|
|
|
|
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Finest Example of Launching Christian Books in the WorldThe John 3:16 Marketing
Network
The Finest Example
of Launching Christian Books in the World
Q&A with Lorilyn Roberts
I
started the John 3:16 Network last summer and am excited about what God is doing. I will share some Q&A here to help your
readers learn more about the network and answer some questions that I have addressed at various times.
Question:
What is the John 3:16 Marketing Network?
Answer: The John 3:16
Marketing Network is a network of Christian authors from all over the world who have united for a common purpose: To help
Christian authors launch books on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The launches last for twenty-four hours, and during that
time, authors in the network post tweets and Facebook announcements, host interviews of the launching author, post blogs about
the upcoming book, and send emails to opt-in lists. Oftentimes there are free e-gifts available to those who buy the book
on launch day. We’ve had several authors to reach best-seller status at Amazon, and even those who didn’t still
received a lot of publicity and exposure for their book.
Question: I don’t have a blog/website,
don’t use Twitter, and don’t care for Facebook, but can I still be in the network? I have a book coming out that
I need help promoting.
Answer: You must have an active blog or website to be a member of the John
3:16 Marketing Network. The reasons relate to the type of social marketing and network promotion we do for Amazon and Barnes
& Noble.
You will need a blog/website to help others if you wish to be
a blog host for a launch.
It shows you have enough knowledge to do very basic internet marketing.
The John 3:16
Marketing Network is not designed to do the hard work of marketing your book for you. Those who have enjoyed the network the
most and have achieved best-seller status made the most of the internet for promoting their book on launch day. We have around
eighty-five authors now, and if even half of the authors help on a launch, I would imagine we are reaching close to five hundred
thousand people. As we grow, I look forward to reaching a million people on launches and boosting rankings even higher in
subcategories. An author can also use sources outside the network to launch a book, increasing his exposure.
Question:
Does everybody who submits their name to join the John 3:16 Marketing Network get accepted into the network?
Answer:
Even assuming a person meets all the criteria as listed on the submission page, no. As time has passed, I have become more
selective. For instance, early on, if someone didn’t leave all his information, which is basically, his name, website/blog,
and email, if I had his email, I would follow up in an email and ask him for his full name or blog.
I don’t
do that anymore. If an applicant can’t follow the directions on how to apply, I would rather he not join. The rules
are specific about how to launch a book to best-seller status, and if an author can’t follow the rules about how to
join, he won’t be able to follow the rules for hosting a launch.
Before I approve a person on the John 3:16
Marketing Network, I always check out his or her blog/website. If I see something that raises a question mark in my mind,
I don’t go any further in the application process. I also only let in about three or four authors per week. It is very
time consuming because there are several steps in the process, and since I am doing this at no charge, I only have a limited
amount of time each week to devote to new members.
Question:
What is the John 3:16 Marketing Network like on a day-to-day basis?
We have a Facebook page that is used basically to announce books on launch day and as publicity for the network. People
find us there and become a fan, but that does not make a person a member of the network. The Facebook page is only a tiny
fragment of the big picture.
We have a blog for launching books, a page where many of the books written by our authors are listed
for purchase, an introduction page for new members, and we are fixing to launch a resource page of available services offered
by authors within the network.
The most important part of the network is our Yahoo Forum, which is by invite
only. You can’t be a member of the forum unless you are in the John 3:16 Marketing Network. We have a very verbose group
on the forum. It is not unusual to have between fifty and one hundred email postings each day.
Question: What is
my role (Lorilyn Roberts) in the John 3:16 Marketing Network?
I admit everybody into the network. I verify
all the launch dates and launches to make sure each author is ready/prepared to launch and is not in conflict with anyone
else’s launch. I provide an important document explaining how to host a professional launch based on the Peggy McColl
Best-Seller Program. (We also have made some modifications to that program to suit our network). I answer a lot of individual
emails from members and oversee the general running of the network. It is a labor of love.
I had no idea when I began this
network, which I felt led by God to form, that it would be so successful. I have touched a felt-need in the Christian arena
of authors and marketing. We have a connectedness and sharing among like-minded individuals. We make no distinction between
self-published, POD published, or mainline published. It doesn’t come up in conversation on the forum, as I have seen
on other forums, because nobody cares.
There is a camaraderie and feeling of good will that must be akin to what
existed in the early church. We truly have something special here. As with any group, however, it is not for everyone. You
must have at least some familiarity with how to post on Facebook, twitter, blog, et cetera, or be willing to learn without
complaining; you must be willing to follow the instructions on how to launch a best-seller and be willing to be edified—we
want everyone to succeed; and you must be willing to give of yourself to help others on launches or give an e-gift for those
who have landing pages. The landing pages have been fabulously successful in helping authors to achieve best-seller status.
You will learn what that is when you join the John 3:16 Marketing Network.
As far as I know, we have done something
that has never been done—united Christian authors from all over the world in one network representing every way a book
can be published. On book launches, we all join together and cheer each other on through announcements of various kinds, helping
each author to achieve that coveted best-seller status. We share our thoughts, insights, knowledge, blogs, successes, prayer
requests, and dreams. What started out as a way for authors to launch books has become so much more. I am not sure where God
will take it, but I am trusting Him for the future. As I love to say, the best is yet to come!
To visit our information page and submit an application go to:
http://www.lorilynroberts.com/john_3_16_marketing_network.html
Saturday, April 23, 2011
He is Risen!He is Risen Indeed!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Enjoy this Latest Review of my book Children of Dreams
Children of Dreams is a must read for anyone going through the foreign adoption process, preparing to adopt, or
would like to see the commitment a parent must dedicate their life to in order to bring a child home.
Corruption,
heartache, cultural challenges all stand in the way of adopting. Lorilyn endured this process twice. I appreciate her honest
writing as she shares her inner struggles and hope. The road to each adoption was paved with a series of miracles so that
it’s easy to wonder how anyone endures the process at all. Just as the adoption seemed hopeless, the Lord would open
a door. As Americans, we don’t understand the mindset of impoverished nations. Manipulation, corruption, and the expectation
of bribes are a normal part of life in many countries.
Experience the journey as Lorilyn takes you through the
adoption of her two daughters. Watch her grow and learn to trust in God. This unique book is a must read for anyone. It gives
a greater appreciation for the analogy the Bible uses when we are called the adopted children of God.
Reviewed
by:
Eddie Snipes
President of the Christian Authors Guild
http://www.eddiesnipes.com
Author of I Called Him Dancer
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Six of Fifteen, Love Your Characters, Based on Ken Kuhlken's Book, "Writing and the Spirit" 
Love Your Characters
A recent event popped into my head where I misjudged somebody’s
comment. Fortunately, it bugged me enough that I said something about it to my daughter, who promptly straightened out my
misunderstanding. I was thankful she did and later wondered how many times I’ve misjudged someone and never knew.
As a fictional writer it’s important to understand
the inner workings of even the most bastard character. The psychology of being is at the core of every living thing and crucial
to what makes each individual unique. If we want to make believable characters, we better know what makes them itch, do something
stupid, or surprise the reader; but to love them? I am not sure I can do that. Perhaps I can love getting to know them better
as I create them, but I don’t know if I have the power of Dickens to love my antagonistic characters the way he did.
|
|
|
![[Social Submit this]](http://www.socialsubmit.com/images/socialsubmit.png "[Social Submit this]")
