Image Source: Pixabay
Here's a concept I introduced in 2016 while developing my Silent Hill: Betrayal horror novel that I feel really assisted in getting the word out there that the book was coming. It was something that really widened my audience and helped me get that massive first preorder. The concept is the creation of teaser videos of upcoming novels. If you give me a moment, I will discuss the significance of it and why I believe it forms an integral part in the success of your book launch.
My first video teaser can be viewed on my Youtube channel. It features free images and videos I picked off from Pixabay, as well as some free unlicensed sounds and music that I found online. Add some text and transitions and walla: I had a video.
Most humans are visual beings. As much as we love reading, we do visualise what is happening in the book. Grasping potential buyers' attention needs to be as visual as possible. Most writers opt for beautiful adverts with the covers of their books, thinking this is enough. Hoping beyond all hope that people will say "Wow that is an amazing cover! I must have that book!" Or that excerpts or descriptions of the plot will help sell the idea that your story is amazing.
In my experience as both a published author and publisher, these are but small facets that do help in getting awareness, but seldom brings in those sales by itself. Consider films that are being released and the video previews that spread awareness in order to attract attention and compare it to novels. People know so little about you or your novel, they need something more to capture them. Something enticing, that reels them in for that big catch.
This is where video teasers do the trick. Your video is the pitch to your target audience, making them excited and creating hype for the release of the novel. I've been developing Act 1 of Silent Hill: Obversion, not even halfway, and I have already reeled in my audience with two teaser videos on my Patreon page. It doesn't need to be extremely exotic; it simply needs to provide enough information and excitement for followers to desire your book until launch day.
I have also created what I call two teaser cards for my upcoming dark fantasy novel, Malum: Rise of the Deadly Sins, with a new teaser card release expected later today on my Twitter feed. These two cards were for the dark masters of Envy and Greed, two of the seven prime dark forces of Malum.
When I started out as a writer, I foolishly thought I could just write books without speaking or blogging about them and simply publish my books and it will sell. I had no social or global awareness whatsoever. I had published 3 epic fantasy novels and wondered why no one was buying them. It was then that I became tech savvy, started my own blog and began spreading word and doing trailer videos for Silent Hill: Betrayal. I have sold a hundred times more copies of Silent Hill: Betrayal since it was published in 2016 than I ever did of the ENTIRE TRILOGY since they were originally published in 2007!! And all it took was pre-awareness, hype and teasers during development, and constantly talking about my novel until pre-orders and launch day.
So take some advice from someone that's learnt the hard way. Put some more effort into your work, do some teaser videos, and get your fanbase excited long before you even consider a launch date for your novel. If it works for movies and games, it can work for novels too. And if you need some inspiration, go on the web and look at some game and movie trailers and plan out a nifty video that can be just as exciting.
Just as a final thought, I started out using Stupeflix, but that has shut down. I have moved onto a new online video creator called Kizoa which I am rather enjoying. I want to learn how to use Photoshop to make better videos though. For now, Kizoa will do.
Kind regards
Shaun M Jooste
Joint-Owner: AIR Entertainment (https://airentertainment.biz)
Director: Celenic Earth Publications (https://celenicearthpublications.wordpress.com)
Author, Screenwriter, Gamewriter, Journalist (https://celenicearth.wordpress.com)