tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post9037195255084938513..comments2023-09-06T05:48:05.398-06:00Comments on Terry's Place: Branding Is For More Than CattleTerry Odellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-88624562278530707062011-11-08T15:56:40.706-07:002011-11-08T15:56:40.706-07:00Calisa - good advice. We forget sometimes that eve...Calisa - good advice. We forget sometimes that even though we're alone with our computers, we're out in public as well.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-77414666837779724332011-11-08T06:50:00.491-07:002011-11-08T06:50:00.491-07:00Great post Terry. Congrats on the trailer win. I h...Great post Terry. Congrats on the trailer win. I have several friends who make and use them. I haven't yet, but I think I might in the near future. But then, I'm a movie trailer liker. lol I think along with name, that personal appearance- how we act in public- is also part of our brand. I read a blog recently by an author I hadn't heard of before. Her mouth alone, the way she spoke so negatively of the publishing side of the business astounded me! Just that one blog determined that I will most likely never read her writing. If she has that much disrespect for editors and agents (no I don't have an agent by choice at this time) made me wonder how she feels about her readers? Other authors? Her friends? Family?? It wasn't the foul words she used- we all use one or two. It was the intent and content of which she spoke so harshly and...BAD of those entities we all need in one way or another to get published or promoted. She branded herself a bad egg for me. That one blog is all I will remember about her. Not her books (is she even published yet?), not her hardships getting published, not her life's dreams. And she doesn't care.<br /><br />It's our job to portray someone those readers will want to read, want to meet, want to know about in a positive way. I try to do that with my writing and in my website/blog. If I never published, I had followers because I love people and respect this business in all aspects. No I don't have an agent, but who's to say one day I'll want one and she turns out to be an editor I bad mouthed, or that my next editor won't be an agent-I-offended-turned-editor? I don't want to be branded as a troublemaker, but a good and respectful writer.Calisa Rhosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07743891437445099016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-9113086906708263472011-11-05T07:25:56.283-06:002011-11-05T07:25:56.283-06:00K. Victoria - don't know why I skipped respond...K. Victoria - don't know why I skipped responding to your comment. You've nailed it. <br /><br />Pat - Thanks. I had a nice chat with the trailer people (that sounds funny!) and I have to remember I'm not my target audience!<br /><br />Anne - thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll come back often.<br /><br />Kathy - in "traditional" publishing having your name above the title and in a larger font means they're selling you, not your book. Would be nice to reach that status!Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-74697929299541899552011-11-04T21:31:20.865-06:002011-11-04T21:31:20.865-06:00I understand the branding. Sort Of. I see what she...I understand the branding. Sort Of. I see what she is talking about. I see a book in a store and recognize the name. I'm more likely to buy one where I've seen the name or heard something about the book. Money plays the biggest factor in my choices. Sad to say but reality. I walk down the book aisle at Wal Mart or the PX or somewhere and go I have heard of this book or this author. I wish Ihad the dollars. I tell people so many books so little money. Trailers are cool in their own way.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05983209367295987926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-49546662570618264892011-11-04T15:17:37.052-06:002011-11-04T15:17:37.052-06:00I know nothing about trailers so will leave commen...I know nothing about trailers so will leave comments about them to those more knowledgeable. Branding yourself rather than your books makes perfect sense, and allows continual exposure between book releases. thanks for the post, and to all the responders - I enjoyed hearing their views tooAnne Ashbyhttp://www.anneashby.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-37849503316849404072011-11-04T15:17:32.395-06:002011-11-04T15:17:32.395-06:00I know nothing about trailers so will leave commen...I know nothing about trailers so will leave comments about them to those more knowledgeable. Branding yourself rather than your books makes perfect sense, and allows continual exposure between book releases. thanks for the post, and to all the responders - I enjoyed hearing their views tooAnne Ashbyhttp://www.anneashby.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-60861550390330357392011-11-04T12:50:37.527-06:002011-11-04T12:50:37.527-06:00Great blog, Terry. Congrats on the win.
I agree a...Great blog, Terry. Congrats on the win.<br /><br />I agree about the branding. <br /><br />And I have purchase a couple of books but authors I'd never read before because I checked out their trailer. I feel it needs to give me a peek into the book, be short, and interesting. can't wait to see yours.Pat Marinellinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-29258867227160806092011-11-03T18:32:03.652-06:002011-11-03T18:32:03.652-06:00Aquarian Dancer - I definitely go for short. I ten...Aquarian Dancer - I definitely go for short. I tend to look first at the time before deciding whether I want to watch a video. A minute is about my old brain's limit.<br /><br />Elizabeth - I will confess P&P is a slogging read for me. I'm not much of a literary fiction reader to begin with, and the language of the time requires a lot of effort to 'translate'<br /><br />Karen - thanks! Glad you find it worth your time to stop by the blog.