ever made you buy the book?

The search page can be your friend.

[MariaESchneider]

As a reader I avoid them like the plague.  As an author, I hate it when my author friends ask me to check out their book trailer.  I do not associate visual trailer type things with 'reading.'  They do nothing for me.  Even if they are vaguely funny (have yet to see one, but I avoid them) I don't see how this is supposed to make me want the book.  I've seen two from trad books that were so God-awful I felt very sorry for the authors, the publishers and everyone involved.  I was embarrassed for them and I'm not known for my empathy.  In any circle.

I've seen one from an indie author that was actually okay for what it was.  (Mostly words, no silliness.)  But those same words could have been in the blurb (and may have been; I don't recall.) 

In short...well, too late for that.  In long, I don't like them and don't use them myself. They are probably effective for some, but I can't find it in me to even consider doing one.

[Dara England]

As a reader, I avoid book trailers. Books just don't translate well into that medium and on most occasions the trailers actually turn me off checking out the books, since most seem sloppy and poorly done.

So I basically view trailers as an author indulgence, something that probably won't interest anyone else but is fun for the author to make and show friends.

[Ann in Arlington]

Reminder that this thread is in the Book Corner. . . .so answers should only be from the point of view as a reader.  If you wish to discuss trailers with your author hats on, you may do so in the Cafe.  Thanks.

[Aenea]

I pay absolutely no attention to book trailers. Never seen one, never will.

[Ethan Jones]

I wouldn't buy a book just because I saw its trailer, but I think that book trailers have their value in getting the author a bit more exposure.  Any advertisement is useful, if it gets the word out.

Thanks,

Ethan

[Darlene Jones]

I don't like them. I want to use my own imagination to picture the characters and the action. I read books to get away from someone else's ideas of what it should all look like.

[sammykay]

i've never watched them.

[Jeff Shelby]

I can't say I've ever watched one that made me want to buy the book.  The cover, the jacket copy and the first page are what get me to buy a book.

[Borislava Borissova]

I have watched a few ones about book-thrillers and I liked them much. I even sent an e-copy of one of them as a Christmas gift to a friend and she wrote me recently the story is as good as the trailer.

[AllenMitchum]

All interesting thoughts. I think that in the age of the internet the trailers might have a bit more benefit than in the past. The internet is a medium particularly suited for viewing rather than reading. I consider the trailer diversifying marketing tactics.

I think good tips are (1) don't spend a lot of time or money on doing a trailer and (2) if you make a trailer, ensure that it is of high quality, otherwise it can actually harm the perception of your novel. I realize those points may be in conflict with each other.

[ImmortalInk]

As a reader, I like watching them if they're good lol. I've seen a few that made me even more excited about a book.

[leep]

I've watched a couple out of curiosity and I've never seen one that was any good.  Not that any would be probably sway me to buy a book.  I think authors/publishers are better off spending the time trying to garner reviews and word of mouth.

[Ryan Harvey]

A close friend just did a book trailer on which he spent a good chunk of time. He's a composer, so he wrote and recorded his own music, and a skilled photographer, so his video came across fantastic. His book takes place in contemporary L.A., so it was easy for him to get great relevant shots.

The results were superb. I was impressed with how great it looked when I finally saw it.

And . . . so far it seems to have done nothing to affect his sales. They're still as slow moving as they were the first month.

[JBennett]

Book trailers are still a relatively new trend in the literary world; one that is still trying to find its feet.  There's a lot of experimentation going on, much of it not very successful (as far as quality and ROI for the author). Many readers and authors on this thread are unimpressed with book trailers or flat out ignore them. I think this reflects the views of the general reading public as well. However, I suspect that as this marketing tactic matures, the results will get better. Publishers and authors will figure out what intrigues readers and find better channels for reaching them. I think readers will also get used to the idea of trailers and start looking forward to them, particularly for the next book in a well-liked series.

One relevant example is the video game world. A while back, video game trailers were unheard of. Now they are a staple of any marketing plan for a AAA title. In fact, most video games have multiple trailers (a cinematic trailer and an in-game trailer). Trailers to popular or highly anticipated games go viral all the time and get millions of views.

Is that what's next for books? Maybe not to the same degree, but I think book trailers are here to stay and I think (hope) that they'll get better.

Jessica

[oliewankanobe]

I made one because I love dorking around on my computer, and because I kept seeing articles saying they were magical.

1. Don't think they are magical.
2. It was fun.  *shrug*

[Harry Shannon]

I found them exciting at first, if short and well produced. Doubt they help anyone sell product and rarely watch them now.

[SylviaLucas]

As a reader, the only trailers I pay attention to are the ones on TV that probably cost $1 million for the author to get the time for. The last two I saw: 1. a Dean Koontz book put out by a major publisher, and 2. a self-published book (iUniverse) obviously written by a very rich person.

These trailers let me know that "Ooh! New Dean Koontz book!" and "Wow, it pays to be a rich self-published author." (But neither trailer led to my purchase of either of their books.)

[jcpilley]

I've admired some book trailers that were for graphic novels and upcoming comic books, mainly because they actually have a visual aspect to them.

Watching a trailer for a purely written book doesn't seem to work for me. In my mind I have this thought that what I'm watching won't necessarily be in the book since it's video vs. text. Sure, it will be in the book in written capacity, but then why show it to me in a video if I'm supposed to have leeway as a reader to interpret the book as I see fit?

[mooshie78]

Not much interest in them personally.  My method for picking books is usually.

1.  Blurb
2.  Review (sometimes this comes first if I find out about a book in a newspaper review or website review).
3.  Read the Kindle sample.
4.  Buy the book if I like it and the price is right.

[4eyesbooks]

I must be completely out of the loop because I didn't even know there were trailers for books, but it seems a little silly to me.  A trailer for a book is not going to influence me to buy the book.  I rely on word of mouth and reviews from other readers.

[LisaBlackwood]

Not a fan. Seems like a waste of time. I've clicked on a few and usually stop before I get to the end. Maybe I'm the odd one out, though.