The latest (well not so latest) gimmick, marketing tool, advertising technique — take your pick–in the book world seems to be the book trailer.

A trailer. For a book. So that people can read it. Didn’t studder.

So anyway, book trailers are all over YouTube and probably on your favorite writer’s website/blog. (I don’t have one yet ’cause I have nothing to sell but give a minute. )And they range from the really well done to the absurd.

Frankly, anyone with any knowledge of Soundslides or Final Cut Pro can put together a one minute why-you-should-read-my-book-feature. Really doesn’t take much actually.

I don’t know how effective this type of marketing is. There are some that are so funny that I would watch the trailer again but I’m not sure if I would pick up the book. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are trailers so awful that there was no way I would spend money or energy to get that book. Goes to show that it doesn’t take much to shoot yourself in the foot, even when you have the best of intentions.

But when you have a good trailer for a book that’s equally as juicy, pay dirt! I want to read it instantly. It’s also a great way to scope out new ones. Here’s a link to Book of Lies .

And there are other blogs such as Watch The Book, that posts book trailers and companies like Circle of Seven who create them.