A simple video you can make in an afternoon — and why it works harder than most book promotion
If you've published a business book, getting people to buy it is only half the job. The harder part is getting them to trust you enough to actually open it. One of the simplest tools I've found for building that trust is a short video where I explain, in my own words, why I wrote my book in the first place.
This isn't a splashy book trailer with stock footage and dramatic music. It's a talking-head video, just a couple of minutes long, where I talk directly to the person on the other side of the screen the same way I'd talk to a friend who asked me the question over coffee.
If you're a coach, consultant, or expert who has written a book — or is about to — this is one of the lowest-effort, highest-impact pieces of marketing you can create. Here's why it works, and exactly how I made mine.
Why a “Why I Wrote This Book” Video Works
It Shares Your Backstory
A short video gives you room to explain what inspired the book — the experiences, the research, the moment you decided the idea needed to exist on paper. Giving readers a peek behind the curtain helps them connect with you before they've read a single page.
It Speaks Directly to Your Reader
A video lets you name your ideal reader out loud. Something as simple as, “This book is for people who have expertise they want to share with the world, but find the idea of writing a book overwhelming,” does more to attract the right reader than any back-cover description.
It Shows Your Passion and Authority
A heartfelt video lets your enthusiasm for the topic come through in a way text never quite manages. It positions you as someone who cares deeply about the subject and has real knowledge to share — not just someone selling a product.
It Makes You Human
Seeing and hearing directly from you creates a connection that a polished sales page can't. It's a chance to let your personality show and let readers get to know the person behind the book.
It Promotes Without Selling
A video like this feels more like an informal interview than a pitch. It lets you talk about your book through the lens of thought leadership and genuine value, rather than asking for the sale directly.
It Gets You Noticed by Hosts
Podcast hosts and LinkedIn Live hosts stumble across these videos — or receive them directly — and use them to evaluate whether you'd make a good guest. A well-made video can open doors you didn't even know were there.
Gillian's Framework: How to Make Your “Why I Wrote This Book” Video in 5 Steps
You don't need a production budget or a script to make this work. Here's the process I use.
Step 1: Pick one question to answer
Don't try to cover everything about your book. Imagine someone genuinely asking you, “Why did you write this book?” and build the whole video around answering that one question honestly.
Step 2: Record it like a conversation, not a script
Skip the teleprompter. Talk the way you would to a friend. Smile for a couple of seconds before you start and again before you stop recording — those small moments make the edit feel natural rather than staged.
Step 3: Record a few takes and pick the best one
You don't need it perfect on the first try. Record two or three takes, then choose the one that feels most like you.
Step 4: Edit lightly and add a simple graphic
Trim the rough edges, add a soft music track underneath, and drop in a simple title graphic and a final screen showing your book cover and where to find it. Keep the editing light — the goal is polish, not production value.
Step 5: Host it once, share it everywhere
Upload the finished video to a host like Vimeo so you can embed it on your website and in articles like this one. Then share the link everywhere: your author website, social profiles, email signature, and link tools. Upload a native copy to LinkedIn as well, and feature it prominently on your profile.
How I Made Mine
I recorded a simple talking-head video in landscape orientation, using nothing more than my iPhone. No script, no teleprompter. I imagined someone asking me, “Why did you write this book?” and answered genuinely, the way I would in an actual conversation. I made sure to smile for a couple of seconds before I started talking and again at the end, before reaching in to stop the recording. I recorded three takes total and picked the one that felt most natural.
For editing, I used Camtasia. I trimmed the beginning and end, added a soft music track at about 20% volume so it wouldn't compete with my voice, and inserted a “Why I Wrote This Book” title graphic. I closed with a final screen showing my book cover and where viewers could go to purchase it.
Once the video was finished, I uploaded it to Vimeo so I could embed it easily on my website and in articles. From there, I uploaded a native copy directly to LinkedIn as a video post, added it to the Featured section of my profile, and linked the Vimeo version in the Experience section as well. The whole process, start to finish, was quick.
Pro tip: Add a QR code graphic to the closing screen so viewers can scan it and go straight to your book. A free tool like Canva makes this easy to create and drop into your final edit.
If you're planning to share your book link with an international audience, it's worth making sure that link works for readers outside your home country too — a small detail that's easy to overlook and easy to fix.
In Gillian's Words
“I imagined someone asking me the question, ‘Why did you write this book?’ and answered genuinely, as if I were having a conversation with them.”
“This book is for people who have expertise they want to share with the world, but find the idea of writing a book overwhelming.”
“In the age of short attention spans, a brief yet compelling video can make a big impact.”
Watch My “Why I Wrote This Book” Video
Ready for the Next Step With Your Business Book?
Whether you're writing your book, getting ready to publish, or looking for ways to market and promote it, Easy Peasy Books can help. Visit easypeasybooks.com to explore our book writing, publishing, and marketing services — or subscribe to the Easy Peasy Books podcast for a new episode every week.
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About Gillian Whitney
Gillian Whitney is a business book coach and the host of Easy Peasy Books: From Author to Authority. She helps professionals write and publish books that build credibility, attract the right clients, and establish lasting expertise. Learn more at easypeasybooks.com