Video is everywhere and it’s the next wave in book marketing so if you want to sell more books you’ll have to get over your fear of video (it’s real, I have it, I’m with you) and get on board with a YouTube marketing plan.

Because what sets video apart, is the inherent uniqueness of it.

No one is going to be able to replicate the video content you produce.  So while your competitors are using the same strategies you’ve all been using for years, you can plan to sell more books by capitalizing on something only you can create.

YouTube marketing is fairly straightforward, but here are a few ways to fold it into your overall book marketing plan. Most of these concepts will come naturally to you if you’re fairly savvy with your book promotion:

You title matters a lot

See? As an author you already get this. But for YouTube marketing you need to remember to keep it short, concise, and purposeful. Your title will sell the video and encourage people to click. If the title is bad or boring or too vague, just like when you’re trying to sell more books, they’ll pass you by without a click.

Share your videos on multiple platforms

Yes, YouTube is a great place to host your videos and people will hopefully find you there organically. But if you want to sell more books you can’t just post it and forget it. You’ll want to share, or embed, your videos on any other social channels you use and even on your website or blog. Sharing is key, and this is another book marketing cornerstone you should be familiar with.

Be sure to encourage feedback and interaction

Just like other social sites, engagement like comments and feedback are crucial. So be sure to shameless ask for input, or create a fun way to encourage them to comment. For example, you could select a winner from all who comment and they’ll get a free copy of your next release! Remember, you’re asking people to spend their time to do you a big favor, don’t treat that as a throwaway or something they owe you just because you showed up. If you want to sell more books you MUST do more than just show up!

Branding is key for YouTube marketing

Branding is something that is often considered later in the game unfortunately. Too few authors think about how they want the public to perceive their brand and everything that goes into it. This can include cover design, website design, social account design, the content you put out there, your logo, the colors you use, your relationship with your fans, so much.

If you want to sell more books, your brand needs to cover everything you touch.

So when it comes to YouTube marketing be sure your videos play off your brand. Maybe it’s the background you use, or the style of movie trailer you produce, the lighting… etc. And like your other book marketing efforts, be sure your logo (if you have one), social account links, and URL are included on all the video you produce.

Keep it short

If you’ve hung in this far I applaud you, and I’m rewarding your determination with this final tip – keep it short.

Yep! Video is better when it’s short, punchy, and leaves people wanting more.

I suggest doing 1-2 minute clips. If you’re a thought leader or industry expert, perhaps up to 3 minutes, but really no more. YouTube marketing is more effective in volume of posts, not length of posts. This strategy will help you sell more books if you can make time to create more creative video, not because you can talk into the camera for 10 minutes at a time.

YouTube marketing for fiction is a fun way to do release announcements, cover reveals and general updates to your publishing world that will interest fans.

For non-fiction writers use YouTube as part of your overall book marketing plan to share tips, and encourage questions and conversations that give you a chance to show off your knowledge!

And if you need to schedule your YouTube marketing efforts, consider using my free monthly book marketing planner. After all, having a plan in place, helps you stay on track!