The 411 On Publishing Real Estate Books in 2014
Real estate books have been one of the most instrumental forces in creating wealth and changing lives over the last five decades. So what makes real estate books so great? Where do they miss they mark? Who should be considering publishing their own real estate related books, and how should they do it? Real estate books have been the inspiration for many amazing careers and investment portfolios, which have dramatically changed the lives of thousands in the United States. Consider the advice of real estate investing gurus like Warren Buffett. More often than not, all of it goes back to quotes from books that they have read, and tactics they implemented from them. Buffett, in particular, frequently refers to The Intelligent Investor, and even more ancient texts. Books like Think and Grow Rich have inspired many more to get into real estate as the ultimate vehicle for increasing income, and creating wealth. Even the more controversial books, which may now be considered out dated have go miles to at least turn individuals on to real estate, even if they have had to seek out more relevant and up to date courses and books to really accomplish their goals. Books have incredible value. Investment in education and learning is always a good move. Real estate books can pack in a lot of value. Dozens of hours of seminar and real estate coaching material can be squeezed into a good book. They may not be a lasting substitute. Attending live events, and taking advantage of ongoing coaching can provide a whole new element for effectively and efficiently powering towards goals. Of course, many books are flawed. It’s always wise to get a second opinion from an active real estate professional before implementing a plan and strategies picked up from books, especially older ones. The walls of publishing have been pulled down, and there can be a lot of junk out there. There are also many real estate investing courses and books, which may have once been great, but could now be dangerous due to outdated tactics which now may have been regulated to being illegal, or just impractical in the current market. So while second hand bookstores may hold some timeless gems on the cheap, and Amazon offers an endless array of low priced titles, these sources can sometimes make it difficult to navigate useful material that can be put into action versus simply collecting dust on the shelf, or taking up precious data storage space. Look for more recent publications like the new Wholesaling Bible, or at least works that offer evergreen strategies which can be used in all market phases. Look to your favorite real estate mentors and coaches, their websites, and get personal recommendations from friends on the best books and real estate courses which have actually helped them. With self-publishing becoming so much easier today, many real estate investors, Realtors, and CEOs might consider publishing their own books too. Besides the personal ego boost, and sense of accomplishment this can have many valuable, and practical advantages. A good, evergreen book could well go on producing passive income for an author for many years. This doesn’t mean getting out of active real estate sales or investing, but can rather compliment it with diversification and additional revenue streams. As a published author, real estate professionals can also benefit from more credibility, and visibility as well. Of course, this can also be a little daunting, and more work than many believe they have time for. Still, there are many affordable ways to self-publish real estate related books today. There is no more need to attempting to land book deals, or investing six figures in stacks of your own books with the hope of selling them. There are many digital book publishing options, as well as print on demand solutions. Some of these include Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon’s Create Space, Lulu, and HP Mag Cloud. Cover design and interior layout can be outsourced relatively cheap. Like most politicians, and celebrities which have published memoirs, it isn’t always necessary to physically write every line personally. There are many freelance writers and ghost writers which specialize in doing this. They can take your ideas, transcribed audio documentation, and notes, and formalize them. For a some publishing their own books to help others navigate the process of becoming successful real estate agents, running a winning real estate brokerage or other industry business, or investing can be their best move ever. However, just because it is easy and more affordable to publish your own book today, doesn’t mean it will sell like wildfire or make your rich overnight. There are plenty of books on Amazon which may have barely sold a handful of copies. Producing a winning book can depend on many factors. G-Code Magazine recently picked up on the war Amazon is waging to squash ebook prices. According to Amazon’s math; cheaper books can sell more copies. But, that doesn’t always mean you’ll sell more copies if you reduce the price, or even give your book away. Think about how you buy books, and how much price is, or isn’t a factor. In additional to pricing, successful real estate book publishing strategy relies on quality and uniqueness, well-timed releases, and promotion. Some may feel it is a bit of a chicken and the egg dilemma. Just like in real estate wholesaling and flipping, a good book launch might go best for those that build buyers lists via social and email, and develop their credibility first.