Book Promotion Ideas for Libraries
It encompasses the things that all bad videos struggle with. Like this one, most bad book trailers just feature a copy and paste the back cover and book cover with music vertical rhythm. It also includes these additional problems:
We’ve all seen bad trailers. In fact, it’s safe to say that the majority of videos out there promoting books are of subpar quality. So I don’t need to subject you to watching them, and plus it’s not nice to call people out. That said, the following trailer won the Moby Awards for “Worst Book Trailer” in 2011 and has been talked about so much online that it has almost gained cult status. So here, by way of the Moby Awards judges, check out this trailer (not the official trailer) for Nelson DeMille’s suspense novel, Wild Fire:
In summary, there’s a lot of nitty-gritty that goes into the production phase depending on the scope of your video. For more resources, visit wildboundpr.com/videoresources and download a handout for the production phase.
As I mentioned before, there are lots of reasons why video should be an essential tool in an author’s book promotion toolbox. Video generates the most online traffic and engagement, 78% of people watch online video each week, studies show people recall 6 times more info from video than text, and our brains process imagery 60,000 times faster than text. Need I say more? Humans are wired for video. So why not take advantage of that?
No wonder publishers and authors are increasingly leveraging video to tap into an exploding audience. But as much as a good book promo video makes that lasting first impression, a bad video is like a bad book cover—it cannot be unseen and can ruin a reader’s expectation of a book before they’ve even had a chance to crack into that first page. To help you avoid this pitfall, here are some key considerations and steps to successfully produce and distribute a book trailer that sells your work:
Book Fair Promotion Ideas
Social media is your megaphone to connect with readers. Identify platforms where your audience spends time (TikTok and Instagram for YA authors, LinkedIn for business writers) and post regularly. Share excerpts, behind-the-scenes moments, or fun challenges. Don’t forget to engage with your followers—real relationships build real results.
Let’s start with the foundation: the places you’re sending readers to actually learn about—and buy—your book. These landing pages (also called “funnels” by the marketing folks) work behind the scenes to make your book discoverable and desirable. Check out an in-depth resource here on the Pagewheel blog on each of these and how to easily create them:
Before setting out to promote your book, it’s also worth noting that book marketing and book promotion are not the same thing. Marketing centers on what the book publishing business calls “discoverability”—ensuring that you and your books can be found by the right readers.
Social media is your megaphone to connect with readers. Identify platforms where your audience spends time (TikTok and Instagram for YA authors, LinkedIn for business writers) and post regularly. Share excerpts, behind-the-scenes moments, or fun challenges. Don’t forget to engage with your followers—real relationships build real results.
Let’s start with the foundation: the places you’re sending readers to actually learn about—and buy—your book. These landing pages (also called “funnels” by the marketing folks) work behind the scenes to make your book discoverable and desirable. Check out an in-depth resource here on the Pagewheel blog on each of these and how to easily create them:
Book Launch Promotion Ideas
Want to really catch readers’ eyes? Make a movie trailer! Help viewers imagine your characters and story with some fun voiceover and eye-catching images. There are many online tools you can use to make a trailer on your own, or you can hire a professional to do a video for you. One tool you can use to make your own is Doodly. With their pre-made doodle video clips, you can quickly make a simple video that shows people and scenes doing various things that go along with your story. Another tool is VideoStudio.
Interactive mystery-solving events offer an engaging and memorable way to launch your book, particularly for genres like crime, thriller, or mystery. These immersive experiences transform passive readers into active participants, creating a deep connection with your story and characters before they even open the book.
The benefits of these anticipation-building events are manifold. Early readers can provide valuable feedback, helping you refine your marketing approach or even catch last-minute improvements for the book. Their enthusiasm can translate into early reviews and social media buzz, which is crucial for a strong launch. Moreover, these loyal reader rewards can foster long-term relationships, creating a dedicated fan base for future works. By culminating the experience with a special in-person event, you solidify these connections and provide a memorable experience that readers are likely to share widely. This strategy not only boosts initial sales but also lays the groundwork for sustained success through word-of-mouth promotion and a loyal readership.
Want to really catch readers’ eyes? Make a movie trailer! Help viewers imagine your characters and story with some fun voiceover and eye-catching images. There are many online tools you can use to make a trailer on your own, or you can hire a professional to do a video for you. One tool you can use to make your own is Doodly. With their pre-made doodle video clips, you can quickly make a simple video that shows people and scenes doing various things that go along with your story. Another tool is VideoStudio.
Interactive mystery-solving events offer an engaging and memorable way to launch your book, particularly for genres like crime, thriller, or mystery. These immersive experiences transform passive readers into active participants, creating a deep connection with your story and characters before they even open the book.
The benefits of these anticipation-building events are manifold. Early readers can provide valuable feedback, helping you refine your marketing approach or even catch last-minute improvements for the book. Their enthusiasm can translate into early reviews and social media buzz, which is crucial for a strong launch. Moreover, these loyal reader rewards can foster long-term relationships, creating a dedicated fan base for future works. By culminating the experience with a special in-person event, you solidify these connections and provide a memorable experience that readers are likely to share widely. This strategy not only boosts initial sales but also lays the groundwork for sustained success through word-of-mouth promotion and a loyal readership.