Pam Perry, Book Publicity Coach

1.   You have at least $2,500 to $5,000 to invest in the project.

2.   Your topic is a topic that is very “marketable” in a book.

3.   You regularly support other author events, i.e. book signings and lectures.

4.   You frequently visit bookstores and know what the trends are in Christian books and know the bestsellers.

5.   You have a website or plan to get one to sell/market your book.

6.   You’ve published articles or regularly speak/lecture thereby you have an “audience” for your book.

7.   You research and read books/magazines on publishing or go to writer’s conferences or are part of a writer’s group.

8.   You know a good graphic designer, editor and webmaster – or at least know where to find one.

9.   You have a written marketing plan and know how you’re going to seel your book– before you’ve written it.

10. You have at least 10 hours a week to promote your book.

11. You are part a writer’s discussion group online, blog regularly and do some social networking.

If you have answered “yes” to 7 or more of these questions, you are a good candidate to be a successful author. If not, you now have a guideline us to what to do before you start the publishing process.

Once the book is published a lot of authors believe it will sell by itself. Many Christians sway the other way and are too humble to tell anyone about their book. They believe if they put it up on Amazon or tell a few of their “yes buddies” it will take off. NOT!  Just like any product that is sold for cold cash, it must be marketed and promoted in order to sell. It takes money to make money. 

We are not to hide our light under a bushel and Christians will never sell the millions of books on Amazon – without some kind of marketing plan and PR strategy.  God always had a plan – and Christians need one too – and to work it!                                       By: Pam Perry, www.MinistryMarketingSolutions.com

So can you afford not to promote your book if God told you to write it?

BY: Pam Perry

“I want to be on the New York Times best-seller list.  I know everyone is going to want my book.  It’s anointed.” I hear stuff like this from new authors all the time. Strangely, those who have been in the game for a while don’t say such statements. They’ve learned.  Even the authors who have a track record with three or four books published (not just printed), don’t expect to be the next “Oprah book club darling.” Everyone who is anyone wants their book on Oprah.  I just smile when I hear the comment and pray, “Lord, help me.”

I specialize in the Christian market because I believe in the message of the Gospel. That’s my mission – to market the message of the gospel to as many people as possible.  So I run across tons of Christian authors.  I encourage many to write their books. I even mentor some through the self-publishing process. Yet, I always tell to write what God tells them – not what’s popular.

This is where it gets sticky. Even though God may give you a word to write and the book is published, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to be the next T.D. Jakes or Joyce Meyer.  The book may be anointed but it still has to be sold through the world system – which is business. I try to tell authors “do not despise small beginnings.” Every business has cycles. Start up is phase 1 – and the most expensive.

Books are business. People pay money for books and when money is exchanged, there are expectations. People buy what they are motivated to buy – not necessarily what is “best” for them but what they desire.  Advertising, marketing, publicity create desire.

Now, if an author were to print books and give them away – that’s another thing. No marketing is needed.  But most want to make some sales. And it seems like some new authors even dream of being “rich and famous” and having people hunt them down for an autograph.