Pod Books and Self
Publishing on the Internet
August 17th 2005
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Self Publishing |
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"Q. What is the quality
of a print-on-demand book? A. The quality is identical to what you would
purchase in a book store."
I saw this statement on
a print-on-demand web site recently. Please note that current technology
does not allow a POD book to be identical in quality to a normally
printed book you would purchase in a bookstore. Most experienced readers
can tell a POD book from an offset printed book just by the resolution;
for those of us with poorer eyesight, we can tell the difference by
looking through a magnifying glass.
POD books are still
printed with dot technology. Such technology cannot equal offset
printing. The quality is getting closer and closer every day, but it is
not there yet.
Now, for most practical
purposes, a POD book will stand up next to an offset printed book pretty
well. Most naive consumers won't be able to tell the difference. And POD
books are books in most every other way.
POD books certainly
have their place in this world, especially for first books from unknown
authors, family memoirs, reprints, limited edition books, books that
need to be updated often, and other books with a limited market. At some
point in the sales cycle of a book, though, if it is selling, you need
to switch to offset printing for better prices, finer detail, your
selection of quality paper, and sometimes better binding.
I've used POD
publishing to print my book, The Self-Publishing Hall of Fame, because
I'm always adding new people to it. I also, of course, make it available
as an e-book, which is always more up-to-date because it's my working
file while the POD book is updated only once or twice a year.
I love POD publishers
and authors. I have nothing against either. They serve a great purpose.
Plus they have certainly expanded the market for my book, <I>1001 Ways
to Market Your Books</I>. I sell many copies to POD publishers and
printers. Plus I speak at several conferences sponsored by POD
publishers.
The one thing POD
publishers have done well is to make it possible for so many new authors
to get a book published. To open the doors to the publishing world to
these new authors. It's now possible to get a book published for very
little upfront cost. Offset printing, because you need to buy in
quantity, often sets the bar too high for entry into the world of
self-publishing.
That's why I heartily
support POD publishers and authors. They are changing the world of
publishing, one book at a time. I have written an article on why
bookstores should support POD books and authors.
I think it's
appropriate to celebrate POD and
e-books during August, especially since
it's National Publish Your E-Book Month!
If you'd like to locate some great POD
and e-book publishers and providers, check out www.bookmarket.com/ondemand.html.
If you have ideas on this subject and would like to post
an article, do it here.
By John Kremer
Publisher of
www.bookmarket.com/tipblog2.html
Books on Self Publishing
Keywords and misspellings: publising Ipod
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