Book trailers are a great way to gain attention for a book. They may be hard work initially, but once a book trailer is done and distributed, it sells your book while you lie back and relax. Here’s a step-by-step guide to the process of making a compelling book trailer.

Step #1: Conceptualize and plan

Don’t aim at making a movie trailer. A book trailer is a totally different thing, and aspiring for film-like aesthetics won’t do your book trailer any favors. Keep the look of your book trailer simple, with few visual and auditory elements incorporated. The more tricks and effects you try to cram in, the cheesier and messier it will be. The look and feel of the book trailer should ultimately depend on the book itself, but as a rule, the less lavish the trailer, the more beautiful it will be. In the world of book trailers, less is definitely more.

Step #2: Work on the script

You can’t make a book trailer by just reading the book summary and the author blurb on the jacket. Watching a book trailer is completely different from scanning a book at the library. The script not only has to reflect what the book is really about; it also has to be a super scaled down version that stays faithful to the story. When making a book trailer, you also have to make sure that the script is ultra-clear and that the words align perfectly with the imagery. You don’t have to summarize the story. You do have to solidly communicate the whole feel of the book while only giving subtle hints about the plot.

 Step #3: Add images and video

If you’re not using original images and videos, only use ones from reputable stock image and video websites like iStockphoto. This part may take a long time, because there will be thousands of images to go through. Use images and videos cautiously, taking care not to overwhelm the trailer with too many visuals.

 Step #4: Add sound

As with images and video, make sure that you use sound clips or music legally. Keep yourself safe from copyright infringement by taking your sounds from a royalty-free source. And as with images and video, use sound sparingly.

Step #5: Edit and distribute

Make sure that the images and videos match the audio perfectly and that everything flows smoothly together. When the book trailer is done, upload it to a video sharing website such as Youtube or Vimeo. Don’t forget to write a description for the trailer and to insert the link to your book. From there, you can embed or post your book trailer onto your author website, Facebook account, social media pages, and blog. You can also share it on Goodreads, LinkedIn, and even include a link to it in your email signature.