Book trailers are video based advertisements like movie trailers but for ...
books! They're the newest marketing tools of the publishing industry to build up buzz and potential word of mouth to ... of course... sell their newest books.
Has watching one every influenced you to buy the book if you weren't already inclined in buying the book (from word of mouth, after reading a positive book review, and/or were familiar with the author already?)
These trailers of course tend to be less sophisticated and more shoddy (video production wise) then their film trailer counterparts. Even independent movies with limited marketing budgets seem to know how to make more persuasive marketing products then the publishers. But still, the idea is quite a good one to draw new readers to read more.
This thread was inspired by the following CSMonitor.com article:
'You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll read the book!'
Book trailers are becoming essential marketing tools for the publishing industry.
http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Arts/2012/0523/You-ll-laugh-you-ll-cry-you-ll-read-the-book!