How To Post Your Videos
Social Media Platforms
You can either post your mobile book trailer to a social platform from your desktop/laptop, or from your mobile phone. Either method will work for most social media experiences, though a few will only allow mobile phone upload. Currently those are Instagram Reels and Facebook Reels. Please use your mobile phone to upload to these social media experiences.
You can either post your mobile book trailer to a social platform from your desktop/laptop, or from your mobile phone. Either method will work for most social media experiences, though a few will only allow mobile phone upload. Currently those are Instagram Reels and Facebook Reels. Please use your mobile phone to upload to these social media experiences.
Initial Steps
1. Decide which social media experiences you will post to.
2. Access our reference page to determine the correct format versions for each social media experience.
3. Download your videos from the Google Video Repository that we set up for you (to your desktop/laptop if you plan to post from there, or to your mobile phone if you plan to post from there).
4. File naming conventions. Please see the below image for our video file naming convention (note we will only add the call to action tag if there are multiple videos with multiple calls to action):
1. Decide which social media experiences you will post to.
2. Access our reference page to determine the correct format versions for each social media experience.
3. Download your videos from the Google Video Repository that we set up for you (to your desktop/laptop if you plan to post from there, or to your mobile phone if you plan to post from there).
4. File naming conventions. Please see the below image for our video file naming convention (note we will only add the call to action tag if there are multiple videos with multiple calls to action):
Desktop/Laptop
1. Log on to the social media platform from your desktop/laptop.
2. Find the area that allows you to post content.
3. Find the correct downloaded video for the particular social media platform, and follow the site's instructions to upload the video. If the site allows you to size the video, don't. Keep it at its original size.
Mobile Phone
1. Log on to the social media platform from your mobile phone.
2. Tap the correct icon to begin the upload experience (i.e. the Instagram Reels icon, the + icon, etc.).
3. Follow the instructions to upload the video.
4. Note that if you downloaded multiple video versions to your mobile phone before uploading to any social sites, it might be difficult to find the correct version to upload (since most sites only allow you to see the video picture and not the file name when browsing your mobile phone). It is for this reason that we recommend managing your videos on your phone so you can easily find the one you want to use. One strategy that works relatively well is to create a separate folder/album for each video. Another strategy, though a bit more time-consuming, is to load and upload one video at a time. Then when done, delete or move the video from your phone and repeat the process for each social site upload.
1. Log on to the social media platform from your mobile phone.
2. Tap the correct icon to begin the upload experience (i.e. the Instagram Reels icon, the + icon, etc.).
3. Follow the instructions to upload the video.
4. Note that if you downloaded multiple video versions to your mobile phone before uploading to any social sites, it might be difficult to find the correct version to upload (since most sites only allow you to see the video picture and not the file name when browsing your mobile phone). It is for this reason that we recommend managing your videos on your phone so you can easily find the one you want to use. One strategy that works relatively well is to create a separate folder/album for each video. Another strategy, though a bit more time-consuming, is to load and upload one video at a time. Then when done, delete or move the video from your phone and repeat the process for each social site upload.
Resizing Video
Some social media experiences provide an option to resize your video when uploading. Don't do this. Keep the video it's original size. If the original size is not an option, simply use the option where you can see the entire video.
Some social media experiences provide an option to resize your video when uploading. Don't do this. Keep the video it's original size. If the original size is not an option, simply use the option where you can see the entire video.
Video Thumbnails
Some social media platforms allow you to choose your own video thumbnail rather than use their auto-generated thumbnail. As part of your package we create video thumbnails for each of our five primary mobile formats (9:16, 2:3, 4:5, 1:1, and 16:9). You can find these in your Google Video Repository. You can use one of these, or create your own if you prefer. Please note that some social sites will crop your thumbnail and it might not appear exactly as originally created. If this happens, we recommend using their auto-generated thumbnail.
