Are you considering becoming a MyBooks member, but fear people will find out you didn’t write the books?
This is by far the biggest concern we hear from members and potential members.
We, at Smart Agents, have worked long and hard to come up with new ways to help our members feel more comfortable handing out the books — while still capitalizing on the expert authority they provide.
If being an author is the only thing holding you back from taking your real estate business to the next level, I want you to know you have other options.
Let’s explore them together.
The Ghostwriter Route
Did you know that some of the most famous celebrity authors didn’t write their own books?
That list includes presidents, athletes, actors, singers — even Elton John has admitted to using a ghostwriter on some of his most popular hits.
The ghostwriting process is pretty straightforward: You provide the information and expertise, and a professional writer puts it all into a digestible book.
And that’s essentially what we do for you. You’ve been through the training, you’ve accumulated knowledge on the job. Give our books a read, and we can pretty much guarantee you already employ most, if not all, of the tactics we discuss in the books.
If you want to check out the content of our books before you order, you can get a free sample here!
Most of our members say they feel confident handing out the books because they include everything they already know and do as real estate agents.
Take Jim, for instance.
Jim was worried about appearing as the author of his book but quickly overcame his doubts.
"I had to get kind of around that, like, 'I wrote the book' thing. But as I read them, I did write the book — I just didn't physically write it. But I mean, the stuff that they talk about, that's what I do. That's exactly what I say, so it really isn't any kind of departure."
If you want to go the ghostwriter route, when people ask if you wrote the book, simply say that you provided all of the knowledge and expertise in the book and a professional writer put it together for you. If writing isn’t your strong suit, you can even poke a little fun at yourself:
“I may be a real estate expert, but I’m on the Grammar Police’s most-wanted list!”
Potential clients will be impressed that you have the knowledge to write a book on buying and selling real estate, but also the humility to admit you aren’t perfect.
The Institute Route
As a way to overcome what we call “The Author Objection,” we came up with a viable solution for our members.
We established “The Institute for Real Estate Education.”
Order the Institute Version of the book and tell sellers you represent the Institute in your market area.
Here’s what you say when you give the book away:
“I’m a member of The Institute for Real Estate Education. I have been asked to provide their educational books to home sellers and buyers in this area. Here’s a copy of our book that shows how to sell your home for more money, and sell it faster.”
It’s a little different than saying you wrote the book yourself, or that you hired a ghostwriter. But, many agents have gotten listings using the book this way, and it’s proven to be quite effective.
You still have the advantage of looking like an expert in your industry because you were personally chosen by the Institute to represent your area. You’re also still providing the buyer or seller something of value.
Depending on how comfortable you are with this approach, you can also say you were personally involved in helping the Institute write the book.
The Co-Author Route
A good example of this approach is “Gary Keller and the Millionaire Real Estate Agent Book.”
Jay Papasan is the co-author. He probably did 80% of the work to write the book, but Gary Keller got 95% of the recognition.
This isn't to say anything good or bad about Gary Keller — we have a lot of respect for him and the business he’s built. This is simply to show you how the co-author route works.
You can choose someone you know, maybe a superior, as a co-author, or you are welcome to use someone prominent from the Smart Agents team — Joe Nickelson or Ben Curry, for example.
Our support department can help you choose a team member if you go this route.
The Team Route
If you aren’t comfortable claiming sole author status for the book, you can order one of our team books for you and other members of your brokerage. You can include multiple names and photos on the covers, and each of you can use the book with your leads.
As one of a group of authors, you can claim as little or as much responsibility for the book content as you’d like.
Plus, you get the added advantage of showing your leads you’ve got an impressive team standing behind you, ready to put their collective knowledge into buying and selling homes for their clients.
The Author Route
If you’re on the fence about claiming to have written the books, we’re here to tell you that you have nothing to worry about.
Our members have found amazing success as published authors — even those who were skeptical to do so in the first place.
Take Jacque, for instance.
"I was kind of leery at first, but I have to tell you that it makes such a world of difference."
Sean, too, was wary of appearing as an author.
“I mean, it's a little bit strange, I guess, the concept of saying I authored a book when really, I didn't have anything to do with writing it...But after reading it and knowing what was in it, I realized that much of what is in it, I say to people when I meet with them, or when I'm on the phone with people. So I guess I felt a little bit more comfortable after that.”
Jessica was worried even after reading through the books that potential clients would doubt her author status. It turns out, she had nothing to worry about.
“They kind of just asked me more about my experience, how have I been able to overcome maybe homes that were slightly more outdated or that needed renovations, and those kinds of things, which the book touches on. But they didn't spend a lot of time asking me specific details. So I was kind of nervous that I was going to have a lot of the content of these books memorized in case they wanted to grill me or test me in some way.”
What’s the right option for you?
It’s not something you need to decide right away. If you feel more comfortable starting out with an Institute-authored book, you can order those first.
As you become more accustomed to handing out the books and more familiar with the content, you can make the change over to the self-authored books.
We offer specialized training to help our members hand out their books and start landing listings.
No matter which option you choose, you can’t afford to continue missing out on the incredible advantage these books provide. We offer 14 real estate books covering a variety of real estate niches. Find the one that best represents you and your business, and you’ll feel more confident sharing them with potential buyers and sellers.
Your membership includes:
- License to use 14 real estate books as your own.
- Author website that ranks in Google.
- Your own blog with 100+ pre-written articles.
- Social media marketing templates.
- Home value website for capturing leads.
- Training strategies on how to use your books to get business.
If you’re still hesitant about investing in our program, someone in support would be happy to walk you through these and other options for handing out the books, including offering you scripts and techniques to land your first leads.
Simply email Support@SmartAgents.com or call (386) 752-6534 from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. EST Monday through Friday.
Joe Nickelson is a real estate professional dedicated to helping home buyers and sellers achieve their dreams of owning property, and helping real estate agents stop using the sometimes-vicious tactics that weigh on their consciences. He believes that the Smart Agents books will, quite literally, change people’s lives for the better. Check out his full bio here!
