Marketing a Self Published Devotional

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Marketing a Self Published Devotional

by Liz Chapman
(Westerville, Ohio)

Accountability Devotional

It is hard work, & a learning process

I have self-published 3 books, and 2 for specialty markets did well. A devotional has been a very hard sell, however. Marketing yourself is costly and time consuming. Beware of services that really do nothing to help, but take your money. I have experienced problems with my ISBN and Bowker has not been of any help. This has held me back numerous times. I plug it in on websites and it is not recognized. I have contacted them to no avail.

I am still learning, and am open to anyone's suggestions. Writing is fun and rewarding, but not always easy when it comes in the form of a book. I would say...never give up! Hopefully we can help one another.

I market locally, and nationally. I have found search engines find a lot of options. That is how I found this site. My biggest suggestion is to use your computer to find buyers. I wish everyone the best in their endeavors. I also put advertising labels on my outgoing mail at times, directing people to my website. I also include business cards in mail.

Visit Divine Appointments.

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Marketing a Self Published Devotional

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Feb 05, 2009
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That's OK
by: Anonymous

Hi Steve, I get it...I do a lot of teaching too, and I can do the very same thing. I will keep coming back, and if I get my ISBN # resolved I will be very pleased. Your comments were, as I said, something I might use down the road, & I am sure will help someone right now. I do understand the "free" concept, although I am not a big fan of it necessarily. Maybe I will toss something in there on that, if I can come up with something. I have run a few businesses and I know people like to think they are getting something free, and it is a calling card.

I'll post about my other books when I get a moment...they were the most fun I ever had I think where writing is concerned.

Thanks,
Liz

Webmaster's note: Thank YOU.

Feb 05, 2009
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Sincerest apologies
by: Steve B. (webmaster)

Liz, I want to apologize sincerely for writing what gave you such offense.

I have a secondary mission with this website, which is to help authors with their online presence. While many don't arrive asking for help, I often still give it. Please remember that the site isn't just for the posting authors, it's also for the writers who want to learn from what you've done. Your post is helpful to them, and I intend my comments to be helpful to them as well. Know that a bunch of people are following along trying to learn from others' mistakes!

It was much too glib (AND abrasive) of me to describe your website as "spiritually" ailing. I was simply trying to say that I wasn't able to find much free information on it, and that offering free information in a particular fashion would likely benefit you (with the search engines), and anyone who happens across your site.

You didn't ask for a review, and yes, I gave one. I apologize for a tone that could easily be taken as you described. Please know that no harm was intended, and that I do what I do when I see a "teaching moment."

I hope you'll continue to visit, and I'm glad to see one of our regulars is chiming in to help. Hi, Barbara!

Feb 05, 2009
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How did you convert it?
by: Anonymous

Hi Barbara...it is the 10 digit, and I did buy 10 of them from Bowker. I contact them and don't hear from them. Is there a place it needs to be converted? I had heard about the change, but didn't realize we had to do something. I really appreciate your input as this has been very frustrating. I seem to need it to list the book various places, and if that is all I have to do, I am more than ready! I don't understand either why they don't respond to me when I contact them. They did once last year & said they would have to get back to me and I never heard another word, so I gave up.
Liz

Feb 05, 2009
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Re: Bowker
by: Barbara Hudgins

I saw your comment about Bowker and can't figure it out. Did you buy your isbn direct from Bowker or thru some third party? Is it the 13-digit number? I got my isbn's years ago and had to convert from the 10-digit to the 13-digit one but it's easy, even for a technophobe like me. I checked Amazon but couldn't find any listing for your book. If you are selling it direct to customers you may not even need an isbn.

Barbara Hudgins, author
Crafting the Travel Guidebook

Feb 04, 2009
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There is a reason
by: Liz

There is a reason the web page is what it is for now. It may be "technically" ailing by some standards, but it is fine for now for my purposes. I don't believe "spiritually" ailing is a correct or an appropriate comment to make, unless you are "spiritually" qualified to say so. I have had many wonderful comments on my website, and the book is secondary in purpose to it. I understand there are better technical avenues, and I appreciate that input, but I didn't take part here to have my website reviewed, but rather to discuss how to better market books. You may note that my book is all the way at the end of the website. The website is there for other purposes. I am well aware of the reasons self-published books sell slowly, and I am simply looking for ways to find those folks who purchase them, which I have been doing this past week. I do find your remarks worthwhile and of interest, but I don't find your presentation terribly kind. Now I understand you may have thought I was using the website to primarily market the book...not so, sorry. My other books sold completely out, so I am not exactly a total novice. My interest here, for anyone else reading this, is to find more avenues to bulk buyers of self-published Christian books...perhaps I should have made that more clear. Thanks for the technical input, which I may use one day, but please consider being a little less abrasive in your presentation.

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Feb 04, 2009
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Submitted by: Liz

Title

Comment
There is a reason the web page is what it is for now. It may be "technically" ailing by some standards, but it is fine for now for my purposes. I don't believe "spiritually" ailing is a correct or an appropriate comment to make, unless you are "spiritually" qualified to say so. I have had many wonderful comments on my website, and the book is secondary in purpose to it. I understand there are better technical avenues, and I appreciate that input, but I didn't take part here to have my website reviewed, but rather to discuss how to better market books. You may note that my book is all the way at the end of the website. The website is there for other purposes. I am well aware of the reasons self-published books sell slowly, and I am simply looking for ways to find those folks who purchase them, which I have been doing this past week. I do find your remarks worthwhile and of interest, but I don't find your presentation terribly kind. Now I understand you may have thought I was using the website to primarily market the book...not so, sorry. My other books sold completely out, so I am not exactly a total novice. My interest here, for anyone else reading this, is to find more avenues to bulk buyers of self-published Christian books...perhaps I should have made that more clear. Thanks for the technical input, which I may use one day, but please consider being a little less abrasive in your presentation.

