You know, as Christian writers, we often find ourselves navigating a tricky space, trying to grow our author business while staying true to our Christian values. It's easy to fall into using marketing tactics or business strategies that seem to work for others, only to realize they don't sit well with our spirit or our audience.
In today's episode, I'm talking about what it really looks like to discern whether the way you are building your business is aligned with God's way, or if you've unknowingly picked up patterns from the world that just aren't meant for you.
If you've ever felt out of alignment or unsure whether a strategy is truly spirit led, I think this episode will meet you right where you are. So turn up the volume, friend, because this one's going to help you realign, refocus and root yourself in the kind of strategy that flows from faith, not formulas. This is episode 22.
I'm Urcelia Teixeira, ex real estate agent turned award winning Christian fiction author. When I wrote my first novel on a bucket list whim, I had no idea it would spark a spiritual journey that would redefine my calling.
But you know what, friend? Self publishing wasn't easy. I got caught in the hustle, chasing rankings and sales while desperately trying to stay rooted in Christ. Now, by God's grace, I'm building my author business his way.
And now he's called me to help you do the same. Welcome to the Anointed Scribe Podcast where faith meets business for Christian writers. Let's write, publish and grow our author business God's way.
Are you ready? Well then, let's get started.
Hey, it's your author friend, Urcelia. And welcome back to another episode of Anointed Scribe, where we build our author business business God's way.
It really means so much to me that you've chosen to hang out with me today. Whether you're editing a chapter, brainstorming your next book, juggling your writing time with real life, or just trying to squeeze in a little inspiration between emails and word counts.
Thank you. Thank you for being here and if you're one of my regulars, welcome back. It's always a joy to have you here and I'm so grateful for your continued support.
So keep sending me your messages.
I love having these conversations with you and of course, if this is your first time tuning into the show, a big warm welcome to the Anointed Scribe tribe. I'm truly humbled and blessed that you are here, however and wherever you're listening.
I pray this episode meets you right where you are and that it speaks straight to your heart. Today I want this to be a place where you feel at home, seen and spiritually equipped to build your author business with deep kingdom rooted purpose.
Because today we are diving into something I think we all wrestle with at some point on this journey. Especially if you are out there trying to build an author business that honors God in a world full of flashy formulas and and pressure to perform.
But today's episode isn't exactly about marketing tips or sales tactics. It's about something much deeper. It's about the approach behind how we market and sell as Christian authors. It's about the subtle ways we can fall into copying what the world says works.
Things like urgency triggers, scarcity tactics, perfectly curated platforms, and how those strategies, while effective on the surface, can start to feel misaligned when we are called to operate from a place of spirit led obedience.
So in essence we are talking about discernment today,
about pausing to ask, is this marketing strategy in alignment with my values as a Christ follower, with my calling with God's heart?
So if you've ever found yourself questioning whether the way you are showing up online, promoting your books or building your brand really reflects who you are and who you represent,
then I really think this episode is going to speak to you today, friend. And listen, I'll be the first to admit I've fallen into that trap more times than I can count.
I've tried the in air quotes, proven sales tactics, the urgency driven emails, the countdown timers, the salesy headlines that are supposed to create FOMO and make people click now or never.
If you're not familiar with what FOMO is, it stands for Fear of Missing Out. You've probably seen it in action. Those countdown clocks and the only three left kind of lines.
Or that pressure to grab something before it's gone forever. That's all FOMO FOMO tactics. And while those things might work from a marketing perspective, I mean they're psychologically designed to be effective.
They can actually create subtle anxiety in our audience instead of peace.
You see, as Christian authors, we need to be mindful not to build our launches on fear based urgency.
Because while those strategies might move the needle in sales, they often don't reflect the heart of God or align with the peace and prompting of the Holy Spirit. And if they lack the fruit of the Spirit like peace, gentleness and self control, we really have to ask ourselves, is it fair?
Is it right? As writers called to bring freedom, hope and truth to our readers is it honoring to use tactics that manipulate rather than minister?
And most of the time it's not even us being intentionally pushy. We're just following what the world says works, right?
