As an author, you’re a master of the written word . So it may sound a bit odd to see an author marketing tip which instructs you to use the social networking online video site You Tube to promote – of all things – your BOOK! However, that’s exactly what Jen Lancaster has done in promoting her latest book : Such a Pretty Fat. Go ahead – type in the words “such a pretty fat” into Google and see what comes up. The YouTube video below is among the top results.
This video has been viewed more 50,000 times. Remember, author book marketing is a numbers game pure a simple. The more “target customers” you can expose to the existence of your book – the better your chances of selling more than a handful of copies.
The YouTube video is just one piece in the book marketing mix – but it’s been done extremely well. To begin with, the video is “tagged” properly – thus the fact that it comes up when you search the book’s title in Google. Had the BookVideos TV named the video “Jen Lancaster’s Fat Ass”, only her truly devoted fans would have found the video because Google wouldn’t have helped.
Remember, YouTube is among the top 5 sites on the internet. Create a YouTube video – tag it properly and you’ll find a piece of your book marketing materials gaining a page one placement with Google no matter HOW competitive the keywords are.
Many traditional publishing houses are just now beginning to discover the power of YouTube for book marketing. Even if you’re not signed with a major publishing house, there’s nothing to prevent you from using YouTube to promote YOUR book.
The blog Truemors reports that online video viewing is up 34%. Shouldn’t you have a video on YouTube to reach that growing audience?
If you have a face “made for radio” – then enlist the help of a video production company. Short on funds? Find an aspiring film student – or an aspiring animator. There are many wonderfully talented college students with time on their hands who are loaded with talent AND have a need to build a portfolio of work. I’m not saying you should ask them to work for free – but I am saying that it’s worth the time to find one of these “diamonds in the rough” to help you create your OWN YouTube author marketing tool!
