6. Throw back a bottle of Don Julio of course!

First of all - congratulations!  Writing a book takes real discipline.  I have written four, two published by traditional publishers, two self-published (one only electronically).  All on other subjects before I was involved in real estate.  The simple answer to your question is yes.  Books have been the most effective marketing tool I have ever had.  It is also an amazing business card.  You are an instant authority on your topic before you open your mouth or someone cracks a page.  

When mine were new (first one published in 97), I always had copies with me and gave them out like candy.  I spent quite a bit of time on the paid speaking circuit when the first one was published and often the companies hiring me would purchase and give them to all the meeting participants.  

Look at your book as a Swiss Army Knife, it can do many things in many different ways.  I would definitely offer it for sale on Amazon.  Adds to the credibility and people will buy it.

If it is in printed form, but not distributed, you can still try to get it into stores.  Airport bookstores are one of the best.  One of my friends who wrote a book did what he called "reverse shoplifting."  He would go into a store that did not carry his book and put several on a shelf in the appropriate location.  Eventually, someone would buy one, and it would be scanned into the bookstore's system, which in the larger chains would generate an order.

I applaud your work and wish you the best.  If I can answer any questions related to the publishing world, happy to help.

410 pages of real estate? I would pare it down at least by 1/2, put it on Amazon and give away copies as a 'hook.'

Then, publish the other half - rinse & repeat!

who the hell wants to write a real estate book!!!

Put it on ebay, everything sells there then do a specking tour and charge lots of money and sell more books.

#2 , 90% of agents are searching and will pay for the Magic Pill

Writing a book, be it about real estate or any other topic is a real accomplishment and takes dedication and diligence. I have been working on my own novel for several years and still not finished. So congratulations are in order and I wish you great success 

2, 3, and 4

Wow. Well, the first thing I'd do after finishing a 410 page book would be to celebrate.

Then I'd do whatever it was I was thinking I'd do when I finished, because you can bet if I wrote a 410 page book, I thought many times, "Why am I doing this? What will I do when I'm done?"

Not being in that position though, I have to guess. I think I would probably both put it on the market for consumer sales (but wouldn't expect a lot of $$$ to come from this) and possibly use it as a "hook" and/or as a course resource. Or maybe start my own brokerage because hell, if I know enough to write 400+ pages, I know enough to run my own company... 

# 1 and #3.  Never #5 because I do not believe they care ... they only care about production/sales volume. 

Mostly I would use it as a hook. 

And I would most definitely fly to AZ to meet-up with Candice A. Donofrio and throw back with someone who knows how to celebrate!

There are plenty of writers out there. The trick is to get published and sell a few then you can flap your wings toward any dirction you wish. 

    2 and 3

As an author I write for a purpose...People who go for their PHD's write to support their expertise. Your numbers 1 & 2 don't translate well in the real world. #3 is an expensive endeavor.  #4 takes work & connections. #5 don't need to support to argue with Broker and #6...examine yourself (motives)

Number 4 and definitely not Number 3. If you don't value it enough to expect a fee, most everyone else won't either.

I would not write a book like this.

Annette,

We get gigs without books!

So many of these books have little to no substance, and you can easily push them up to best seller status by have rave reviews from"friends" on Amazon, and buying a couple of 1000 of them...I cannot tell you how many real estate personnel have asked Ron and I to give them positive reviews without reading the books...and no we did not read or review.  LOL

Publish & sell on Ebay, Amazon

Use book for speaking gigs & to force people to buy more books.

Course resource is good

None of the above... would never write a 410 page book... there's already plenty of information out there and don't like being redundant.

I pass, thank you...

All of the above. Also use it - or excerpts - at appointments with customers. 

Most likely for my own knowledge and the ability to teach others!

Not thought of it.

Best of luck, Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 

All above. You have to promote it in any possible way you can. 

Congrats.....more to follow...

One of my lenders wrote a book about first time home buying and how it empowers people.  He gives it out at speaking engagements and I assume sells it too.

By the numbers...

1. Yes, just don't expect to get on the NYT best seller list.
2. It's possible.  More likely for local shows than good morning America.
3. Definitely doable.
4. Can be done, but we always sneered when the teacher wrote the book in class, thought it was one more way for them to make $$ off of us.
5. Just because you wrote a book doesn't make you an authority (I can write a book on how God likes to eat his cheese, doesn't mean I'm the Pope).  I don't see it as a negotiating tool and there are vendors out there who have pre-canned 100+ page real estate books that you can slap your name on.

410 pages is way too dense for the average consumer, in my humble opinion. It makes a great resource for a training class, though.

Door #3

Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 #3 for me.

I would have written the book on fishing!

All of the ideas have merit.

Probably all but number 2 for me but I might have to ponder longer

It's probably dated by now...

Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 Publish the book to establish yourself as a published author. It will lend some credibility to speaking engagements, etc.