How can a reader purchase your book if she doesn’t know it exists? God gave you a special message that can help many people. How do you get your message to more readers? Book marketing dominated the conversation at breakfast during the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

Judy Ducharme, Chris Manion, Pastor Joshua Masters, and I discussed how to sell more books. They asked how I sell one thousand books in three months. I explained that I focused my marketing efforts on writing magazine articles, guest blog posts, and guest interviews on podcasts and radio shows.

As we talked, I encouraged each of them to write a blog or article that would be perfect for their genre and what channels to send it to. Judy furiously jotted down ideas and contacts as her new book Blood Moon Redemption had recently released and was a Selah finalist. We brainstormed outlets that would be best for Joshua’s patriotic Christian book American Psalms. Chris’s book God’s Patient Pursuit of My Soul also needed a sales boost.

When you write for magazines or other people’s blogs, it puts you in front of a whole new audience. If this audience finds your work appealing, they will click on the links in your bio. Send them to your website, books, and a gift to get them on your mailing list.

After we’ve completed the difficult task of birthing the book, marketing is how we raise it. Marketing comprises an essential component of every author’s job. Are you taking the time and effort to market your books?

As I suggested marketing ideas for Chris Manion, I realized I am only one person and could only help so many people. Chris noticed the twinkle in my eyes as a lightbulb went off. I needed to create a marketing course to help fellow authors reach their potential readers.

Each of us has an extraordinary message that God inspired us to write. This message can help other Christians, if only they know about it. It is our duty to get our book into more readers’ hands. Readers would benefit, and so would our bottom line. Yes, we write for God’s glory, but making enough money to cover our expenses, including attending conferences, is a must.

Susan Neal RN, MBA, MHS, lives her life with a passion to help others improve their health. She is a Certified Advanced Writer and Speaker Coach and inspires writers to get their words before more readers. She wrote seven healthy living books. Her best-seller 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates, a Selah award winner, sold 5000 copies in its first fourteen months. Her latest release is Solving the Gluten Puzzle. Check out Susan’s free,“Do We Fit,” author coaching session at http://susanuneal.com/authorcoaching.