Three Steps the Christian Author Needs to Know to Market Books

So you’ve written a manuscript. Now how do you sell your book? Here are three steps you can take to market your book.

It’s not enough to just write and publish your book—you actually want people to read it! Right? 

That means you need to do some book marketing. I know, I know. You wish someone else would just take over the marketing for you. I’ve been there. We’ve all been there.

It’s easy to feel discouraged when you’re trying to sell your book and no one’s buying it, but there are some simple things you can do to change that. Let’s take a look at three ways you can sell more books as a Christian author.

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#1: Increase Traffic to Your Book Sales Page

The first way you can sell more books is to increase the traffic to your book sales page. If you can increase the number of people that visit your sales page, you will be able to sell more books. You can do this by choosing strategic keywords for your books that will drive people to your book sales page or Amazon page.

You can also do this by promoting your sales page through your author platform (which is your website, blog, email list, or social media following) or by using ongoing book marketing promotions like podcast, blog tours, book launches, KDP free promotions, and so forth. There are a lot of things you can do. To get even more ideas, download our checklist of 27 book marketing ideas.

#2: Increase Conversions 

The second way you can sell more books is by increasing conversions. What do I mean by this? A conversion is someone who visits your book sales page and purchases your book. Here are a few ways you can increase conversions: 

1. Updating your book cover.
2. Improving your book blurb or description.
3. Getting reviews for social proof.
4. Improving your book title.

This is actually just a simple math problem. You can either increase conversions or increase your traffic and that will increase your overall book sales.

Let’s say 1000 people visit your book sales page. And on average 3% buy your book. That’s 30 sales. If you priced your Kindle book at $2.99 and you’re getting around $2 of royalty per book. That means you’re going to be getting $60 in royalties for that particular book. 

Now let’s look at how we can change this formula to increase your book sales and therefore your royalties. First, let’s say we double the traffic. Say you’re investing time into your author platform, and you increase your traffic to that page by 2,000 immediately with the same conversion rate. Your sales will double to 60.

Next instead of doubling the traffic, you decide you’re going to invest in increasing conversions. So you improve your book cover, your book description/blurb, etc. Now you have doubled your conversion rate. Well, the same results will happen. From those 1,000 visitors, you will get 60 book sales. 

However, what if you increase both your conversions and traffic? Let’s say you doubled both. Instead of having 30 sales per month, you’ll be at 120 sales and $240 in book royalties. Can you see how quickly this can add up? 

When you’re taking action to increase your conversions and traffic, it will increase your book sales. If you also decide to increase your book price and sell it for $4.99 with around a $4 royalty and still double the traffic and conversion rates, you’ll now earn $480 in book royalties. 

Certain books may not continue to sell as well at the higher price, but you can test it to find out. 

TIP: You can’t see the traffic to your book sales page on Amazon unless you are using an Amazon associates link. With that you can see how many clicks you’ve gotten on the link (that’s your traffic) and how many sales you got from that link. Even then, you will only see the clicks/sales from the links you share.

You see it’s a simple formula. Increasing your traffic and your conversions will help you to sell more books. 

#3: Business Meetings with God

The third way to sell more books as a Christian author is to have regular business meetings with God. Business meetings with God can transform the way you do marketing when you implement them consistently. Think of it like a spiritual date with God. The key is hearing God’s voice.

Our lack of success in marketing is not usually about a lack of information. I think we will all agree that we are often on information overload. However, for Kingdom writers I believe it may also be a lack of intimacy with God.

“My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” Psalms 27:8 NLT

A lot of writers are disappointed in their results but not willing to put in the time and energy into hearing from God to gain his wisdom.

“Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:2-5 NLT

The more we get to know someone, the more we want to spend time with them. Knowledge of God leads to greater reverence and awe for WHO He is. God gave Noah a very specific blueprint for the ark, and he followed it exactly (Genesis 6).

I have seen over and over that as I spend intentional time seeking God’s strategy for our business, He reveals to me the next steps. Set a timer for one minute and ask God, “What is the best use of my time and energy for marketing my book today?” Write down what you sense God telling you in a journal.

Your Next Steps

1. Decide on a day and time you will have your first business meeting with God. Journal and pray about ways to increase traffic and/or conversions for your book(s).
2. Choose one thing you will do to market your books this week.
3. Then, go do it!

Do you want 27 book marketing ideas, my handout, and suggestions for having a business meeting with God? Sign up for free here: www.trainingauthors.com/ideas. If you want help coming up with a 30-day book marketing plan so that God can use your book to impact lives, take our Book Promotion Plan workshop. You’ll create a plan that works best for your personality, strengths, and resources that you can implement right away. Get started here: www.trainingauthors.com/bookpromotionplan 

About the Author

Shelley Hitz has been mentoring writers since 2010 and helps people write words that will outlive them, self-publish books that fulfill their calling, and reach more readers with their message inside Christian Book Academy. Shelley and her husband CJ have often been called “pastors for writers” and together create a powerful team to help you accomplish your God-given goals. They host the Kingdom Writers podcast. Learn more at ChristianBookAcademy.com.