Some social media platforms allow you to choose your own video thumbnail rather than use their auto-generated thumbnail. As part of your package we create video thumbnails for each of our five primary mobile formats (9:16, 2:3, 4:5, 1:1, and 16:9). You can find these in your Google Video Repository. You can use one of these, or create your own if you prefer. Please note that some social sites will crop your thumbnail and it might not appear exactly as originally created. If this happens, we recommend using their auto-generated thumbnail.
Websites (Embed Code)
When posting a mobile-formatted video on your website (or other third-party websites), we recommend using a third-party video hosting service and embedding the videos on your site. The native video players that website builders use do not always allow video to fill the screen properly, resulting in a sub-optimum mobile viewing experience. We recommend the below third-party video hosting solutions.
When posting a mobile-formatted video on your website (or other third-party websites), we recommend using a third-party video hosting service and embedding the videos on your site. The native video players that website builders use do not always allow video to fill the screen properly, resulting in a sub-optimum mobile viewing experience. We recommend the below third-party video hosting solutions.
- YouTube - You can upload your videos to YouTube for free and then embed them on any website, but the player customization is a bit limited. However, you can add a few pieces of text to the YouTube embed code to allow for a decent mobile-format experience. It is not perfect but generally "good enough." Visit our page on how to edit the YouTube embed code to optimize your video for mobile playback. Note that currently YouTube Shorts does not allow you to upload a unique thumbnail, so you will be at the mercy of their automatically generated thumbnail. Standard YouTube does allow thumbnail uploads.
- Vimeo - Another free video service, Vimeo is used by many video professionals to host their video content. The free tools are a bit more flexible than YouTube's, and there is no code to manipulate (other than width and height). Though, like YouTube, the free experience does not allow complete control over all the player's features. Vimeo offers a $7/mo version that provides all the flexibility you need to provide an optimum mobile viewing experience.
- Wistia - Wistia is a full-service video hosting company that allows for complete player flexibility for any website and amazing analytics to measure video plays, including IP addresses and locations. All the videos on our Moblio site use the Wistia service. Their platform is second to none and their customer service is stellar. They offer a free version which allows for up to 10 unique videos and an embedded payer that includes the Wistia branding. If you want to post up to 20 unique videos and/or want to eliminate the Wistia branding, they offer a basic package for $19/mo.
Author Media Kits
One of the best ways to use your book trailers is to incorporate them into your author media or press kit. As a matter of fact, we think author's should lead with their trailer when pitching their book to the press. There really is no better way to begin your story than a quick, well-produced video that communicates exactly what your book is about. "Hook 'em" we say, then follow with all the general media kit information, your bio, book cover, book synopsis, etc.
There are some industry standards to follow when creating a media kit but it is not an exact science. There is room for flexible design and delivery. Some authors simply create a media or press kit page on their website. That works great. Other authors create a PDF that they can share. That works well too. Still, other authors upload their materials to a Google Drive or Drop Box account for the press to access and download. There is a time and place for that approach too. Regardless of how it is done, any method will lend itself well to your video trailers. If you are creating a page on your website or developing a PDF, all you need is an embed code or URL link of the trailer. For a Google Drive or Drop Box, simply upload the trailer's video file. All super straight forward!
One of the best ways to use your book trailers is to incorporate them into your author media or press kit. As a matter of fact, we think author's should lead with their trailer when pitching their book to the press. There really is no better way to begin your story than a quick, well-produced video that communicates exactly what your book is about. "Hook 'em" we say, then follow with all the general media kit information, your bio, book cover, book synopsis, etc.
There are some industry standards to follow when creating a media kit but it is not an exact science. There is room for flexible design and delivery. Some authors simply create a media or press kit page on their website. That works great. Other authors create a PDF that they can share. That works well too. Still, other authors upload their materials to a Google Drive or Drop Box account for the press to access and download. There is a time and place for that approach too. Regardless of how it is done, any method will lend itself well to your video trailers. If you are creating a page on your website or developing a PDF, all you need is an embed code or URL link of the trailer. For a Google Drive or Drop Box, simply upload the trailer's video file. All super straight forward!