In today’s crowded book market, attention is everything. For self-published authors, standing out isn’t just an option—it's absolutely essential. One powerful promotional tool that you might not have considered yet is the book trailer. Maybe hiring a professional to create one isn't in your budget, and/or maybe you don't feel like you have the technical skills necessary to make your own… but, did you know that producing a professional quality book trailer is now faster, easier, and more affordable than ever?
The biggest challenge with getting started in video marketing is that most marketers (37%) simply don’t know where to start!
We've gathered the basic, need-to-know information about how you can leverage AI tools to create eye-catching book trailers that look great and can help your book build buzz before it's even been launched.
Book Trailers are Powerful Marketing Tools
Video content is king on digital platforms. Meta reports that 200 billion Reels are played across Instagram and Facebook daily, double the number from just a year ago. If you want to compete for readers' attention and convince them to buy your book, you've got to be sure you're offering all the video content you can.
Self-published authors who use book trailers effectively can generate buzz, increase pre-orders, and build a loyal readership. To put it simply, a well-made trailer can be just as effective as—and maybe even more so—your best ad copy.
5 Basic Steps to Creating Book Trailers with the Help of AI Tools
AI technology has evolved to the extent that it can generate nearly anything you want to incorporate into your trailer, including text, music, and sound effects. Follow these 5 steps to learn the basics and create the trailer you've been envisioning:
STEP 1: Write a Compelling Script
Of course you don't want AI to write the whole thing for you. However, once you get your ideas and rough script down on paper, they'll likely need some editing and a bit of tweaking. That's where AI can help.
- Start out with an attention-grabbing hook to draw viewers in
- For example, if your book is a mystery/thriller: It started with a missing person—now the whole town is hiding something. Someone knows the truth. Someone else will kill to keep it buried.
- Introduce your protagonist and/or their main conflict. Be sure to just tease viewers; you want them to feel that they must buy your book to find out what happens.
- Example: Abby Long, a former investigative journalist turned small-town librarian, thought she left the chaos behind—until her estranged sister vanishes without a trace.
- With tools like ChatGPT or Sudowrite, you can test different tones for your genre and optimize your pacing. Utilizing these tools to some degree can ensure that your script is as engaging, concise, and yes—keyword-optimized—as you need it to be.
- For keyword optimization, feed your introduction into the AI tool and ask that it make sure it's keyword-optimized. You'll be given an example of an revised introduction and strong keywords will be noted.
STEP 2: Text-to-video Generation
If you have basic ideas, but feel that you lack the creative "oomph" that you might need to create the trailer you want, this step can help make your ideas look…"chef's kiss!"
- Use tools such as Pictory, Lumen5, InVideo, and Runway to transform your script into the work of art that you imagine
- It's important to pair your script with the right visuals
- Choose images or video clips that complement your setting, tone, and genre
- Use tools such as Midjourney and DALL-E to create custom backgrounds, characters, or scenes
- Let AI suggest pacing and spots for transitions that'll help keep readers engaged
- Ideally, you should limit on-screen text to one line at a time, keeping it under 10 words.
STEP 3: AI Voice-over
Perhaps you don't like your voice, or you'd prefer someone with professional voice-over experience to narrate your trailer. (Let's face it, just as with movie trailers, a strong voice-over can really make or break your decision of whether or not you want to see that movie.)
- Use tools like Synthesia, Murf.ai, and ElevenLabs that let you add human-sounding narration or even a virtual presenter
- Take the time to experiment with different voice options to find just the right one that fits with your book
STEP 4: Background Music and Sound Effects
AI tools often allow you to set genre, mood, tempo, and instrumentation for your trailer. Be sure to use these features intentionally. Music and sound effects can be very important components of the trailer, but remember that your background music should enhance your story and not overwhelm it.
- Composers such as Soundraw, AIVA, Beatoven.ai, and Pixabay can create royalty-free tracks tailored to your specific mood and genre
- Consider layering the music you choose with sound effects that enhance specific scenes (such as a ticking clock, a heartbeat, or footsteps)
- SFX libraries powered by AI include Zapsplat, Artlist, Epidemic Sound, and Storyblocks. These offer searchable, curated sound effects, often enhanced by AI tagging.
STEP 5: Edit and Brand Your Trailer
Editing is a major component of creating your book trailer. Think about the types of shots you'll need (wide, medium, close-ups) before you start and how they will fit together. You may even want to draw out a storyboard for your trailer as a guide.
- Use a tool such as CanvaPro, Clipchamp, or CapCut to finalize your trailer for layout, text, and branding
- Add title cards, author name, book cover, and a clear call to action ("Available Now!" or "Visit Your Local Indie Bookstore to Get a Copy")
- For captioning assistance, use tools such as Kapwing or Descript to auto-generate and style captions
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Be sure to use consistent fonts, colors, and imagery to reinforce and stay true to your brand
For inspiration on making your own book trailer, here's a how-to video on making your book trailer in Canva from Writer's Atelier:
And below are a couple of examples of book trailers that some of our IngramSpark authors have created to promote their books. Be sure to check out our IngramSpark Author Community - Promote My Book group on Facebook, an exclusive space for our IngramSpark community members to share titles, celebrate successes, and connect with fellow authors on their self-publishing journey.
Whimsical Worlds
Barry Fillier
Don't let technology or the need to learn new skills prevent you from sharing your book with the world. Much like a movie trailer can ignite interest and curiosity about a new film, your book trailer can generate pre-launch excitement and anticipation among readers for your upcoming release.
A book trailer provides a visual glimpse of what you have to offer and can be easily shared across various social media platforms. The more your video is shared, the more awareness it creates for your book. Plus, it's a cost-effective strategy. Once you've crafted your first trailer and become more acquainted with the available creation tools, the possibilities are endless for your future projects.
