Marketing your book can be a difficult task, especially if you’re trying to appeal to a specific audience. Christian authors face their own set of challenges in getting people to buy their books, but there are also plenty of ways they can capitalize on their existing fan base and find new buyers. This article will walk you through some of the best ways to market your Christian book, whether you’re an author who just published his or her first book or one who has been writing for years.
1. Outreach Via Social Media
As a Christian author, you have a unique opportunity to reach out to potential readers via social media. By sharing your faith and your love of writing, you can connect with readers who may be interested in your work. You can market your books on social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Use hashtags like #writeyouheartout and #faithreads. Share quotes from the Bible or inspirational messages that relate to your book. Inspire other writers by sharing social media posts or blog posts on how God has used the craft of writing to change you and others around you. I was blessed when i found an inspiring Christian blog such as “when we need God”. Outreaching and being published on these type of Christian blogs can also help book authors to be found by Christian audience.
2. Reach Out With Newsletters
You can let people know about your book by sending out newsletters. This is a great way to connect with potential readers and let them know what you’re doing. You can also include a link to your book’s sales page in the newsletter. You should have an opt-in form on your website that encourages people to sign up for the newsletter. In addition, make sure that when someone subscribes, they receive a confirmation e-mail.
3. Call Other Believers
One of the best things you can do as a Christian author to market your book is to call other believers and let them know about it. You can also ask them to help spread the word by sharing your book with their friends and family. If you’re not sure who to contact, there are many free tools online that will list all the churches in your area. Send out some invitations if you find one with a lot of attendees.
4. Speak at Your Church
Start by marketing your book at your church. This is a great way to get started because you already have a built-in audience of people who know, like and trust you. You can do this by giving a short talk about your book during service, setting up a table in the lobby with information about your book or passing out flyers. Ask your pastor to mention your book when they mention you as a Christian author who attends their church. Once again, this will be another opportunity to connect with your congregation. You could also pass out copies of your book before and after sermons so that those in attendance will read it on their own time and write a review for you.
5. Market Your Book in Christian Conferences and Seminars
If you want to market your book to Christians, one of the best places to start is by attending Christian conferences and seminars. Here, you’ll be able to connect with potential readers and other authors and professionals in the industry. When attending these events, be sure to have plenty of business cards and bookmarks on hand to promote your work. You can also create a special offer or discount code to encourage people to buy your book.
6. Give Away Freebies Related to Your Book
If you’re a Christian author, chances are good your book is about Christianity in some way. A great way to market your book is by giving away freebies that are related to your book’s topic. For example, if your book is about marriage, you could give away a free e-book on “10 Tips for a Happy Marriage.” Freebies related to your book like bookmarks and notepads with quotes from the book on them will help you attract readers who are interested in what you have to say.
7. Write About Your Book on Your Website
If you have a blog or website, make sure to mention your book on there and include a link to where people can buy it. Write blogs on your website. This will help you connect with potential readers and give them a taste of your writing style. Plus, it’s a great way to build up your platform and get people interested in what you have to say. Ensure you optimize your site by making sure your keywords are present throughout the content so search engines will be able to find it. You should also consider writing guest posts on other blogs in your niche and do webinars that are related to the topic of your book.
8. Post Your Book’s Cover on Pinterest
There’s a section on this list about marketing your Christian book on social media platforms, but Pinterest is more than a social media platform. It’s also an easy way to promote your book with visuals.
Create a free account and pin the cover of your book to one of the boards you create.
Write a short description and include the link to buy your book to generate sales.
Use keywords that are related to religion or Christianity to make it easier for people who are searching for these topics or terms to find you.
Include links from other places where your readers can find you such as Facebook, Google.
9. Share Your Work on Online Christian Forums
One great way to market your book is by sharing it on Christian forums online. This will help get your work in front of potential readers who are interested in reading material from a Christian perspective. When posting on forums, be sure to include a link to your book’s sales page so that interested readers can easily find and purchase your work. Get involved with online communities related to your book’s topic. Share your expert insights and connect with potential readers.
10. Give Podcast Interviews
Podcast interviews allow you to share your faith with others and talk about your book in a natural way. If you have no idea how to start the interview, give them some background information on yourself, like where are you from, what is your favorite food? Once the interviewer knows who you are, he or she will likely ask about your book. When it comes time to promote the interview, be sure that you send out an e-mail and tweet. These tools can help get people interested in what is happening.
11. Reach Out to Influential Bloggers
Hiring or consulting influential bloggers is a great way to market your Christian book. These bloggers have already established themselves as experts in their field, and they can help you reach a larger audience. Reach out to influencers and bloggers who have been featured in major publications like Christianity Today or RELEVANT Magazine. They may be able to help promote your work too!
12. Give Away Books
Book giveaways allow potential readers to sample your work and see if they like it. You can give away copies through social media, your website, through Amazon or in person. Be sure to let people know how to get in touch with you to claim their prize. There are a number of sites where you can host a book giveaway, such as Listy and Goodreads. If you have a website or blog, you can do one of these. After that, you’d urge anyone who has received the book to post a review or testimonial in support of it online.
13. Go Door to Door
Start by going door to door in your neighborhood and asking people if they would be interested in reading your book. You can also offer a short summary of the book. If you get a positive response, leave them with a business card or contact information so they can reach you when they’re ready to purchase.
14. Submit Book Reviews on Amazon
As an author, you can submit book reviews on Amazon, which can help generate interest in your book and also help with its ranking. When submitting a review, be sure to include the title of the book, the author’s name and why you would recommend it to others. Also make sure that you write a detailed review that includes what the book is about, what was good about it, and what wasn’t so great.
15. Review Your Book on YouTube
As a Christian author, one great way to market your book is by creating a YouTube review. This is a great way to get your name and face out there, giving potential readers a taste of your book. Plus, if you have good production values and an engaging personality, your YouTube review could go viral, reaching hundreds or even thousands of people.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re a Christian author, marketing your books can be one of the most difficult parts of the process. Book marketing is more than just advertising. You also need to promote yourself and your brand as an author so that people know who you are and what you wrote.
