Friday, February 02, 2007

Zondervan Breakfast Club


Happy Friday! Here’s info on an interesting offer from Zondervan you might like to sign up for.

Want a free read of the first 2-3 chapters of the latest Zondervan books? For you fiction lovers, think of authors such as Karen Kingsbury, James Scott Bell, Bill Myers, Brandilyn Collins, Terri Blackstock, Robin Lee Hatcher, Lori Copeland, Gilbert Morris, and many others. And let’s not forget that Mike Snyder guy. For nonfiction lovers, think authors such as Phillip Yancey, Rick Warren, Rob Bell, Joni Eareckson Tada, Ace Collins, Ann Spangler … You get the picture.

Begun in March 2005, the
Zondervan Breakfast Club features one Zondervan book a week, including fiction and nonfiction. Every Monday through Friday, a five-minute excerpt from a book is e-mailed to subscribers. By the end of the week, subscribers have sampled two to three chapters, exposing themselves to new authors or genres they might never have sought out on their own.

Zondervan started the Breakfast Club as a way to fulfill its company mission statement (meet the needs of people with resources that glorify Jesus Christ and promote biblical principles), while providing targeted marketing to people who said they wanted to hear from Zondervan more regularly.

ZBC is a popular club. While the company keeps its subscriber numbers confidential, I can tell you that Z has seen a 209% increase in current subscribers since November 2005.

ZBC subscribers include business professionals, housewives, pastors, church librarians, bookstore personnel, teachers, students, and many others. Many have written Zondervan to say they've gone to their local bookstore and purchased the books after sampling them in the Zondervan Breakfast Club. Zondervan has also heard from CBA bookstore employees who subscribe so they can stay current on new books to recommend to their customers. Here’s a sampling of the comments Z receives:

Fiction

"After reading a few of last week's Breakfast Club book snippets, I just HAD to go buy the book (Monday Morning Faith). I finished it over the weekend, staying up until 1:00 a.m. this morning to finish it! It was hilarious, but so convicting too. I'll admit it; I have a problem with possessions also, and Lori Copeland's book helped me to see how foolish I must look to our Father when I throw my little pity parties and whine about my 'possessions.' Thanks!"

"You asked for feedback.............I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!! (Night Light). I can not wait to get to the store this weekend to get it. My sister and I read the first one together at the same time and we have been anxiously waiting for this one to come out. I was so happy that it was a "Breakfast Club" book, it only whetted my appetite for more. I was sad each morning when I came to the end of the e-mail. I think Terry Blackstock is an awesome writer!! Her books capture you and hold you till the end, and then you are sad to put it down and leave your friends. Thank you so much. I love the Breakfast Club."

"I loved last week's book (Violet Dawn). I am going out to buy it so I can finish reading it. Thanks and have a blessed day."

Nonfiction/General

"Just went out and purchased the book (S.H.A.P.E.)--it was very interesting. Thanks for picking it as a book club selection."

"This is the first time in a long time that I have looked forward to reading a non-fiction book (The Deity Formerly Known as God). Thanks again for what you are doing."

"I am loving this book club and have been a member for about a month now. The variety of books is Fantabulous. Thank you."

"As the librarian of my church I am always on the lookout for books that are of help to members of the congregation and/or our ministers. You have helped me to choose books that will expand my congregation's understanding about God and that he has made all of us for a Divine Purpose."

"I really enjoy the breakfast club. Because of the club I have bought two new books and I love them!"

"I just signed up for the Breakfast Club and recommended it to a friend. I am a Store Manager for a Christian bookstore and will be recommending that my staff sign up in order to increase product knowledge."

Subscribe to the Zondervan Breakfast Club

Subscribe to any of Zondervan's e-mail publications

7 comments:

Kristy Dykes said...

Great P.R. move. Useful to the consumer and gets exposure for Z's books. Thanks for letting us know.

~michelle pendergrass said...

I used to get that, I wonder what happened? Going to investigate.

Anonymous said...

Okay, speaking completely anonymously here...let's not forget the sage advice of our friend and mentor, Brandilyn Collins..."And let’s not forget that Mike Snyder guy."

If that bit of prose doesn't get garner a Christy nomination, then I think we'll need to demand a recount!

Eden said...

Thanks for telling us about this cool site!
Brandilyn, thank you for praying for us!

Hugs,
Eden

Karen said...

"A 209% increase in current subscribers"? That statistic looks a little leery to me alongside raving quotes without attribution. I don't think that program is for me, but I'll applaud Zondervan for beign creative.

Susanne said...

Going over there right now.

~ Brandilyn Collins said...

Karen, I took the quote attributions off. These folks wrote Zondervan privately and signed their names, but they haven't given permission for their names to be used publicly.

I will defend Z's integrity in not quoting numbers that are false.