<br />I had a very interesting chat with the Visual Quill people, since (not surprising) I'm kind out out of the box for them. We'll see what they come up with. I did stress short, even though I'm not paying for it.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-63793108455500291692011-11-03T18:18:06.225-06:002011-11-03T18:18:06.225-06:00First of all, congratulations on winning the book ...First of all, congratulations on winning the book trailer.<br /><br />I enjoyed this post - I always learn so much here!<br /><br />It's the author and the book blurb that do it for me. I've never bought a book based on the book trailer and don't normally watch them.Karen Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01879661976460705463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-15018908337632658392011-11-03T14:04:42.181-06:002011-11-03T14:04:42.181-06:00Branding makes perfect sense. Good to keep in mind...Branding makes perfect sense. Good to keep in mind, once you find the right brand. Hmm. <br /><br />I've never bought a book because of a trailer, but it seem like a fun way to update your image and make sure you're in step with the next generation.<br /><br />Just be glad you've finally made it to Pride and Prejudice. The writing amazes me each time I revisit it. How many books can produce that reaction time after time? LizElizabeth C. Mainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00168651327575887089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-39688183480244630112011-11-03T13:59:00.851-06:002011-11-03T13:59:00.851-06:00Great post. Very thought provoking. I have been a ...Great post. Very thought provoking. I have been a big proponent of author as brand (probably my corporate background. While the author is the brand, the book is the product and your brand must be based on quality product. Anybody remember the Ford Pinto? Once your brand is associated with quality (multiple books) then things can start to happen. On book trailers,I believe they are new and evolving. I encourage every author to view the trailer as your commercial. McDonald's does not expect that, immediately after their commercial, you will jump from your seat and run up to the highway for a Bic Mac. What they do expect that when you are driving down the highway and are hungry that you will choose the McDonald's brand instead of Burger King, Wendy's or (fill-in the blank) on the same stretch of road. The goal of the book trailer should be to get the reader to pick you when facing that shelf (physical or electronic.Karen A Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14059555184380048745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-80292998980265351982011-11-03T13:33:09.596-06:002011-11-03T13:33:09.596-06:00About trailers for books - I like the short, live ...About trailers for books - I like the short, live action ones. Or even a cartoon-ish one. I just don't like the ones with over-dramatic voice-overs and "epic" music. It's just too much for me. The more realistic the trailer, the more likely I will look into a book. A trailer I don't like, however, will not deter me from reading a book, it will just make it less likely for me to go looking for it.AquarianDancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12122879895583112641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-7658919442352110922011-11-03T13:30:40.460-06:002011-11-03T13:30:40.460-06:00SG - according to Angela James, you need to start ...SG - according to Angela James, you need to start establishing your brand even before you're published. Create a presence with a website, social networking. It's plugging YOU, not your book that's important.<br /><br />Nancy - Angela also addressed this, and did suggest you stick to one genre at the start so your readers will know what to expect. But you can still try to make your name visible.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-48114912341441328932011-11-03T13:08:41.872-06:002011-11-03T13:08:41.872-06:00As a brand newly published author I admit to not k...As a brand newly published author I admit to not knowing much (personally) about branding. I would ask how soon an author should consider it if they have been attempting to write in diffferent genres-till they find comfort in one particular. I've a contemporary published but I'm now trying to get a historical taken on...<br />I loved making my book trailer though!Nancy Jardine Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12366248895961876075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-70087185945185304352011-11-03T13:05:02.918-06:002011-11-03T13:05:02.918-06:00Marketing a brand is tough when you are first star...Marketing a brand is tough when you are first starting out (with only one title published). But I agree over time the brand can be established. As to book trailers, I don't look at them because I simply don't have the energy. Perhaps avid readers do, and I can't speak to that. I'd just rather not spend the money at this point. I guess it would be fun to have a trailer on my website.Suzanne G. Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16813211309401534257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-64696987194509197972011-11-03T12:36:34.439-06:002011-11-03T12:36:34.439-06:00Roni - for me, book trailers are like movie previe...Roni - for me, book trailers are like movie previews. I don't mind a movie preview because what you see is what you get. But a book isn't a video. I'll be talking to the people at Visual Quill later today and will see what they say.<br /><br />Maris - yes, it's about names. Even if nobody spells mine right!<br /><br />Marcel - thanks for sharing your experiences<br /><br />Gail - I often have no clue that there's a name for what I'm doing. As long as you do it, that should be enough.