How Do I Find Readers for a Christian or Spiritual Book?

Readers of faith and spiritual books find them through three things: the category the book sits in, the people they already trust, such as their church, study group, podcast or newsletter, and reviews. So start with an accurate category and a small group of early readers. Ads can wait.

This is practical advice for a book of any faith or none. It does not matter which tradition you write for. The mechanics are the same.

Which category should a faith or spiritual book go in?

KDP’s categories page says you can select 3 categories when you create a book, and it advises choosing one that describes your book. It does not allow categories that mislead readers, and it can remove or change one that has nothing to do with your content. A change can take up to 72 hours to show.

My advice: pick the most exact category for what the book is. A devotional for daily reading belongs somewhere different from a book about meditation or a book of church history. A reader who browses a narrow category is a reader who wants that kind of book. For how I choose, see how to pick the top 3 categories.

Should a faith book use KDP Select or sell wide?

It is your choice. KDP’s Select page says that if you enrol a book, you commit to making its digital format available exclusively through KDP. You cannot sell the ebook anywhere else, including on your own website. Physical books and other non-digital formats are not restricted. For what Select gives you in return, see whether KDP Select promotes your book.

My advice: decide by where your readers are. If they are on Kindle, Select is easy to try. If your readers hear about books at church, from a group or from a mailing list, they may buy from any store, and being exclusive could cost you sales.

How do I get early readers and reviews?

Ask the people who already trust you: your group, your mailing list, the people who asked when the book would be out. Setting up an advanced review team explains how, so I will not repeat it here.

KDP’s customer reviews page allows you to give free or discounted copies, as long as you do not require a review in exchange or try to influence it. Offering anything other than a free or discounted copy, such as a gift card, invalidates the review. So say “here is a copy, tell me what you think if you want to,” and leave it there.

Is an audiobook worth making?

It is an extra format for readers who listen, and a devotional or a book of teaching can suit listening. The steps are in how to convert your Amazon book to an audiobook.

What if my book was written in another language?

If the book did well in your first language, treat the English edition as a new launch. It needs its own early readers, its own reviews and its own category choice. My advice: plan as if the reviews of the first edition will not help the English one.

Want a second pair of eyes on the plan?

If your book is out and you want to check the category, the page and a small launch plan, book a free 25-minute call.

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