How to Rock the Unboxing Video

Do you remember (or, if you haven’t published your book yet, could you imagine) that feeling when you order your first author copies? They arrive at your doorstep and you can’t wait to open the box. You tear open the top of the package and there they are. You pick up one of the copies and you hold it in your hands for the first time. You might hold it to your chest. You might even cry a little (or a lot!). There’s a lot of emotion in that moment.

Now, capture that moment and share it with your potential readers. That is a standard unboxing video.

If you’re doing an unboxing video for the first time, here are a few of the things you’ll want to be sure to cover when you record it:

1. Tell viewers what you’re doing. “Hi, all! I wanted to share with you the unboxing of my book today. I just received my first author copies in the mail.”
2. Introduce yourself. “I’m [Name], the author of [Title].”
3. Provide context. Talk briefly about your book and your journey in writing and publishing it.
4. Add background music as you open the box and pull out a copy. 
5. Show the front cover next to your face.
6. Tell viewers how you feel — happy, excited, emotional, etc.

But, what if your book published weeks or even months ago? Can you still create an unboxing video? Yes, you can! 

Maybe the emotions are not quite the same as they were the first time, but you can create numerous unboxing videos no matter when you originally published the book. Here are a few of the ways you can create different themes for your unboxing videos to make them each feel unique:

• use different sounds
• play with the time-lapse recording feature 
• try increasing the speed of your video
• combine the unboxing with signing copies for readers
• dual-purpose the video by using text on the screen to share the synopsis of the book or tell the story of how you became an author

These are just a few ideas to get you started.

You can also share unboxing videos from your readers. If you run a giveaway for your book or send out review copies, for example, you can ask the recipients to record themselves opening the package and their reaction so you can share that. Better yet, ask if they’d be willing to share the video with their audience as well. 

This is called “social proof.” When readers share your book and recommend it to their audience it helps increase the exposure for your book and generate more sales.

It’s important not to think of unboxing videos as “one and done,” especially when it comes to TikTok where there’s an endless opportunity for new and exciting content. Using the tips above, you should be able to include at least one unboxing video per month in your monthly schedule.

For more tips, see this post on 19 ways to promote a book on TikTok.