Book Trailers – Nay or Yay?

I’ve always been intrigued by book trailers.  Some are horrible, others are top of the line.  Almost like a trailer for a movie.  They have actors with narration and cost a LOT of money. 

We, at Norns Triad Publications, have talked about updating the book trailers we have on our YouTube channel.  In my case, all my covers have been changed.  Me being me, I raised my hand and said, “I’ll do it.”  So, here I am, learning how to make book trailers.

Marketing classes say that a book trailer is a necessary evil, and they need to be pasted all over your social media sites. I don’t know.  How many people really watch a book trailer?  How many readers buy a book because of a book trailer?  There aren’t any stats to say one way or another.

However, I’m finding that I do enjoy making them.  What I don’t like is that there are so many different video editing sites or programs, and they all either offer or lack features I want.  Right now, I’m using a downloadable program called Animotica and an online editor through Animoto.  I think it odd that they both have very similar names.  Was that done on purpose?  

Seems like there are a ton of websites and programs.  Most say FREE, until you actually work with them and all the GOOD stuff is only available with a membership fee.  Even Canva only offers an editing program with a Pro membership.  smh. 

Below are two book trailers I produced for Revived by J.M. Northup.  

I like the music in the first video but I feel the second one looks more professional.  It hits the six marks that are supposed to be in a trailer. 

What do you think?  If you produce book trailers, which program do you use and like the best?  Please share them in the comments below.