How to Publish Print on Demand

by Henry 

Print on Demand technology is the new wave of publishing. Authors of all stripes can now see their books in print. Self-publishing and Print on Demand are not necessarily one and the same. If you’re looking to self-publish, you won’t necessarily use a POD publisher. POD technology can also be used by established publishers looking to cut down on printing costs.

Step One:  Set your budget: some POD services will cost $600 or more for the service. This will include interior and exterior book design. Other services are free, such as Lulu, but advanced cover design is not included. With Lulu, there are some basic cover templates available. You may need to hire an outside designer.

Step Two:  Find a POD service. It’s important to keep in mind that some POD services will require you print a set number upfront—as many as 500 books. Other services will let you order books one at a time.

Step Three:  Edit your book. Print on Demand services will take books as is. Hire a copy editor to smooth out grammatical problems, typos, or even issues with the plot.

Step Four: Upload PDFs of the cover and text. Some PDF services will be able to convert a word processor document to PDF. Get a copy of the book made to ensure that the printed copy looks good—including front and back cover and the interior.

Step Five:  Set the price. The advantage of POD is you can set your own price and royalty. Don’t get greedy—pricing a 200-page paperback at $30 isn’t going to get a lot of takers.

Step Six:  Publicize. If you’re a POD author, you are going to have to do most of the legwork yourself—including getting interviews and reviews. Consider hiring a PR firm.

Overall Tips & Warnings

√ If you’re an established writer, get one book printed up to see a new manuscript in printed form. It’s a much different experience reading a bound book compared to a manuscript. An author does not have to make the book available to the public.
√ Small publishers and university presses can make out of print books available through POD. It cuts down on the cost of a new printing for books that may not sell rapidly. It also cuts down on warehouse space.
√ Print on Demand is also available for calendars, CDs, DVDs, and coffee table books.
!  It can be difficult to get POD books stocked in stores because unsold books can’t necessarily be sold back for full price back to the publisher.
!  POD books can have a higher price tag than traditional hardcovers or paperbacks.
!  Look out for bad POD services with a bad track record—failed payment, high fees, poor quality books, or bad cover design.
!  There is a stigma about books published POD, but this appears to be fading.

from www.ehow.com

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