Dear Author: Personal Branding is Your Best Marketing Strategy
The market is saturated, yes?
And AI, indeed a supremely helpful tool and tech, adds hustle to the already noisy marketplace.
If you are a Christian author, you’re marketing on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn… not going viral, it’s easy to think: My book isn’t good enough. My thoughts aren’t good enough. My launch isn’t gaining traction.
Let me remind you of your greatest advantage: It’s you.
Personal branding is emerging not merely as a vehicle for book promotion but as a strategic asset that fosters credibility, engages readers and forges enduring connections (Forbes) .
Marketing on social is not about virality or going viral. In fact, at the time of writing this (August 2025) Instagram’s algorithm is favoring small creators, according to Instagram Growth Expert, Brock Johnson, and head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri.
Let’s get back to the basics here. If you’re not looking around at authors with more followers or with prettier feeds, what is your dream? What if your followers all 323 or 3,232 of them were served the very best of Jesus and you? What if you showed up as yourself (because you’re the one writing the book) and shared your heart, your life, your story?
Think of the tabloids- in my younger years, People was so exciting and juicy because you get BTS (behind-the-scenes!) of stars you looked up to/thought were super cute! Wow how exciting!
Well, personal branding can be thought of in this way: “Personal branding is an online version of your reputation” (Rory Vaden). And, without the gossip and drama of People. You are the one carefully curating what information is presented to your community and audience. You feed your people clips of your life, books, and heart that can inspire, draw, encourage, and strengthen them.
So let’s touch on a few points, and hopefully you’ll walk away with peace remembering you are enough and that God gave you something specific to speak to people that only you can reach.
What is personal branding?
Advantages of Personal Branding
Your Offer & Your Audience
Additional Opportunities
Avoid These Personal Branding Mistakes
Conclusion
What is personal branding?
It’s your reputation, digitized (Brand Builders Group). It’s who you are: your hobbies, family, lifestyle, your characteristics, personality, and giftings. It’s your very life but online. Share discerningly!
Share stories and knowledge about how you solve problems, what you can do to help people, the trials you’ve been through, and how you’ve come through them. This authenticity will separate you in the increasing online noise.
Advantages of Personal Branding
It builds trust. According to Business.com, “Personal branding via social media fosters trust and credibility, which are valuable components of a purchasing decision. According to a well-known Nielsen survey, 88 percent of consumers trust recommendations from family and friends more than any other type of advertising”
Sean Dollwet, a publisher of Indie books, writes on Forbes, “a LinkedIn study found that a personal brand holds more weight than a comprehensive resume for 70% of hiring managers. I've witnessed this firsthand in the publishing industry—a field where authors and publishers are compelled to distinguish themselves amidst a sea of competition. Often I see people struggle to invest fully and ensure that their brands reflect their true selves. Typically what's holding them back is the fear of it not being profitable or good enough,” Engaging with your audience regularly with updates, industry panels and contributing to publications are effective strategies for visibility.
Visibility is key to maintaining and growing audience trust. In the publishing industry especially, I've found that engaging directly with the audience through regular updates, participating in industry panels and contributing to popular publications are effective strategies. (Forbes)
Personal Brands Build Trust
“According to LinkedIn, professionals who use social media in their sales process are 51 percent more likely to reach their sales goals. Additionally, 78 percent of professionals who utilize social selling outsell their colleagues who don’t use social media. These numbers are a testament to the increased trust and familiarity a branded social media presence can bring.” says Business.com.
Don’t Overlook Your Offer & Your Audience
You must know why you’re different and what your specific offer and edge is.
Likewise, you must identify and flesh out who your ICA (ideal client avatar) is. Who are you speaking to? What are their pain points? Why is this book or devotional a solution to their problems? How will this book speak to their hurt, their chaos, their journey?
This is where creating a following and community on social media can really aid in your marketing efforts. Sharing who you are and why you’re different- not as show-and-tell but as an extension of you and your offerings positions you with a group of people who need and desire you in their lives!
Additional Opportunities through Personal Branding
Appearances on podcasts, other blogs, and interviews exposes you and your work to people outside your personal sphere. It grants you visibility which is key to growing an audience that trusts you.
Beyond book sales, a recognizable personal brand can lead to speaking engagements, collaborations, media coverage- all expanding an author’s reach and impact.
Personal Branding Mistakes to Avoid
Ensure that your message and aesthetic is the same across all platforms. It is confusing to find a professional showing up as one personality on Instagram and another on their website or email newsletter. This erodes a consumer’s trust, and in the age of AI, trust is hard-earned.
Don’t get swept away with AI. Instead, use this tool to help analyze reader preferences and behaviors, enabling more targeted content creation and marketing strategies. (Sean Dollwet)
Conclusion
Adley Kinsman, an online entrepreneur who’s cracked the code on going viral says, “Personal branding will be more valuable than Bitcoin by 2030.”
So where are you at in your journey? Are you ready to start marketing your brand like you mean it? Start on your personal branding strategy today and start forging community engagement, consumer trust, and authentic connection online.
