DO BOOK TRAILERS HELP BOOST BOOK SALES?

Do you want to learn to make book trailers or not? Will it help my sales? Some say it do while others say no. These nay–sayers are convinced that no–one watches them. Just how do they work?

Raise interest:

They raise interest in the book itself. I have been known to go to Amazon after viewing the book trailer to download the book.

Expands reach:

Book trailers can help attract audiences outside of a book’s usual niche or genre, potentially reaching new readers who might not have discovered it otherwise. 

Provides a professional image:

A high-quality trailer can give the impression that the author is professional and committed to their work, setting the book apart from competitors. 

Introduces the book in a dynamic way:

It offers an alternative to traditional marketing summaries or reviews, providing a more immersive and emotional introduction to the story. 

Boosts sales potential:

Statistics show
people are more willing to buy a book after watching a trailer, and they can be used effectively in online ads or even on Amazon book pages. 

Since I don’t have a book cover or illustrations from my book, I’m just using a few photos from the pictures folder in my computer. These pictures don’t have anything to do with children’s books at all. They’re three or four pictures from my visit to Gettysburg Battlefield.

I’ve found out something about making a book trailer. It should be entertaining. I’ll be the first to admit this: my mad attempt to make a trailer with my battlefield pictures isn’t entertaining at all. Except for me. Right now, it’s all I have to work with.

I made my sample book trailer with Animoto.com and put some music behind it. Since I used the free, thirty–second version, I didn’t have access to their full library of music. You pay for that service, but I hope the music fits in with the battlefield pictures.

I will try this over and over with different programs, including Clipchamp, that’s built into my computer. I’m scouring the internet for some free music that I can download to use for the video I make with Clipchamp. I mean, why pay a fee when you can do it for free or next to nothing?

I found a YouTube video and a blog post that might help answer the question: Will it help my book sales? First, the YouTube video by children’s book author Eevie Jones. 

Now, here’s a blog that looks at book trailers by Picture Book Den. This blog is from 2017, but it’s still relevant.

I also found this article from 2022 telling why book trailers still work. It’s from Elite Authors. 

So yes, it is worth it. It depends on whether your trailer is made well and if your book is sold online.