I know, and know of, several genuine Christian Internet marketers. Their faith is generally evident in their business dealings (integrity in marketing their own products, excellent support, etc.). However, they are not openly Christian in their online marketing. And I have found myself following suit.
My faith in Jesus is clearly evident on my personal blog. But can you tell that I’m a Christian from my business blog? I doubt it.
I keep asking myself why. Am I afraid that no one will buy from me if I break the unwritten rule and “out” myself as a Christian Internet marketer?
When I was a teenager, I used to hear this all the time: “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” It pains me to say it, but as far as this blog, my sales pages and my autoresponder messages are concerned, I would be acquitted of the charges.
Well, that’s about to change.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Romans 1:16 (NASB)
No, I’m not going to ram my faith down anyone’s throat! And I don’t plan to plaster my blog and sales pages with scriptures and flowery sentiments ad nauseam, either. But my Lord belongs in my online business just as much as He belongs in every other area of my life. I will express my faith in Jesus whenever it feels appropriate. No more “closet Christian Internet marketer” for me!
I will be going through my autoresponder messages and product sales pages, and I will be removing anything that appeals to my prospects’ sense of greed, or takes advantage of their feelings of financial desperation. I will remove the products that I personally do not believe in, and that do not reflect my faith. My faith and personal integrity are more important than my conversion rates.
After all, MY NAME is on those sales pages and autoresponder messages. So why am I promoting some products that I don’t believe in, and using sales copy that I’m ashamed of?
“Christian Internet Marketer” is NOT an Oxymoron
By the way, an excellent book on the subject of Christians in business is “Business By The Book” by Larry Burkett. (Yes, that’s an affiliate link – get over it! 
) Even after all these years, it’s still a good read. And the book’s Christian business principles apply to online businesses just as well as offline businesses. I have read this book, and I highly recommend it.
I hope this gives some of you other Christians the courage to declare your faith in your online business. Don’t be afraid to put the “Christian” in “Christian Internet marketer.”
Filed under: Christian Business • Internet Marketing • Online Business
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Hi Julia,
Good for you! I know you will feel so much better about the way you do business. We do need to take a stand for what is right. I”m so glad to hear that you are removing things that might take advantage of other’s financial struggles. I don’t believe that we need to use those types of marketing methods.
Blessings:-)
Hi, Laurie!
Thanks for the feedback and encouragement. I purchased a “done for you” setup that supplied a bunch of sales pages and autoresponder messages for me. Unfortunately, they turned out to be the standard Internet marketing fare.
So I now have to weed out all of the sales and affiliate offers that I don’t want to be associated with, and “fix” the sales messages for the rest.