Words of Wisdom from Two Industry Specialists...in a Nutshell

The publishing industry can seem difficult to navigate for the modern author, especially now with the introduction of digital publishing, electronic readers, and a seemingly infinite number of web-based outlets for advertising, branding, and so on...
...How does one make sense of it all? Two publishing industry specialists are prepared to help you along this great and arduous journey to better distribution, more effective networking, and the establishment of a more complete understanding of what you want to accomplish as an author. The book that will be your guide is called Book Marketing, Book Trailers, and Author Etiquette in a Nutshell by Sheila Clover English and Barbara Vey. From start to finish it provides you, the writer (whether aspiring or established), with helpful hints and direct instruction for improving your web presence and responding accordingly to your fan-base of readers. In addition, the book gives insight into the development of a concept called the book trailer (I am almost certain that you have at least heard about these already), a form of web-based video advertising that gives you marketing leverage and provides your readers with a visually compelling way to learn about your book. Who would be better to give you the history behind book trailers than the person responsible for the idea, Sheila Clover English? In particular chapters, you also find firsthand accounts from authors about their experiences in a number of relevant (and sometimes awkward) circumstances.
If you are unsure about what to do with that bundle of pages that needs to find its way into readers' hands, then consult Book Marketing, Book Trailers, and Author Etiquette in a Nutshell. The book comes highly recommended for any writer who needs help getting to know the world of publishing in all of its glorious complexity, and it would seem particularly beneficial for those who are very new to the industry or have yet to actually publish material. You will learn from this book.
Sheila Clover English is the founder and CEO of Circle of Seven Productions, a marketing specialist for authors and publishers, as well as the company that pioneered the book trailer industry. She is also a published author herself and winner of numerous accolades throughout the industry. Barbara Vey writes the blog Beyond Her Book for Publisher's Weekly and is also the recipient of the 2012 RWA Vivian Stephens Industry Award. These are two very talented women who wish to share their incredible knowledge of the industry with you. Look for Book Marketing, Book Trailers, and Author Etiquette in a Nutshell, which is available now from major booksellers. For more information about the authors, look to the following websites: http://sheilaenglish.com/ and http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/beyondherbook/.

Publishers following COS trends

Without a doubt Circle of Seven Productions is the trend setter for book video creation and marketing. COS has been making book trailers since 2002, but started to revolutionize the trend in 2004 when they made a deal with a major movie theater chain and started showing book video in movie theaters.
A year later Harlequin decided to give it a try with a video by Heather Graham. And, today HarperCollins is determined to see if they can utilize movie theaters with the same effectiveness COS has experieneced. You can see the video HarperCollins made - HERE.

The COS Newsletter has many publishers, booksellers and competitors subscribed to it. Often, information newly released by COS is found later in blogs, competitor newsletters or as publisher's press releases as they utilize COS marketing ideas.

So, the question is - What's next?

After COS announced an online tv station for readers last year others found the idea to have merit. Simon and Schuster announced recently that they have started their own online site for book video called bookvideos.tv.

Not only have publishers found book videos to be a great way to engage readers and entice them to buy, but booksellers have embraced the new age of video with Borders now offering book video in their newsletters, on their main Borders Media site and a special page just for romance. Barnes and Noble have their Meet The Writers program and are also taking book trailers to enhance their reader's buying experince as seen on these pages-

Safe Harbor
Lord of the Fading Lands
And many, many more.

Authors are creating their own tv players for their site like Douglas Clegg and Cheryl Holt

Reader's Entertainment TV has lead the way into a new trend to bring readers more dynamic material online. But, there's more!

In 2006 COS worked with author Christine Feehan to start offering online games associated with books. The FOG (Feehan Online Game) attracted over 10,000 people who played the video game all the way through and received a screensaver as a prize!

The future of online marketing both with video and with other opportunities continues to be a main focus for COS Productions. Leading an industry into a new era of opportunity using video and online endeavors, new ideas and creative media is a staple for COS, and having industry giants follow that lead is a sure sign of success.