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It's Shocking what these Christian Authors are Doing

Prominent Christian authors and publishers are doing some incredible marketing. They understand and execute corporate marketing that independent authors and publishers are struggling with; relevant and expansive platforms to sell their books and services. The relevant platforms are information laden conferences; articles with captivating titles that engage readers, classes, blogs, and social media postings. They are selling books, but to the untrained eye, are not selling books.

Let me explain. Where many authors fail, big name and successful authors are increasing in influence. They do this by addressing current issues and encouraging conversation. This in turn generates a buzz and the message gets forwarded many times over. Of course these big name authors have access to more mainstream communications, but this lesson can be adapted by struggling authors in niche fields.

For example more direct and overt marketing efforts are shared by inexperienced authors who don't engage an audience but only post book rank status, online points of sale, and other blatant pleas for readers to buy their books. However, marketing books is a more subtle art.

Many social media posts that are liked, shared, re-tweeted, commented on and forwarded are those with compelling titles, relevant to popular discussion, and informative. Though the marketing is subtle, the message is compelling. Someone reads the article, likes it, and forwards it, starting the viral process.

You may have seen such viral Christian posts as readers engage in conversations about topics the rest of the world never knew were an issue.
Issues such as the following are very timely and shared many times over:

These titles are compelling and some are even bait and switch. For example, the article "A Word of Advice for A Porn Addicted Husband" is not so much about porn addiction than it is about the author's engaging the audience in a conversation of the Biblically submissive wife. In Sara Horn's article, she quickly shifts the discussion from the porn addiction to the conversation of what it means to be a submissive wife. The article is very compelling and soon connects with (the author) book, My So-Called Life as a Submissive Wife.

The lesson; provide an engaging article that launches your book, but is not necessarily about your book. Just as Horn did with her article in a major Christian media outlet, she covered a popular topic, gave topical information, and earned credibility as a published author. Guess what? Sales are following.

Christians want to encourage each other to live more Christ like lives and these authors are definitely engaging and encouraging with good ideas and discussion.
They also introduce their expertise on subjects and books that the reader may find useful as they relate to the topics.

As a very small niche author and owner of an even smaller publishing company, my major source of marketing is writing articles, blogs, and newsletters. I have managed to gain influence in a security niche and am rapidly gaining popularity as a mud runner and obstacle racing author. I launch an article with a compelling titles, relevant information, and establish myself as an expert by mentioning my book. You can see examples here:
http://dodsecurity.blogspot.com
http://redbikepublishing.blogspot.com
http://runinmud.blogspot.com


So, what can you do in your niche? How can you use relevant topics and current events to generate discussion? Once you figure that out, you are on your way to becoming a niche expert and therefore good marketing for your book.

 Jeffrey W. Bennett is an author and publisher with Red Bike Publishing. See more at www.redbikepublishing.com



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