Is the Christian Market Viable?

I do agree with that but you can still be an actual Chrsitian and believe what you write but it totally flops too.

I have been curious about this also and the demand is there but you have to creative and think outside of the box.

Great advice. I agree completely. I have also been marketing to a niche within Christendom. It comes out of a passion and that shows to those that are interested in this. I advise you to market to a "niche within" out of the overflow of your passion.

Christians use services/products in their everyday lives just like other people, outside of reading the Bible and going to church. Instead of focusing on being "Christian" as your market, target a sub-niche of something that Christians need/want. Then deliver your content around that need/want in a way that's in alignment with the values of a Christian. It doesn't necessarily have to say "The Christian's Guide To..."

Sad but true. Don't trust someone just because they have a fish on the back of their truck. If it looks like a fish ... smells like a fish ... well then something maybe fishy!

OP - check out Sean Mize.

He started off with articles for the Christian market but ascended to bigger things and is now a demi-god in the IM world ;-)

Here's one of his 2006 articles on searchwarp - "Why Write Christian Articles?"
Why Write Christian Articles? by Sean R Mize

My IM education has taught me that there are two things/niches that one should leave alone; religion and politics. Because they are personal and provocative subjects, that stir up too many arguments.
:rolleyes:

good luck to you though!

This has all been very interesting. Many replies have been positive while many have been ugly. I guess that is to be expected. I asked how to best to serve the Christian market and I get a few mean-spirited people or maybe just people that have been hurt by so-called Christians, doing some Christian bashing. I’m disappointed about that. However, I am very grateful to all of those that have been truly helpful to me in this thread. I appreciate your help, and words of encouragement.

This post was NOT about religion! It was a means to find out 1. If there was money to be made in this market; if it was viable. 2. Which niches/sub-niches in this market are the most popular. Instead in turned into a free for all about how terrible and untrustworthy Christian supposedly are. Is this the way it always is here at the WarriorForum or just when dealing with Christians or ANYTHING having to do with Christianity? I had hoped that this post would yield more positive results that would be helpful to me and others looking to market to this niche. I take some of the blame for that. I should have been more specific in regard to niches/sub-niches. But, I really didn't know which niches I was looking for. But, the rest was because of some that just wanted to not be nice. This post has been been polluted by some that don’t have anything else better to do than to be thoughtless. This post was not supposed to be a place for Christian bashing or negativity of any kind! It was to be a place about finding out some valuable information to help those interested in this market!!! To those that had nothing positive to contribute, but only negativity I say ‘how unkind and thoughtless of you!’ It was a shameful thing!


It seems that this market is indeed a viable one. That’s great. That means there is a place for me in this market. I just need to find my niche/sub-niche within it. I’m happy about that. I wish that you could see my grin!
But, I wish that I could have gotten more information on the best niches/sub-niches in this market. People have lots of niche information to share with you concerning secular things, but not much about this one it seems.



I will reply to as many of those as I can that were the most helpful. THIS WILL BE A LONG POST!

But, before I do I just want to say one more thing:

First, like I said in my original post I am a Christian. I'm not some fake trying to "pimp out" my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to my Christian family. I'm looking to offer them something that will help them grow stronger in their Christian walk. Yes, the Bible is the ultimate authority on our faith, but I believe that I have something to offer that could be helpful. We are to help each other. The Bible tells us that everyone has something to contribute to the other members in our spiritual family, as well as the world. If I can do it in this manner then that's what I want to do! That's what I'm going to do!


Now to the nitty gritty...


WordPro-
Thank you Mark. Excellent advice. I will surely remember that.



Sherman Cox –Thank you for your reply. Thank you for giving me ideas on how to market in this niche! You are the one of maybe four others that gave ideas about potential markets! I’ve seen posts full of markets for “desperate buyers” in other threads in this forum, but only four gave me any information about niches in this market, and I did indeed ask for that as well. Thank you! I do have a blog and I am doing my best to gain preeminence in this area. That was great advice as well.

Marhelper-I most definitely have a passion. I was just confused about how I can be helpful to anyone in this market, and if the market was financially viable. There are LOADS of courses that teach you how to market to the secular world, or niches in secular markets but none that I know of that that teach about how to reach believers.