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Feb 04, 2009
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Building a Christian Website
by: Steve B. (webmaster)

Liz, I want to thank you for posting and invite you to post about at least one of your other books as well! (Just pick the right genre from those on the left navigation bar.)

I believe one reason your book sales are suffering is your website. It's ailing! Spiritually!

Let's start with the evidence I've gathered that it's ailing. I did a HIGHLY specific search on what you're offering: CHRISTIAN COACHING COLUMBUS OHIO. Your site is nowhere to be found. (I went 50 listings deep.)

Then I added your name to the search. STILL nothing.

So unless Columbus is overflowing with Christian coaches named Liz Chapman...ouch! How is someone to say "Yoo-Hoo" through Yahoo if you don't even come up for those searches?

(Here's what it should look like: Google STEVE BARANCIK SELF PUBLISHING and see I come in #1 and #2.)

So how is your site spiritually ailing? Well, it's set up as a Taking website. By that I mean it offers nothing more than your book (for sale) and your spiritual services (for sale).

People come to the web for FREE information, for Giving. Your site gets no respect from the search engines because there's no giving going on. (Please read this article on how, on the web, giving LEADS to receiving.)

You could be awash in visitors - future clients and book buyers - if you built a more generous site. But you'll also have to learn to "keyword" better.

For instance, you use the term MISBELIEF THERAPY on your site. I love that! But you should know that only 36 people Google it in a typical month. On the other hand...

390 google Divine Appointments
1200 - Christian Counsel
3600 - Christian Coaching
12,100 - Religious Counseling
110,000 - Christian Counseling

Hmm. Do you think it might pay to describe yourself differently?

That's not to say you could jump to the top of the rankings just by using those phrases. No, to make some major improvements you need a proper domain (not subdomain) of your own, and many pages of content (free information!) on the above subjects.

Let's face it. When someone stumbles upon your (or anyone else's) website, if they don't like what they're getting they keep searching.

That's why it never makes sense to ONLY offer goods and services for sale. The way it works on the web, it's your FREE info that validates your PAID goods and services. I'm not going to buy anything from someone who simply TELLS me their stuff is good!

Liz, I know of a free download you should read. This thing used to cost 30 bucks or something, but now it's free. It's called Make Your Content Pre-Sell.

"Content" is the words on your webpage. And because people look for FREE on the web, you can't just sell...you have to PRE-sell. (You'll understand better when you read it!)

X Close Editor

Feb 04, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: Steve B. (webmaster)

Title

Comment
Liz, I want to thank you for posting and invite you to post about at least one of your other books as well! (Just pick the right genre from those on the left navigation bar.) I believe one reason your book sales are suffering is your website. It's ailing! Spiritually! Let's start with the evidence I've gathered that it's ailing. I did a HIGHLY specific search on what you're offering: CHRISTIAN COACHING COLUMBUS OHIO. Your site is nowhere to be found. (I went 50 listings deep.) Then I added your name to the search. STILL nothing. So unless Columbus is overflowing with Christian coaches named Liz Chapman...ouch! How is someone to say "Yoo-Hoo" through Yahoo if you don't even come up for those searches? (Here's what it should look like: Google STEVE BARANCIK SELF PUBLISHING and see I come in #1 and #2.) So how is your site spiritually ailing? Well, it's set up as a Taking website. By that I mean it offers nothing more than your book (for sale) and your spiritual services (for sale). People come to the web for FREE information, for Giving. Your site gets no respect from the search engines because there's no giving going on. (Please read this article on how, on the web, <A HREF="http://www.shared-self-publishing.com/Advanced_Self_Publishing-building-a-valuable-website.html#Item%203">giving LEADS to receiving</A>.) You could be awash in visitors - future clients and book buyers - if you built a more generous site. But you'll also have to learn to "keyword" better. For instance, you use the term MISBELIEF THERAPY on your site. I love that! But you should know that only 36 people Google it in a typical month. On the other hand... 390 google Divine Appointments 1200 - Christian Counsel 3600 - Christian Coaching 12,100 - Religious Counseling 110,000 - Christian Counseling Hmm. Do you think it might pay to describe yourself differently? That's not to say you could jump to the top of the rankings just by using those phrases. No, to make some major improvements you need a proper domain (not subdomain) of your own, and many pages of content (free information!) on the above subjects. Let's face it. When someone stumbles upon your (or anyone else's) website, if they don't like what they're getting they keep searching. That's why it never makes sense to ONLY offer goods and services for sale. The way it works on the web, it's your FREE info that validates your PAID goods and services. I'm not going to buy anything from someone who simply TELLS me their stuff is good! Liz, I know of a free download you should read. This thing used to cost 30 bucks or something, but now it's free. It's called <A HREF="http://mycps.sitesell.com/writingsuccess.html">Make Your Content Pre-Sell</A>. "Content" is the words on your webpage. And because people look for FREE on the web, you can't just sell...you have to PRE-sell. (You'll understand better when you read it!)

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Marketing a Self Published Devotional

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Marketing a Self Published Devotional