5 Tips for Creating a Book Trailer
Updated October 6, 2021. Originally published February 13, 2017.
Tywebbin Creations started creating book trailers back in 2010 when we added to them our virtual book tour services (now retired). A client and author Tracee Garner recently featured me on her blog to talk about video trailers. Please do checkout Book Trailer Tips from a Pro! to find out more about our process and some of the tools we use.
Tips for Creating a Book Trailer
1 | Nail down the elevator pitch
Most books have a larger story or focus. To expand a novel, authors include sub-stories. The trailer is NOT the place to try to fit everything. Focus on your main character(s) or main theme for the trailer so you don’t weigh it down with too much information. The point is to entice a reader.
2 | Write a script
All book trailers start with a script as you would in the world of video editing. Book trailers can make use of “text,” but you don’t want to repeat the back cover verbatim. Remember the elevator pitch. A script will help you keep a storytelling aspect to the trailer. It also helps if you want to add a voiceover.
3 | Select music that fits your book’s genre
Music sets the tone for a video. If it’s a mystery book, then you want a suspenseful feel to the music. If the book is about young adults, then you may look for a more contemporary type of music with a beat that appeals to a younger audience. A happy or solemn track may work for your love story depending on your story.
4 | Find footage
Video footage is preferred, but can be expensive. If you have the expertise, you can shoot your own footage. Equipment can be a simple as your phone’s camera. As an alternative, you can use photography. The same way you use high resolution images for your book cover, stick to 300 dpi images. It’s easier to do effects with larger images and it also makes for a crisp HD video.
5 | Keep it short
During the editing process, aim to keep the book trailer 60-90 seconds. Shorter videos work great for attention spans and are also perfect for video platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok and future ones to come.
If you are interested in a trailer, you can submit our promotional items request form.
Ty Moody writes the nonfiction series, The Literary Entrepreneur and you can find more blog posts like the one above at LiteraryEntrepreneur.com.
She also writes soul-searching mysteries as Tyora Moody. Her books include the Eugeena Patterson Mysteries, Serena Manchester Mysteries, Reed Family Mysteries and the Victory Gospel Family Series. Visit her online at TyoraMoody.com.