1wisewoman-Excellent suggestion. Thank you.

kimothy777-Thank you. I think I’ve got that now. I just need to find my angle. How do I set myself apart? I need to take a step back and really think this through. Thank you for the advice. This was great as well. I hope that you will have continued success in your parenting business.

Mark McClure-Thank you for the heads-up about Sean Mize. I have checked him out like you suggested. I liked that article. It made perfect sense. It was very helpful. I will be learning more about him!


Seriousmny-You are absolutely right. And I am a step ahead of you on this. I have been praying and I will continue to pray about this. I know that the Lord will lead me. Yes, prayer does change things. I know that he will lead me and guide me in the proper direction. He always does!


Kay King-Thank you for explaining the difference of how a scammer claimimg to be a “Christian” to gain trust in order to scam you, and the true Christian really seeking to make a difference in their chosen niche to the others in this thread. Obviously someone that is truly in Christ will not set out to scam you! I will follow your advice and do some serious research.


BrainDance-Thanks Brian! I already have a blog. I’m only just starting to learn more about linking and such. I will follow your advice. I will start visiting places where Christians congregate and get more involved. Your advice for writing copy for Church’s and Ministries was excellent! I hadn’t even though of that. I appreciate your comment. It was very helpful. Thank you for even giving me possible topics to write about. Only three other’s out of all the other posters actually answered this part of my original post and did this for me. Thanks so much! I will be figuring out how I want to reach out to others, and let God do the rest just like you said. I will pray about it. As Seriousmny reminded me prayer changes things. God will lead me where he wants me to be. Thanks.

artwebster -
First of all I’m a SHE, NOT a HE! While there are lot’s of men with class, I’ve never known any to call themselves “Classy.” It’s not very masculine. Now to the point at hand. Perhaps I should have been more specific. I will remember to do that in future posts.


And NO internet marketing has not re-defined Christianity! No man, woman or thing can ever do that!


rsm3745-Thank you for sharing that! What type of ebooks and CD’s have you purchased? What type of ebooks and other products are you looking for? What do you like?


Nightengale- Thanks for your reply I have a lot to say in response to your post. Nothing here was meant to be negative or mean. This is just my opinion, just as your original post was yours. I hope that you will take this is a positive light.

I'm sorry. “Christian Market” is too broad. I should have been more specific. Thank you for the help that you gave me in that area. I appreciate it.

Now to comment on the bulk of your post.

I am a Christian before I am anything else. I have no shame in telling that to anyone. I am a Christian before I am a writer or anything else. Understand? But as far as my gift for writing is itself concerned I am a writer first and foremost. That is the gift God has given me and I love it! It is not a tool to scam or manipulate to get what I want or as a means to an end. I’m not looking to “use” my Christianity to sell anything to anybody. I don’t have to “use” my faith to get ahead. I want to reach out to those that believe as I do, and write things to help them grow in their faith. That’s it. That’s all. Nothing more. Period! Get it?

It makes sense that if I’m trying to sell to Christians that they know I am also a Christian. If I was a demon worshipper and I said I was trying to sell you an ebook about “How To Grow Closer to God” would you buy that from me?!!! I don’t think so! I’m not trying to sell “Christian” real-estate! There is no such thing. That would be trying to use my faith in a manner that is nonsensical. That’s not what I’m talking about. That’s not what this post is about. Nor is it about having to advertise my faith. I don’t. I know what I am whether I pursue this market or not. That is not the point of this post. The point of this point is “Is the Christian Market Viable?” and “What Niches/Sub-Niches in This Market Are The Most Popular?” Those were the two questions I asked that has been half-answered, and that is yes, the market is viable. The other half is missing.

I admire your friend. Her decision to include a page about her faith may not have been about having others buy from her on the basis of faith. It may have been about her desire to follow the Great Commission. You know, “go out into all the world and preach the gospel.” That was her way. She was following a command from God in the way she knew best to do it. While some may have been offended, how many lives were possibly changed by her testimony? You’re looking at it from the wrong angle IMHO. She took a risk in being bold in her faith. Being bold for Christ is always risky. The risk was worth it to her. More power to her!

