Youtube. For some writers I know it's the kind of social network where they go from participant to lurker. If you're a word person, why would you bother creating or interacting on a social media network that is all about video? Fair enough. If you're an author who doesn't like to go outside of your apartment or your writing room, then sure, it may not be a good one for you.
But if you're a self-publisher, Youtube is a wonderful way to augment your communication with readers that is typically all in text. Youtube recently became the 3rd site to have over 1 Billion monthly users, joining Facebook and Google.
Here are three big ways that Youtube can help a self-publisher.
1. Personalize communication: When I published my first book, I started an email list that I would update monthly. In addition to some text, I would make a short video that was simple. I talked about where my project was and did a reading, keeping it around 2 minutes. People responded and appreciated seeing me being me (however goofy) over the Internet. I think it helped people feel more connected to me while I did my project.
2. Readings: If you're an author publishing your own book, you're busy. You may not have the time to set up and travel to as many bookstores and other venues to do the readings you want to do out of your book. With Youtube, you can take your time and do one really good reading and spend your time trying to get people to watch it.
3. Book Trailers: This is an emerging art form that I wrote about last week. It can be great when done well, but it's also easy to mess up on and end up with something you don't want to share. I think the key is to work with a professional video person so that the lighting and visuals look good. But having Youtube as a place to host your book trailer so that you can share it out, embed it, etc. is amazing and a huge help for a self-publisher because of their analytics and ubiquity as a platform.
Have any self-publishers out there used Youtube in any other ways?
Image Source: screenshot of myself
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