I've studied the launch blueprints, followed the secret source formulas, and even twisted my messaging just a little to fit what I thought would sell better. And while some of it may have worked on the surface, deep down it never really sat right with me.
It felt like I was trying to force something that didn't truly reflect who I am or more importantly, whom I serve.
So today I want to also talk about something I see happening a lot lately in our space as Christian writers. Maybe you've seen it too, and that's this pressure, sometimes subtle, sometimes loud, to model our author businesses.
After what the world says works, we are told to write like this, mark it like that, follow this formula, use that best hook recipe. And on the surface it sounds smart, right?
I mean, after all, we do want our books to sell, our platforms to grow and our messages to reach people. And we do want to always be open to learning from those who have been in the game for much longer than we have.
But at some point we have to pause and ask, do these strategies they put out to us align with who God created us to be and the message he's entrusting us to share?
Because here's a question.
What if these sales techniques clash with our convictions and our identity as Christian writers? What if we are contradicting the very message we are trying to proclaim?
How do we discern whose advice to follow and which business strategy to implement? Because there's a lot of it out there, right?
So that's what I want to get stuck into in this episode. And listen, this is not a judgmental, finger pointing kind of way episode, but in a more let's check our hearts kind of way, checking our heart posture.
This is a conversation about what it really means to build our author businesses in alignment with God. Not just by slapping a Christian label on top, but by actually letting the Holy Spirit lead the way.
So this is one of those heart to heart chats, the no fluff, no formulas, just real talk between us fellow Christian authors navigating this wild journey of building a business that's actually rooted in God.
And I'll just say it up front, I've messed this up.
I've tried these things that I'm going to be talking about, the tactics, the formulas. I've taken the online courses, I've been in the webinars where you are told to create urgency, to leverage scarcity, to trigger emotion, to drive conversion.
I've been there and I've fallen victim to following marketing trends and sales tactics all in the name of the next sale. And I can tell you, when the Holy Spirit convicted me in this area, I had to really dig deep and check my heart on this, which is what I'd like to encourage you to do also.
So you too can be set free from this. Because if you've ever found yourself feeling like something just isn't sitting right with how you are building, promoting or even showing up as an author,
then friend, the Holy Spirit is already working in you. And so I would like to encourage you to spend time with God talking about this. Take time to pray after this episode and seek God in it.
Because I feel like God will speak to you in a different way, that he will speak to me. Maybe there are things that do work for you where they didn't work for me, but I need you to go to God into the Word with what I'm sharing here today.
Always do that. Okay,
so let's talk about a few practical faith led marketing decisions that can help you avoid falling into worldly tactics and stay aligned with God's will for your author business. I'm going to share five steps to discern the right marketing strategies for your author business.
Steps that will help you align your business with God's will and help you to choose marketing tactics that truly reflect your values as a Christian writer. Okay, so let's break it down.
These five steps will help you navigate through the marketing noise and give you the clarity you need to make decisions that feel right for your business, your brand and most importantly, your calling.
Because I've been in those positions where I've been so confused with all information and all the offers out there. And you know, you, you have this desire to want to make your business work and you, you want to see the, the growth in your business and in your writing.
But there's just so much to choose from and you never really know which one is the right one or the right fit for your business. So how do we discern this?
Right, so let's dive in.
Step number one. Evaluate every marketing strategy in light of God's Word.
As Christian authors, it's crucial to evaluate every marketing strategy through the lens of scripture. Before you implement any tactic, ask yourself, does this align with God's Word? In our business, we should be mindful of strategies that are rooted in fear, manipulation or self serving agendas.
Instead, we should seek marketing methods that align with peace, gentleness and self control. The fruits of the Spirit, right? So before jumping into a new marketing trend, just pause and pray.
Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment. If the strategy causes anxiety, pressure, or feels manipulative in any way, it might not be the right choice for you. We want our marketing to reflect the character of God, not the culture of the world.
Step 2 pause before triggering urgency Urgency tactics like countdown timers or limited time offer or there's only three left are common in marketing, but they often create a sense of fear rather than excitement, right?
