What should a book trailer package include?
Length, formats, music and footage licensing, captions and the files you should receive, with current platform video specs.
· 2 min read
Short answer: a good book trailer package includes a short script with one clear hook and call to action, licensed music and visuals, on-screen text or captions, an agreed number of revisions, and final files in the shapes your platforms need, usually a vertical 9:16 version for Reels, TikTok and Shorts and a widescreen 16:9 version for YouTube and your website.
Checklist: what to look for in a trailer quote
| Item | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Script | Is a script written for you, and do you approve it before production? |
| Length | How long is each version (for example a 15-second and a 30–60-second cut)? |
| Formats | Which aspect ratios and resolutions are delivered (9:16, 1:1, 16:9)? |
| Music and footage | Are they licensed for your use, including ads? Can you see the licence? |
| Text and captions | Will it work with the sound off? |
| Voiceover | Human or AI voice? Is it included? |
| Revisions | How many rounds, and what counts as a revision? |
| Files | Do you receive the final MP4s, and the right to use them anywhere? |
How long should a book trailer be?
For social feeds, short works: 15 to 30 seconds is a common target, because viewers decide quickly whether to keep watching. Longer trailers of about a minute suit YouTube, your website and launch events. Ordering both a short and a long cut from the same project is often good value.
Which formats do the platforms use?
- YouTube treats square or vertical videos of up to three minutes as Shorts.
- Instagram Reels accepts aspect ratios from 1.91:1 to 9:16. Meta recommends 9:16 at 1080 × 1920 for Reels ads.
- TikTok is vertical-first, and 1080 × 1920 is the usual target.
- Websites and standard YouTube videos use widescreen 16:9.
Why licensing matters
Music, footage and images need a licence that covers how you'll use them, including paid ads if you plan to run them. Unlicensed music can get a video muted or removed. Ask which library the assets come from and keep the licence details with your files.
What about AI-generated trailers?
AI tools can create scenes or voices quickly and at lower cost, but they need careful human editing to stay accurate to your book. Some platforms require creators to label realistic AI-generated or altered content. A good provider tells you exactly which parts are AI-generated. See AI-assisted video production.
We make book trailers with licensed music and footage, delivered in the formats you need.
Sources
Platform requirements checked October 2026. Platforms change their rules, so confirm on the linked page before you upload.
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