As a teacher, I know firsthand the value of using visuals to catch my students’ attention and move them from the printed word to a higher level of engagement. Therefore, as I pondered ways to attract potential buyers of my debut novel, The Bottle House, it occurred to me that brief videos could interest and engage potential readers. Short videos on Facebook ads work well, but I wanted to get the most “bang for my buck” when it came to buying advertisements. The lessons I learned were these:
Choose a video-making website
As a classroom teacher, I have used PowerPoint for video work, but I found some places that made video making simpler. Needing a company that could help me produce videos in a download form; one that would not have to be hosted on YouTube, I found InVideo. I chose this company for a few reasons.
They have great tutorial videos both on their site and on YouTube.
They have many templates that allow you to change pictures, movements of words, graphics, and music tracks that you can upload into your video.
You can sign up for one of two different plans to make videos and the monthly price is reasonable.
In addition to InVideo, there are other sites where similar videos can be made. There is Animoto, whose monthly prices are competitive, and they offer templates, stock photos, and music clips, too. WeVideo and Promo.com offer similar packages for a monthly fee.
Identify a theme or takeaway value for your book
Once you have determined which video-making site meets your specific needs, you’ll want to brainstorm the video content. You’ll want to include the theme(s) of your book. I listed what “takeaways” I included in my novel. For my specific book, The Bottle House, a Christian inspirational book, I wanted to leave my readers with several thoughts.
If you feel your pain is too much to bear; there is hope. Read The Bottle House.
If you feel God has forgotten you; He hasn’t. Read The Bottle House.
If you feel alone in your despair. You’re not. Read The Bottle House.
Each one of these 20- to 40-second videos has music and a link to where you can purchase my novel. I used videos of such a short length because, like commercials in various media outlets, I wish to engage a potential reader quickly and succinctly. Video book trailers are generally longer, but this time my goal was weighted brevity.
Check out my book trailer here.
Consider making a video that produces a little tension
Besides choosing a specific takeaway for my videos, I accidentally made one video a tad controversial. What I wrote caused a bit of a stir on my social media. The video read:
Have you ever been angry with God; afraid others will see your lack of faith? Read The Bottle House.
There are questions whether a dedicated Christian could have this type of crisis of faith. It proved an opportunity for healthy dialogue, therefore, attracting attention.
You can do it!
If you’re interested in attracting attention to your book, try making a video. It has the potential to attract future readers and sales.
BIO – Susan Grant is a middle school language arts teacher. She has just released her debut novel, The Bottle House, published by Elk Lake Publishers and is available on Amazon and several other online retailers. Her first non-fiction book, 100 Minutes with God, a daily devotional for busy people, was a number 1 new release on Amazon. She has also written for other devotional publications and the Bangor Daily News. Get in touch with her and read some of her work at susan-grant.com.
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