While they can increase sales in the short term, these tactics can also include anxiety and pressure your audience into making rushed decisions which may not align with your values. As a Christian author,
we've all been on the receiving side. We've all seen those hurry while stocks last, hurry, there's only two left. And what happens? It immediately evokes this panic within you, this fear of missing out.
And so what do you do? You plunge into the sale whether you can afford it or not. That isn't, in my opinion, godly. That is pressure. That is putting pressure on a reader to make a decision.
So before creating urgency in your messaging, ask Is this truly from a place of excitement and value, or is it pushing people into fear of missing out? Instead of relying on pressure, focus on creating genuine excitement around your book. For example, you could offer a bonus for early readers or give your audience exclusive access to content in a way that feels like a gift rather than a demand.
Step number three Align your messaging with God's heart.
Your messaging should reflect the truth of the gospel, hope, love, and freedom in your promotional materials. It's important to ask whether the messaging you're sending out is about the value your book offers to your readers or simply about making a sense sale.
Your heart posture as you craft your messages should always be to minister to your audience, not manipulate them.
So check your intentions when writing promotional content. Are you truly passionate about the message you are sharing? Does your message reflect God's love and truth?
Focus on the transformation your book can bring to a reader's life. A sales pitch should never feel like a transaction. It should feel like an invitation to something bigger than just a book or fear of missing out on a sale or a deal.
Step number four Trust God's timing.
This is a tricky one. It's not always easy. The world often encourages us to hustle, to follow trends and race to achieve quick, quick results. Taking shortcuts. However,
God works in his perfect timing. Trusting his timing means understanding that your success doesn't have to follow the same timeline or trajectory as others. You don't need to compare your journey with that of someone else's.
Your book will find its readers when God deems it the right time and also in the same light. If you're looking at picking between a online course, an online course, or something else and you scared you because they're using these fear of missing out tactics and you're scared that you'll be missing out, just pause. Because I can tell you now if God needs you to hear whatever that person's saying in that course, if he needs you to implement that in your business, you will know.
You will just know what you know what you know, and he will find a way to give it to you, oftentimes for free. You just need to ask and then listen.
So trust in the season you are in. Instead of worrying about what the industry says or comparing your progress to others, lean into God's plan for your business.
Pray for patience and discernment about the next step. Your success doesn't hinge on trends. It rests in God's will for your life. Take the time to cultivate your craft and build your brand in alignment with God's will rather than forcing things ahead of schedule because you're scared you're going to miss out on the deal.
Step number five don't compromise your values for quick wins Marketing trends may promise quick success, but sometimes they come at a spiritual cost.
It's tempting to bend your principles for short term gains, but doing so often leads to inner conflict and discontent. As a Christian writer, your integrity is one of your greatest assets.
Avoid compromising your values for the sake of quick wins or viral success.
Before jumping on a new trend or sales tactic, ask yourself if it aligns with your values. Does it feel authentic to who you are? As a Christian author, will it serve your audience or just benefit you?
Marketing should never cost you your integrity. Seek out strategies that are rooted in kindness, honesty and authenticity. And remember, success built on principles that honour God will always have lasting fruit.
So to recap, we start with prayer and scripture. We pause before pushing urgency. We align our message with God's heart and we trust his timing.
Friend, today I want to invite you to pause, reflect and realign your marketing strategy with the values that matter most. Values that honour God and serve your readers. As you continue to build your author business, remember that your identity and purpose are found in Christ, not in following the latest trends that are all over the forums on Facebook.
Keep discerning. Keep praying and always trust that God's plan for your writing career is bigger than any sales tactic or marketing formula. And sure, some of that stuff works for a while, but here's what I found.
And maybe you felt this too already.
Even when those strategies technically worked, you know, the ones promising more visibility, more clicks, more sales, they still felt off. They felt forced. Like I was trying to squeeze myself into this perfectly polished mould of what a successful author is supposed to look like online.
Like I had to become some version of an author influencer instead of just being me. A woman of faith, a writer who actually cares about her readers. A creative who isn't chasing numbers but walking in calling.
