PROMOTIONAL VIDEO AND AUTHORS

As I continue on this publishing and marketing ride, it has become apparent that one of the uphill battles that Australian authors face is publicity. Put simply “just getting your book out there” so people can at least make a choice to read your book rather than not even knowing that there is a book about ………[ whatever your subject matter is].

I think if Australians knew that there were Aussie Christian authors then they would make an effort to at least look at the material offered. But this is a common problem it would seem across the entertainment industry in Australia. How do we effectively get the message across that good Aussie Christian authors exist? Aussie authors write in most genres with styles as diverse as the tastes of the reader.

I wonder if the American and international community of Christian writers find it to be as difficult as we do with marketing???

This blog and the ICFW blog has encouraged me to take a closer look at the technology available to us and how we can use it. So thank you to those people who set up both blog sites, I’m learning so much.

Enter technology!!!!! Another medium we should consider are video trailers for our books. I have seen a few of the American authors do this. It is a great idea. The younger generation, watch video clips on YouTube constantly, believe me I know, as I hear peals of laughter emanating from behind closed bedroom doors only to find on investigation that it is the latest soccer clip blooper. This is a medium that engages the X & Y generation instantaneously.

The video programs are free on your computer and they are not too hard to work. But if you are not technologically inclined [like me], I’m sure there will be someone in your family or church who can show you the ropes.

I think these promos would be ideal for fiction and non fiction genres. If you don’t already have usable video material, you could get people you know to dress up and act out scenes, or do a documentary style, take on your non fiction book. It is only limited by your imagination and that is one characteristic that an author usually has plenty of. Then set the clip to music or a narration, this can be done on Movie Maker on your computer.

With the help of my techno husband we have put together a video trailer on YouTube for “Broken Pottery - the life of an African girl”. We faced some obstacles in that I had to trawl through the many VHS tapes of our time in Africa. Then we bought a 50 dollar device so we could install the videos onto our computer and made the movie. Hillsong Publishing were extremely helpful to deal with and we paid for a license to have the “Magnificent” backing track as the sound accompaniment to the video. The price they charged us was also very reasonable. Koorong have placed the video on their site under my book name for which I am grateful.

I hope you may consider doing a movie promo for your own books because it may just help to communicate to potential readers that Aussie Christian books are worthy of attention.

Above is our promo, I realize its weaknesses which I can’t change but I thought it was worth having a go because you just never know how God may wish to use it for His purposes.

Sincerely, Jennifer Ann

For more information about Jennifer Ann or her book “Broken Pottery – the life of an African girl” please go to her website; www.JenniferAnn.info