TurnHere Unveils New Book Video Products

With all of the positive feedback around our bookvideos.tv web site and author profile videos we've been hard at work looking for ways for more authors and publishers to make TurnHere  part of their marketing outreach.  To that end we're excited to announce the addition of two new video products to our award-winning author profile.

The new products make online video affordable to all authors and publishers and ensure high-quality video and distribution on TurnHere's bookvideos.tv web site for more titles and authors - even those with a limited marketing budget.

The new products are:

• BookVideo Profile: A video meet-and-greet that gives readers the most compelling and interesting information about a new title, resulting in a 60- to 90-second virtual sit-down with the author. Cost is $800 per video.
  
• BookVideo Snapshots: A fast-paced, 30-second promotional trailer driven by still images, graphics and book jacket art. Cost is $500 per video.
  
• BookVideo Stories: A premium product based on the BookVideos.tv tradition of in-depth storytelling in a two - to four - minute video. Cost is $2,500 per video.

You can learn more about the product launch in our recent news release.  If you want to learn more about the products and talk to someone about how online video works for authors and publishers visit bookvideos.tv.

And the Award goes to…

…TurnHere! Bookvideos.tv scored again. On June 12, we were thrilled to hear that our book-centric video network won the 2008 American Business Award for Best Video Web Site. Also know as the Stevie Awards, the ABAs were created in 2002 to honor the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and business people; they are one of the world’s most prestigious business awards.

In just a few years, Bookvideos.tv has become a resourceful and innovative tool for the publishing industry, but it’s the videos that made the award winning possible. Many thanks to our 5000 talented filmmakers all over the world who made it possible!

We're constantly looking to improve our site and love your feedback, so please visit bookvideos.tv and leave a comment.

Online videos and authors: the winning combo

This past year, web video became an important, new online marketing tool for the publishing industry. Publishers and authors alike recognized that authors can connect with readers, differentiate their titles online and engage in the conversation around books through the use of online video. 

TurnHere has been pioneering online video as a way for book lovers to connect with the author in a comfortable, authentic setting.  On May 8, 2008 we launched the new version of our book-centric video network, BookVideos.tv, which allows readers looking for more information about their favorite titles to get the 'story behind the story' by hearing direct from the authors. Following the success of the site, Morgan Brown, our Director of Marketing, was a guest on Book World News to discuss how online video is becoming indispensable to the book business. You can listen to the interview here.

In addition, Wall Street Journal recently published an article, Watch This Book, explaining how, in a book world where authors struggle to stand out and sales are on the slow side, authors use online video to attract readers’ attention.

Clearly online video has become an important part of the online marketing plan for authors and publishers.  See how we help them succeed with online video at bookvideos.tv.

Bookvideos.tv continues to change the game of book marketing

Book Marketing has a long history of promoting titles with rather conventional (and conservative ?) methods. This long tradition is continually evolving with the advent of new media marketing opportunities online, including online video. Since its launch in November 2007, TurnHere's Bookvideos.tv has captured the attention of readers and introduced an innovative way for the publishing industry to market books online. Our video-centric Web site showcases video-profiles of popular authors discussing their newest titles.  Readers have really connected with the video, enjoying the perspective that the author brings to the experience of reading. 

Using web videos as part of their online marketing strategy, publishers can distinguish themselves from the competition and give book enthusiasts an in-depth view of their titles. Columbia University recently published an article about the benefits of online video for book publishers and more specifically Bookvideos.tv.

From the article:

“The films are shot by local filmmakers wherever the author happens to be, cutting costs and imbuing the films with a natural, homey vibe.

“There’s a certain magic when you get a local producer and local writer together,” explained Brad Inman, founder and CEO of TurnHere. “They create a story together that they think will be engaging for the reader.” He added, “It’s a new way—an easy, efficient way—to get authors out there.” To date, 20 different publishing companies have signed on with BookVideos, among them Simon & Schuster, for which BookVideos has made more than 100 author shorts.

Writers whose books have book club appeal, like Walls and Picoult, are perfect subjects for the videos, according to Sue Fleming, vice president of online and consumer marketing for Simon & Schuster’s adult publishing division, because their personal narratives “engender discussion.”

On May 8, 2008, we launched the latest version of Bookvideos.tv. The new site has a ton of features and all the social tools you can think of! We love feedback and are always looking for comments to improve the site so please let us know what you think about it.

TurnHere's Publishing Seminar Wrap

The 2008 version of the TurnHere Publishing Seminar: Innovations in Digital Marketing is in the books.  Thanks to all of you who attended and made the event a big success. 

The event was held at the Hearst tower; the only diagrid (triangular framing pattern) eco-friendly building in Manhattan with a 3-story water sculpture and smart button-less elevators. It was an incredible setting and perfectly suited for our all-star panelists. The panel included Sara Nelson (Publishers Weekly), Mike Skagerlind (Barnes & Noble.com) and Tom Turvey (Google), and was moderated by TurnHere’s CEO and Founder, Brad Inman.

