Help! I Really Need Some Ideas!
Hey Friends,
I really need your help. As you know, my second book came out early in December. The reviews have been great. Early testimonies of those who have read it have been better than I could have hoped. If you have read the book then you know it has the potential to help anyone who reads it.
Only one problem – very few people know about or will ever know about it. There are millions of people who are wondering how they can grow closer with the Lord, and this book has the answers. The book is a great tool, but they can never read it if they do not know about it. That is where you come in.
I am looking for creative ideas of how to get the word out. Some of the smartest people alive read this blog. I am asking for ideas on promoting the book. I am praying it will “grow legs.” I am praying for 100,000s of people to read it. I know God is able and He may use one of you, or several of you, to give the ideas of how to let people know.
Please respond in the comment section of the blog so others can read your ideas and it may generate other ideas. Thanks in advance for all your prayers and help. You are the best.
Love ya,
Pastor Chris
17 Comments
Allow the book to be downloaded for free for kindles. There are tons of frugal websites that promote those books. You can limit the amount of time it is free, but it will increase your visibility.
PC,
I along with 80000 other folks read Michael Hyatts blog. Have to think if he reviewed on his blog there would be some interest
Great start keep them coming. I’ve talked to Michael very hard to get on his blog and very costly.
It may take some leg work if you don’t have a relationship with these folks but their blogs are read by many.
Donald Miller – wrote Blue like Jazz
Jon Acuff (goes to Pete Wilson’s church)
John Maxwell
A lot of authors will plug into a blog and offer a handful of free copies to readers picked at random. To qualify you have to post the book’s link on facebook/twitter. I’ve read several blogs that have done that.
A book signing at UT. If kids are fired up about it then they tweet and talk! FP is new there so there is a buzz already. Use the momentum.
See if Barnes and Noble will let you do a signing there. Never know.
Local Conferences.
Here’s a blog I like (I get the posts via RSS feed). He spotlights interesting stories, news items, and books. Perhaps he would be willing to plug your book – maybe you could give him a really provacative quote from the book to attact attention! (www.toddrhoades.com)
I’m not sure about cost, but advertising on Facebook is one of the best and fastest growing ways to advertise. I heard on TV that more people visit Facebook than Google. And with the “like” button there is the potential to easily reach 100,000s and to span globally. If you encourage all the FPC-ers who have read it to “like” the book, then it would ripple from there. Advertising on Facebook is also good because there is potentially no limitation on demographic. My preteen cousin all the way to my Grandmother have profiles.
Create a smart phone app to complement the book. Offer some free “loss leaders” on the app to entice folks to purchase the book.
Your book should be available for purchase on the Faith Promise website. People that hear about it on the weekend can go to either the church or your website for purchase. It would also be easy for people that watch services online to order.
1) You need to use Cart66 on your site to sell your books. I obtained a 20.00 off coupon from the owner who is a Christ follower if you do this.
You need to travel and be a guest speaker to promote your book. Jeff Chambers might be able to give you some direction on this, not sure http://www.chambersministrygroup.com/
2) Books and materials from the pastor and church need to be sold on faithpromise.org. Other big churches do this I.E. http://gatewaypeople.com/ I strongly disagree with keeping it separate.
3) Your Facebook page is not being used to it’s fullest potential. You are at about 20 percent effectiveness.
4) You need someone experienced to help you purchase online advertising on facebook, Experience means someone managing multiple accounts for businesses.
5) Mass e-mail needs to be used effectively.
6) Blogs/Videos etc could have a clip at the end telling about the book.
7) The web site needs testimonials in the form of written or videos from readers, especially those who have some sort of story to tell.
More specific methodology needs to be used when asking people to do things online. For example, telling everyone to go online and tell all your friends about the online service on New Years would have worked more effectively with something streamlined. People need hand held on this stuff.
Someone mentioned a book signing, but based upon my experience, you will need to have some sort of celebrity, or local celebrity to make this a success.
You have quite a few things in place right now that with some minor tweaking could be much more effective.
P.S. sign up for a gravatar @ http://gravatar.com it will show a picture of you when you post online.
I got more, that’s just a start.
I have really enjoyed both of your books. The Climb of Your Life and the Plan. God is truly amazing. His love is beyond measure. I have released the heavy load I been caring. Now I am ready to move into MY pinnacle that God has already planned for me.Your right we do need encouragement from other believers. I am praying for god fearing friends. I am a member at another church, but excited to be connected to other members of the body of Christ. My husband and myself are so excited about the Marriage Seminar too. Thanks for sharing your testimony. We are overcomers by the blood of the lamb and the words of our testimony Rev.12:11.
There is a website called netgalley that will put books on for people to review and blog about. I dont know the details
Enjoying reading all the ideas. While we’d all agree there’s no magic bullet, implementing many of these ideas will have some impact. I did notice on Amazon there are only two reviews of the book. Word of mouth is powerful. Make a personal appeal with your biggest fans to write a review on Amazon and from there they can link the review to Facebook and other social networks. Consider writing comments on as many blogs as possible, leaving your blog address in the post. This may bring people to your site that aren’t aware of you. Lastly, consider starting a Facebook page for The Plan of Your Life. Readers can tell how the book has helped them and you can post thoughts on the book, etc.
Just my two cents worth… and it may be worth just that! Chirs, I’ll be praying that this book really gets out to the masses. I’ve enjoyed reading it.
Scott
WOW!!! these are great. Keep them coming Thanks Friends
Scott is absolutely correct! Here is a quick and easy link to send people directly to the book review page:
http://amzn.to/zSB1Ek
Tweet this, and post it to your facebook, etc. Asking people to review this book isn’t effective, posting a link directly to the page will yield results.
Mike Biddle
You could attend a Christian Business trade show contact them about the book. All Christian retailers are at the show in July purchasing. I know you are not with a publisher but maybe they have an outlet for you to do an independant signing. It truly is an awsome experience to be there. Also I know someone who knows the owner of CNI its a company that distributes for other Christian suppliers. I will pass the word on. I have wondered why you haven’t done signings at the local Christian bookstores with an ad on air-1?
I subscribe to a few blogs mentioned above as well as following these folks on twitter. So i am going to send them a request they review and spread the word via their blog and twitter feed. Hallerin talks about Leadership and Growth alot, in fact that is where I first learned of your testimony and Faith Promise. Anything is Possible may be an outlet as well as an interview on morning drive time.
Another thought would be a “guest blogger” on your fellow pastor’s pages as well as Hyatt, Acuff, Chris Locurto, Jeff Goins, John Maxwell. I read those guest blogs quite a bit and they are most of the time promoting their work. With your insight on leadership and spiritual growth I would have to think this would be an easy sell.