A writer whose heart is full, fully surrendered to God, whose business belongs to the true author of life, to use as he sees fit for the purposes of his kingdom.
And I don't know about you, but every time I leaned into those trending tactics that looked so shiny and persuasive from the outside, something inside me just paused.
My spirit would whisper. There's this hesitation to. To jump in on it and to click the button and buy.
And it just says this, isn't it? Not because this strategy was inherently bad or even unethical, but because it wasn't aligned with who I am.
It wasn't birthed in prayer, it wasn't anchored in the spirit, and it definitely didn't feel like me.
And that's where I've come to realize and to really lean on discernment, not just as a spiritual practice, but as a business compass.
Because the truth is, not everything that glitters is gold, right? And not every clever strategy out there is meant for you and your business in the season that you're in.
In 1 Corinthians 10:23, Paul says this.
Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.
That verse has hit me in a whole new way as a Christian creative.
Just because a tactic is trending, just because it works doesn't mean it's the right move for you. Not if it compromises your integrity, your peace, or your purpose.
Discernment isn't about judging others or labeling strategies as evil. It's about being spirit led in your own decision making. It's pausing long enough to say, God, is this from you?
Or does this path actually honour you? Or is it just going to feed my ego?
Because here's what I've learned the hard way, friend. Discernment is what helps us write with God, not just for God.
And it's exactly what Proverbs 3 reminds us.
Trust in the Lord, with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
It doesn't say trust in the market trends or lean on a launch formula or that flashy online course that everybody's talking about. It says trust him and he'll direct your path.
Even your author business path.
And if we are not checking in with God about how we are running this author business, we might be unknowingly building something that looks good on the outside but is hollow on the inside.
So if something feels off, don't ignore that nudge.
That dis ease in your spirit might just be the Holy Spirit inviting you into something better.
Something slower maybe, but also richer and more deeply rooted in the truth.
You and I both know that readers today are so smart.
They don't fall for polished sales jargon or emotionally manipulative pictures. They can scroll past a flashy ad in two seconds flat and never look back.
What they do stop for what actually draws them in is authenticity.
That's what stops the scroll. That's what makes someone pick up your book. That's what's building trust over time.
And listen, I'm not saying there's no value in learning how to market your book or build a business. Absolutely not. We are not called to hide in the shadows or avoid excellence.
But the problem comes when we copy and paste what everyone else is doing. Especially when those everyone else's aren't walking with God.
Because what works for the world doesn't always work in the kingdom.
I think we forget that sometimes, don't we? We see other authors with big platforms and constant book sales and we think, well, maybe that's what I need to be doing.
So we tweak our messaging. We follow the trends. We start showing up more for performance than for purpose. And that's where the misalignment sneaks in.
Let me just be honest with you. I've done it. I've written emails with sales triggers that didn't sit right in my spirit, but I've used it anyway.
I've hyped a book too hard because I felt like I needed to match what others were saying and doing.
I've shown up online feeling like I had to be a marketer first and a messenger second.
I've blindly followed the herd to signing up for flashy online courses. That's going to be what catapults my book sales to success overnight, only to be met with the opposite after wasting valuable time trying to make it work.
And each time I did that, God gently convicted me. Not with shame, not with guilt. Just a quiet whisper that said you weren't made to imitate or follow them. You were made to follow me, to listen to my voice, my guidance, like it says in Jeremiah 33:3, I think call to me and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know, friend. Maybe you needed to hear that. Today we're not here to mimic the world's playbook. We are here to follow God's leading. To listen first, create second. To speak truth.
Not just what's trending.
Because at the end of the day, your readers don't just want to know what you wrote, they want to know why.
They want to know who you are, who you represent, are you really who you say you are.
They want to know if the words they are about to invest their time and money into will nourish their soul or just leave them dry and empty.
And here's something I don't think we talk about enough Readers can feel when they are being subconsciously manipulated, even if they don't know exactly what it is that's rubbing them up the wrong way. There's often a knee jerk reaction to overly pushy or inauthentic messaging.
