A book trailer is an interesting concept. It may seem strange to use a visual marketing method to advertise a product that relies heavily on imagination and creativity. Authors may ask “Does it corrupt the novel if I introduce images of the characters and settings in book trailers before my readers even get a chance to create their own?”
Perhaps the answer to all of our questions lies in the following book trailer?
DISCLAIMER: the video contains a few cuss-words. Viewer Discretion is advised.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcR1B-48lK4
Why is this Book Trailer so Good?
It uses the actual content of the book. What I liked is the trailer uses the “what you see is what you get” concept. It’s a pretty safe bet that if you enjoy the cadence and content of the trailer that you will enjoy reading the novel itself.
The smoky voice of the narrator instantly conveys the theme. And frankly it’s captivating. This book trailer is essentially a chunk of audio-book with a visual accompaniment. I love it and I would certainly buy the entire audio version of this book if it was narrated by the same person.
The presentation of the text highlights key concepts. While some may find the movement of the text to be distracting or over-done, I actually enjoyed what it brought to the trailer. For example, when the character Miriam Black is introduced, her name takes up the entire screen highlighting that she is an important character.
The trailer ends on a cliffhanger. This is important to keep the potential reader interested. They may like what they’re hearing and seeing but why should they continue to care once the trailer’s over? Make them hungry for more.
Tips for Making a Good Book Trailer
Cater to your audience. Knowing who you are advertising towards provides excellent direction for your trailer. Making a trailer for a children’s book? One idea might be to introduce the main character using visuals from the book accompanied by an upbeat and comforting voice.
Stay true to your book. The biggest mistake you could make would be to create a trailer that doesn’t clearly portray the essence of your book. Or even worse, it conveys a portrayal of your book that isn’t completely inaccurate. There is nothing worse than misleading and disappointing readers. Think of your trailer as a visual and aural version of the back book cover description.
Make sure to build suspense and end on a cliffhanger. Just like the example book trailer, you want those watching to be asking “What happens next?!” by the end of your trailer. Give them just enough to become attached to your character and then leave them in doubt of that character’s relative physical or emotional safety.
If you want more examples of good book trailers check out the article Fantastic Book Trailers and the Reasons They’re so Good.