While our attendees enjoyed a gourmet lunch and the breathtaking view from the 44^th floor; Brad (our CEO and Founder) kicked off the seminar by unvieling the new bookvideos.tv Web site, giving attendees a sneak-peak a few days prior to its official launch.  Sara, Mike, Tom and Brad then proceeded to engage in a lively and informative discussion about how video can be used as an innovative, emotionally-engaging and powerful marketing tool in the publishing business.

Many thanks to our speakers, the Hearst crew and to everyone that contributed to the success of this event. If you couldn't make it and are now worried that you missed out, don’t worry, Naje, one of our top NYC filmmakers, was there and captured the entire event.  We’ll post the video soon.

Photo courtesy of Sara Nelson.  Read her coverage of the event here.

In the meantime, check Sara Nelson’s blog to read more about the conference. See you next year!

It's Alive! TurnHere launches the v2 of Bookvideos.tv

We are thrilled to announce that our new Bookvideos.tv site went live yesterday! Since its launch in November 2007, Bookvideos.tv has captured the attention of readers but we felt a little makeover couldn't hurt (or actually a huge makeover). The new version of the site offers a ton of new features; all the social tools you can think of, like Digg and Facebook posting, embedding and sharing options for the video, and publishers can create a customized page for each author, promote their leading books and link them to major online retailers.

From our press release on the launch:

Bookvideos.tv, which initially offered book and author videos exclusively from Simon & Schuster, now includes a range of leading publishers, delivering the most comprehensive book-centric content on the Web. The new site allows authors to have customized, individual pages on the network as well as to convey important book release and author-news items on their homepage. Bookvideos.tv also offers viewers more polished viewing, browsing and searching capabilities, expanded e-commerce functionality, and more engaging social networking features to promote sharing and discussion.

"Joining the Bookvideos.tv network was a natural extension of our marketing efforts and a unique way for us to reach more readers online," said Darcy Cohan, director of publicity, Chronicle Books. "Combining high-quality, narrative video with social media and e-commerce capabilities on a uniquely branded site is a compelling way for us to deliver more value-added content to our readers and build customer loyalty."

We'd love your feedback on the new features and how we can continue to improve the site.  Thanks to all the readers, viewers and folks who gave us feedback to help v2 a reality.

We highlighted one of the newer videos we've done - this one from the book The Garden of Last Days, by Andre Dubus III. 

The Circles - an interesting spin on personal relationships

It seems that there is a new self-actualization book hitting the shelf every week following the wild success of The Secret, and The Circles is a strong entry in to the space.  It follows along the vein of taking control of your life by managing the relationships that impact your world on a regular basis.  The Circles is an intriguing concept and a book that makes great use of video to evoke the power of the concept and to demonstrate how the technique works.

Talk about character - authors shine in book videos

If you've ever questioned the power of videos in promoting books you simply need to watch the video below for proof at how effective they can be. John Banville is a compelling interview subject and his insight in to his books penned under the name Benjamin Black is enough to make you race out to pick up Christine Falls and The Silver Swan.

The connection you build with Banville as you watch the video is filled with mystery and awe and makes you want to see how his personality is manifested in his writing.

Check the book video about The Silver Swan yourself, and if you agree that it is a powerful medium for promoting authors and books contact us to learn how we do it.

TurnHere Highlights Video Production for Publishing

We recently launched a new internet video ad that showcases our work in the publishing business and the success that video has in capturing the "stories behind the stories" of your favorite authors and publishers.  The ad features Leslie Jonath, director of creative services, Chronicle Books; Steve Colca, manager of internet marketing, WW Norton; and Anne Watters, associate marketing director, Broadway Books sharing their success with video and how it helps drive awareness, business, and differentiates their titles from the competition.

If you want to learn more about how video can help your author and book promotional efforts contact TurnHere today.

Chronicle Books Details Success with Internet Video Produced by TurnHere

Chronicle Books and TurnHere announced today the extension of their successful relationship that has seen book sales skyrocket with the help of promotional book videos produced by TurnHere.  These results are validation that book videos create awareness, reader and media interest and drive sales for publishing houses.  The versatile book videos work for Chronicle Books in many ways including: public relations outreach, direct-to-consumer marketing, added value for retailers like Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, and additional author promotion.

From the release highlighting the success of TurnHere book videos for Chronicle Books:

Online video has been an important strategy for Chronicle Books and will continue to be throughout 2008. The company believes that its short author videos, including Amy Nobile and Trisha Ashworth’s “I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids”, have played a vital role in securing television publicity opportunities, driving interest from online retailers and significantly increasing sales. The Nobile and Ashworth video caught the attention of NBC’s “The Today Show” and landed the duo on the popular morning show in 2007. Following the appearance, Chronicle saw orders for the novel jump nearly 300 percent. Other Chronicle titles for which TurnHere has produced videos include “Fashion Makeover”, “The Armchair Quarterback Playbook” and “Mastering the Grill”.

“Our decision to work with TurnHere was an invaluable marketing move,” said Darcy Cohan, director of publicity, Chronicle Books. “Not only have the videos garnered us an increased media presence — online, on television and in print — but we have also seen a direct return on our investment due to the added exposure garnered by the videos and the subsequent increased sales after media coverage appears.”

Chronicle Books saw the opportunity early and we couldn't be happier for them that it has paid off.  If you want to learn how book videos can help your publishing business watch our demo video.