<br /><br />Mary - my pleasure<br /><br />Adelle - which is why I'm working on getting another book out and finishing my WIP. ThanksTerry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-40591086858387419372011-11-03T11:53:15.250-06:002011-11-03T11:53:15.250-06:00I totally agree branding is crucial. It also can b...I totally agree branding is crucial. It also can be a two edged sword. If you are going to 'brand' yourself, you need to make sure you are consistently adding to your backlist. I think it's important to keep an 'active' audience. If they google your name, and every time they do, they get the same thing, they'll lose interest fast. <br />Great topic!<br />I'm not sure how I feel about trailers. I'm guessing placement would be important to reach your target audience.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765458764192796911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-84981580624416489732011-11-03T11:41:21.666-06:002011-11-03T11:41:21.666-06:00Been hearing a lot about this very thing lately. G...Been hearing a lot about this very thing lately. Good advise as always Terry!Mary Ricksenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12676306822821614446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-35663083813511977722011-11-03T10:39:40.553-06:002011-11-03T10:39:40.553-06:00Thanks for giving a clear definition of branding. ...Thanks for giving a clear definition of branding. The points make sense. I write in two major genres and have tried to follow all the instructions for branding although I didn't have a name for the process until now.<br />Thanks, Terry.Gail MacMillanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06963900428502050113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-16725471532160604892011-11-03T09:39:41.329-06:002011-11-03T09:39:41.329-06:00This is a great blog. I am a Dutch writer of Child...This is a great blog. I am a Dutch writer of Children’s books and although I've published over 30 books in ten years, I am still reasonable unknown. But since the internet, and especially Twitter and Facebook, I am getting better known and my books sell more! And a lot of that is because of ‘branding’ myself.<br /><br />And contrary to some of the experiences here, was the book trailer we created crucial to the success of my latest novel. (You can find the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foTlZJHK2To )Marcel van Drielhttp://www.superhelden.nlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-62545023833841090832011-11-03T09:39:08.930-06:002011-11-03T09:39:08.930-06:00Good blog, Terry. I think focusing on the author&#...Good blog, Terry. I think focusing on the author's name as the brand is the way to go, versus a particular book. When I started writing, Harlequin was the brand that was pushed, the writers were secondary. Harlequin soon learned that certain writers drew readers and the author's name became more prominent. We have to think the same way. Make your name stand out.<br /><br />As for trailers, I rarely look at them and they don't influence me. It's the blurb or the author's name that will sell me.<br />Maris Soule<br />www.marissoule.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-33154934557382710132011-11-03T09:12:11.856-06:002011-11-03T09:12:11.856-06:00I agree that branding is all about your name. Book...I agree that branding is all about your name. Book titles are going to tick by and there will hopefully be more than one book, so you want people to remember you as an author.<br /><br />As for book trailers, I honestly have never bought a book based on one. I tend to only watch ones for books I've already read or already wanted. So I see them less as a marketing tool and more as bonus content for your readers.Roni Lorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719679344024635326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-9153719523698127522011-11-03T09:11:04.191-06:002011-11-03T09:11:04.191-06:00Jacqueline - above all, our name is our brand, and...Jacqueline - above all, our name is our brand, and a trailer that drives that point home is probably a good thing.<br /><br />Juliette - I normally give up on trailers because they seem so slow paced to me. I have to learn to think like the folks who like that kind of visual medium.<br /><br />Pamela - I think you've got it right.<br /><br />Louise - thanks for stopping by. I'll continue my recaps on my 'craft blog days' <br /><br />Jenna - Yes, Angela did make excellent points, and opened my eyes.<br /><br />Christine - my publishers tend to have very 'slow' release schedules, but with my back list, I can get them all out in rapid succession. <br /><br />Pryce - yes, and I'm busy working on those touches! <br /><br />Beth - as long as your 'voice' is consistent, I think you can have some variety of sub-genres. I hope so, because my next release is likely to be a straight mystery.<br /><br />Sherry - you're right about not being able to judge whether something is effective immediately--if at all. You can only hope.<br /><br />Karyn - I'm with you on trailers, but free is free, so it can't hurt!<br /><br />Wynter, the people at the reception for Visual Quill did point out that we're not exactly in the right age demographic. "Younger" folks spend much more time looking at video clips, etc.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-66760138963214898862011-11-03T09:02:29.781-06:002011-11-03T09:02:29.781-06:00I rarely watch trailers and I don't know how m...I rarely watch trailers and I don't know how much they help. Angela's workshops are always so helpful. I never pass up an opportunity to hear her speak.Wynterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13611293420659353094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-1445036544729661022011-11-03T08:59:03.314-06:002011-11-03T08:59:03.314-06:00Great information, thanks for sharing it! As a wri...Great information, thanks for sharing it! As a writer still developing their brand, I get caught up in trying to be clever. I need to remember to be clear, instead. <br /><br />As for book trailers? I agree that they can be a 'touch' point and I think it might be kind of fun to have one. But as a reader, they don't influence me.Karyn Goodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12586701849461714531noreply@blogger.com