Jimmy D. Brown does excellently in his business and I don’t think that people knowing about his faith has hurt him one bit. I also don’t believe that he tells people about his faith or his Christian site to use it to get people to buy from him, but to use it to bring others to Christ. It’s just another case of following the Great Commission. Not everyone buys on the basis of someone else’s faith.

I just want to give one more example on this as well. While they are not internet marketers, Beyonce Knowles, Jordan Sparks, Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers are professing Christians in a secular industry. They have millions of fans. While a few may be, do you think that MOST of their fans buy their work because of their faith or their talent? I say talent. I don’t believe that telling you about their beliefs is to get you to buy from them based on that belief. This isn’t a case of whites only, blacks only, Christians only. It’s just telling you about what they believe without shame! How is that offensive? :confused:



I understand your being wary of a being scammed. But, there are just as many non-professing “Christians” out there in the great big world scamming people. You’re going to get scammed at some point in your life over something by someone, “Christian” or otherwise. That’s the way it is. Unfortunately that’s just life. You can’t do anything about it.



I understand that some people may expect more from you when they know you’re a Christian. But, the same can be said about how people react in your day to day dealings with them outside of business. That’s apart of being a Christian. It’s called being “set-apart.” Persecution or greater expectations will come whether in business or on the street. That’s the way it is. It’s just a risk that you take. It’s called carrying your cross. Being a Christian is not always easy. Negativity will always come. But, in the very end the rewards will be great won’t it? We are not to hide our light under a bushel. So I won’t.

There is NOTHING I can do if someone chooses to view me as a terrible Christian because I didn’t give into a tantrum or outrageous demand. My witness will NOT be tarnished because of that one person. They will believe what they want. But, their anger or disbelief about the true state of my faith will not be the destroyer of it. I will do my best to defuse the negative situation, but if I can’t I won’t lose any sleep over it. I know what I am. I know what I truly believe. And as I lay my head down to sleep at night I will know I did my best for that person. I will be able to look myself in the eye in the morning without shame. I will not worry about it. I will just give it to God. And once I do, that problem no longer belongs to me. It belongs to Him. He will deal with it. I will hold my head high and march forward. I will do what I feel is right to reach out to others regardless of the naysayers, and those with lies on their tongues. Why not? Christ did it all the way to Calvary. And I think you will agree He suffered WAY, WAY, WAY more than having to deal with a disgruntled customer. I am in no way comparing myself to Jesus. I’m just stating that if He can deal with what He dealt with, I can deal with a few unreasonable people. I will be okay. I believe that God has control of everything. I will be okay.

I respect your opinion. Really. But, I have never been afraid to speak of my faith in any situation, business or otherwise, and I won’t be now. I do understand what you are saying. It's important that people judge you solely on your business when it has nothing to do with your faith. If your business is solely secular that makes sense. But, my business wouldn't be a secular business only, but a Christian one as well, so I couldn't completely get away from it could I? But, I understand your point.

Your friends, people in your church, or in your very own family will say those words to you when they can’t get their way just as fast as anyone else! I can’t be concerned about that. People will be people. Sometimes we need to hear that. If we are truly doing wrong, and going against what we profess to believe someone needs to tell us and set us straight. Sometimes we really do need to hear that even when we don’t want to. But, if you know you are in the right let it roll off of your back. There is nothing else you can do. And as far as people taking advantage of you; they will do that even if they don’t know you are a Christian. Just be sure to stand up for yourself and not let them! It’s as simple as that! People will be people. We are not to be afraid of men and their faces. They will be who they are. They will do what they do. But, that doesn’t mean that we should ever be afraid or unwillingly to speak about our saving faith just to avoid getting on someone’s bad side. Because whether you speak about your faith or not you WILL get on someone’s bad side. It’s a part of life. You just have to deal with it. Just keep on smiling and move on.

Be blessed!




MichaelHiles-
Thank you Michael for this information. I appreciate your help.

Thanks Mangozoom for the advice. I will take your words about possible directions I could go in into account. Thanks for your reply. I wish you continued success in your business.



Thanks and Blessings,
AlwaysClassy