Comments on: [Resource of the Day] – How To Sell Christian Books http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/07/17/resource-of-the-day-how-to-sell-christian-books/ by Sean J. Jordan Sat, 05 Nov 2011 08:07:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jason maranto http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/07/17/resource-of-the-day-how-to-sell-christian-books/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Jason maranto Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:33:18 +0000 http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/07/17/resource-of-the-day-how-to-sell-christian-books/#comment-50 I'd also recommend: http://www.lesfeldick.org as a possible like minded organization. Best, Jason. I’d also recommend:

http://www.lesfeldick.org

as a possible like minded organization.

Best,
Jason.

]]> By: SeanJJordan http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/07/17/resource-of-the-day-how-to-sell-christian-books/comment-page-1/#comment-48 SeanJJordan Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:55:20 +0000 http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/07/17/resource-of-the-day-how-to-sell-christian-books/#comment-48 Hi, Don. Thanks for the comment. I'd argue that one cannot "create" a market for anything. A better way to approach the problem is to use a process called Segmentation-Targeting-Positioning, or STP. (I'll put an article up about this later.) But the short answer is that you should find people who are of a like mind and position your book towards them. If it's a short book, you might be better off making it available as an eBook than a print copy. You could also use a print-on-demand service like Lightning Source if you're serious about publishing it. Back when I first began expressing questions about modern Christianity, I started studying the "Noahide" covenant and other foundational principles of the faith, and I noticed that several writers who were simply posting their research on websites were attracting large numbers of like-minded readers. So one tactic you might use is to set up a blog with essays about Pauline doctrine, position it to be search-engine friendly, and then use that to bring your target market to you. By simply offering good free content and then making your book (or a link to your book on Amazon.com) available to readers, you'll make sales. Putting a preview of the book on the site is also a good idea. Another tactic you might try is to search for podcasts or blogs that already talk about these topics and see if they'd be willing to do a manuscript review for you. Often, if they like the book, they'll plug it, and even if they don't, they can give you valuable information about how your ideas will be perceived by the people in their audience. One show that my dad listens to frequently that focuses on Reformation theology is Michael Horton's White Horse Inn, at http://www.whitehorseinn.org. That might be a good place to start, provided that he's in line with what you're trying to reset Christianity to. I hope that's helpful! -SJJ Hi, Don. Thanks for the comment.

I’d argue that one cannot “create” a market for anything. A better way to approach the problem is to use a process called Segmentation-Targeting-Positioning, or STP. (I’ll put an article up about this later.) But the short answer is that you should find people who are of a like mind and position your book towards them. If it’s a short book, you might be better off making it available as an eBook than a print copy. You could also use a print-on-demand service like Lightning Source if you’re serious about publishing it.

Back when I first began expressing questions about modern Christianity, I started studying the “Noahide” covenant and other foundational principles of the faith, and I noticed that several writers who were simply posting their research on websites were attracting large numbers of like-minded readers. So one tactic you might use is to set up a blog with essays about Pauline doctrine, position it to be search-engine friendly, and then use that to bring your target market to you. By simply offering good free content and then making your book (or a link to your book on Amazon.com) available to readers, you’ll make sales. Putting a preview of the book on the site is also a good idea.

Another tactic you might try is to search for podcasts or blogs that already talk about these topics and see if they’d be willing to do a manuscript review for you. Often, if they like the book, they’ll plug it, and even if they don’t, they can give you valuable information about how your ideas will be perceived by the people in their audience. One show that my dad listens to frequently that focuses on Reformation theology is Michael Horton’s White Horse Inn, at http://www.whitehorseinn.org. That might be a good place to start, provided that he’s in line with what you’re trying to reset Christianity to.

I hope that’s helpful!

-SJJ

]]> By: Don Goodman http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/07/17/resource-of-the-day-how-to-sell-christian-books/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Don Goodman Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:08:50 +0000 http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/07/17/resource-of-the-day-how-to-sell-christian-books/#comment-47 You have two characteristics prompting a response: 1) you assert that modern Christianity disconnected from you and your perceptions of Christianity 2) you intuitively understand marketing I would not know good marketing if it walked up and kissed me on the lips. And yet, I must market my book on the very subject that alienates you from modern Christianity. If you had a short book resetting Christianity to a pure Pauline meaning, what steps would you take to create a market for it? You have two characteristics prompting a response:
1) you assert that modern Christianity disconnected from you and your perceptions of Christianity
2) you intuitively understand marketing

I would not know good marketing if it walked up and kissed me on the lips. And yet, I must market my book on the very subject that alienates you from modern Christianity.

If you had a short book resetting Christianity to a pure Pauline meaning, what steps would you take to create a market for it?

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