WLP Wants To Know: Book Trailers
February 9, 2010 in WLP Wants To Know
We’ve watched them, we’ve seen them posted on many blogs…but do we like them?
Book Trailers make me giggle. I admit it. I think they are usually extremely cheesy. I have yet to see one that actually did make me want to buy the book, for the most part I was going to buy the book before I knew the trailer was out. Nor has a trailer made me not want to buy a book, though some have came pretty close.
I cannot stop me from cackling whenever I see a particularly bad one. Which to me is most of them, if not 99% of them in my little opinion. It’s come to the point for me, that I won’t even click the link to see it because I know it’ll make me shake my head. One particularly bad one had a theme song, seriously A THEME SONG FOR A BOOK!! WTF was the author/publicist thinking. Nope, I’m so not posting it. LOL sorry guys. The author would hunt me down, I am sure of it.
I am more inclined to buy books based on Reviews, Book Blogs and Book Blurbs. Not some YouTube video that usually doesn’t work for me. I don’t think making a video brings the book to life, that’s why we have imaginations and I’d like to use mine without seeing a video that features someone who ruins the character for me. I have read they barely make an impact on the adult market, sure they may work for teens but not us over 20′s. I have no doubt that, that is true. Like I said, cheese just doesn’t do it for me.
That said, if they don’t work. WHY KEEP MAKING THEM? I don’t understand it, if we aren’t really purchasing based on these videos why spend the money to make them? Who knows, I’m not in marketing so I don’t have the slightest clue as to how much these things cost to do.
So my friends, I ask you…do you like book trailers? why? which one(s) do you like? have you bought a book based solely on a trailer?
Wicked Lil Pixie wants to know.
Nope. Hate book trailers. I’m a graphic designer and they are an affront to my senses. My eyeballs burn, my ears ring and my hair frizzes! The only one that I even vaguely enjoyed was for Shiver. Very beautifully done cut paper animation… but the majority don’t even come close. Ouch.
Now if the trailers were purely fan art… that is a completely different story and invigorating for the author and the readers.
That I could understand, if it was made by fans. But these are publishing houses and authors making them, and they just don’t work!
Most of them are cheesy. A few have made me laugh and that’s not necessarily bad
I buy based on reviews and blurbs and if I’m familiar with the author not because of trailers.
If they were meant to be tounge in cheek, I’d be okay with that..but I don’t think they’re made for that LOL
I have never seen one that I liked. Infact some have put me off the book that I was intersted in. I had to block it out and go with blogs and reviews. I can’t figure out if you are going to market a book why you would go half assed. Anyone that was not sure about a book to begin with will lean to the side of not getting it. Which would lead me into bad book covers, but that is a whole other side of marketing books that I think publishers need to rethink.
I don’t get it either, apparently the publishers think they work.
Yup, they’re sad. If they had the budget, maybe, but readers tend to take their books too seriously to be anything but offended by a half assed (good call, Brett) attempt.
That being said, if the author themselves made a cheesy trailer for an upcoming book with the understanding that it was meant to be cheesy and done because it was fun to make… Well that’s another story entirely and we’d probably have a good laugh.
I dont think any of them make them that way, I really think they feel it’s doing a good job to promote their books.
I’ve yet to see a book trailer that made me want to buy a book, though the James Patterson one on TV almost had me. The trailers that hurt the most are the ones trying to be really good, and start off with promise . . . until the voice over comes on and I’ve snorted water through my nose and the computer screen is the one to suffer.
I admit. I’ve done a book trailer but it was in fun and I’ll be doing another one. I prefer fan made because fans have no qualms making fun of themselves or the book. Plus, seeing the insanity that dwells in the minds of readers is utterly fascinating.
LOL I love the voiceovers thats what makes me laugh the hardest, its so seriously stated!
I think they’re totally ridiculous. And like you, I prefer to use my imagination.
This site http://www.immortalsseries.com/ has awesome flash and fun stuff, but the trailers are laughable, and totally YA oriented, which I guess is the point.
But hey, you can make an aura pic of yourself! LOL! (yes, yes I did)
Umm Jan, it’s YA oriented because that series is YA! LOL And yes, you are a dork!
“which I guess is the point” is kind of a clue that I know that?
I meant that it’s LAUGHABLY YA oriented. To the point of cheeze, y’know?
dork.
I’ve never even watched a book trailer. I’ve seen them posted on other people’s blogs and on author’s websites, but I have absolutely no interest. I’d rather read a plot description and review.
LOL well done Jennifer!
I have actually seen some book trailers that made me crack up – but they were purposely humorous and included the viewer in on the joke. I can’t say if any have made me buy the book, but they’ve made me more aware of the author and their books. Diana Holquist had a series of very funny book videos when her Sexiest Man Alive came out. The cover had a man holding a towel and she made a lot out of him dropping it, etc. So I think the self made, funny trailers are great, but the slick, over the top trailers are a bit much.
I’m going to have to look into that one, I have yet to see one that was purposely funny!
I’d rather have a video slide show vs cheesy models. ::cough:: “Country’s” sister is known for cheesy trailers. Also I hate to call this author out but I’ve had a chuckle out of Christine Feehan’s Ghostwalker trailer and pics. For me, I’d much rather see a creative book trailer AD vs low budget actors trying to mimic serious expressions with war paint. Or a funny parody of some reader trying to buy the latest print release and then the a ha light dings and it’s a Kindle book or something.
Thats EXACTLY who I meant. *snort* We’re going to hell KC!
I can’t say that I’m a fan of book trailers either. I’ve watched a few and they’re not for me. I get that some people may be more visually stimulated versus just reading about it, but I definitely fall into the “I’d just prefer to use my imagination” category.
WOW! I thought I was the only one. HAHA… Those book trailers are indeed cheesy, and they are good for when you are feeling down, that way you can have a good laugh. Some are actually watchable, though I still laugh. For me, they are just unnecessary. And I did see one with a theme song made for it… But what can I say, whatever floats their boat I guess… =P
And nope, I do not buy books because of their triler… hehe
Never bought a book based on the cheesy book trailers. If anything, IMHO they cheapen the book. I am much more likely to buy a book based on it’s cover, the blurb from the back, and reviews from bloggers that don’t rave on and on about the book. I typically look at lowest rating and review of the book and one about mid range.
I typically look at lowest rating and review of the book and one about mid range.