Sometimes it's subtle. Maybe they scroll past your post a little faster. They click away from your email or hesitate to buy your book. They might not realize why, but their spirit is picking up on something that doesn't feel quite safe, quite real, or quite aligned.
Because maybe somewhere along the line they've already been tricked and deceived and fell for a scam or fell for something that wasn't quite delivering what they bought. And more often than not, it's because the tactic, however well intentioned, just doesn't resonate with their soul.
It's too polished, too pressured, too much.
They are not stupid. They know.
And when that happens, trust starts to crack.
And once trust is gone and it's broken between you and your reader, it's really hard to win it back. If ever.
And you know what builds that kind of trust? It's not a funnel or a sales hack or a snappy headline. It's showing up consistently and authentically being the same person in your emails, on your blogs, on your social media, and inside your books.
It's letting the Holy Spirit guide how you promote, not just what you publish. It's remembering that you're not building just another author brand. You are cultivating a kingdom calling one that was uniquely crafted to you and your identity in Christ.
You are representing heaven on earth.
So if you've been caught in the trap of copying what works out there in inverted commas or in air quotes and wondering why it's not working for you. I see you.
I've been you. No judgment year. Been there, done it. And maybe today is your gentle nudge to step back, take a breath, and ask God, what does my path look like, Lord?
What would it look like to build this business with you instead of for you?
Because I promise you this, friend, there's peace in alignment, there's joy in obedience, and there's power in letting God lead the strategy.
So as you keep writing, building, growing, keep checking in not just with your sales number or your engagement rate, but with your heart, ask yourself, does this feel honest when I say XYZ or xyz if you're in America,
Am I showing up as myself or someone I think I have to be?
Would I still be proud of this message if only God saw it?
That's the kind of discernment that sets you apart, friend. Not as a better marketer, but as a faithful messenger. And trust me, when your readers see that, they will lean in.
They'll trust you and they'll keep coming back. Not just for your books, but for the truth you carry. They'll keep coming back for you. Your heart, your calling, your mission.
So that's a wrap for today, friend. Just something that's been sitting heavy on my heart, and I wanted to share it with you the way I would over a cup of coffee.
No hidden agenda, no sales pitch. I'm not selling anything, just real talk.
I hope this episode has sparked something in you, whether it's a new way of thinking, a fresh conviction maybe, or just the reminder that you are not alone in this journey.
We're all in this together, walking the path God has set before us, trying to build something that honors him and reflects his heart.
Friend, I'd like to encourage you to take a moment this week to evaluate your next marketing campaign through these five steps. And let me know how God guides you in this process.
And if there's anything today that resonated with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Whether it's a small insight or a big revelation, you can follow the show on Facebook at Anointed Scribe.
It says it's at Anointed Scribe. And if you're interested to connect with me on a more personal level about any of these episodes or anything else, really, then I'd love to welcome you into my private Facebook group.
There's a link to the Anointed Scribe tribe in the show notes or otherwise. You can just go into Facebook and search the groups for Anointed Scribe Tribe. And if you know another Christian writer who might benefit from this or any other episode, maybe send this episode their way as a reminder that we don't have to do this the world's way to find success right?
Remember, as you continue to build your author business, lean into God's guidance and trust his timing. You're not just writing for a paycheck, you're writing for his glory.
Friend, thank you so much for listening to today's episode of the Anointed Scribe Podcast. I would love, love, love to know what resonated most with you today. So do let me know by leaving a review in the show description please.
And if you want more biblical strategies and spirit led wisdom on how to build your author business God's way, make sure you like or subscribe to the show so you can get regular updates of all the new episodes the moment they drop.
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If you want to continue discussions on today's episode or just want to connect with me directly, I love if you join the Anointed Scribe Tribe, you'll find the link to my private Facebook group in the show description.
So friend, I hope that you are leaving feeling inspired, encouraged and on fire to step boldly into your calling as a writer chosen and set apart to fulfill a unique purpose in God's plan.
I look forward to our next episode together and remember, for such a time as this, you have been called to thrive as God's Anointed Scribe.
