We hear a lot about Print-On-Demand (POD) these days, some good and some bad, until you’re not sure what to believe.  For the self-published author looking to get into print without selling their first born, or mortgaging their home, or going into your retirement fund, it is a godsend.

The core of the good, the bad and the ugly is a lack of understanding of what a POD is or is not.  Most of the bad we hear comes because someone thought they were getting one thing and ended up being disappointed, therefore giving the POD a bad rap they don’t deserve.

If you have decided you don’t want to spend a life time chasing your publishing dreams waiting for some traditional publisher to say “yes,” then POD is the way to go.

So how do you use the POD effectively? First, you want to begin to put together a list of POD’s. The quickest way is to do a Google Search. You can put in either self-publishing, or Print-On-Demand. The numbers will probably be overwhelming at first as you wade through. You may even think it is a waste of time, or get tired, a little frustrated. If you want to make the best choices, then this is necessary.

It doesn’t take you long to figure out, after reading through a few paragraphs, POD’s use language that doesn’t mean anything to you at this stage in your pursuit. If only there was an easier way to get what you want, it would be welcomed right about now with a loud cheer and hooray.

Next, if you are going to self-publish-- and that is what you would be doing-- you might want to stop for a moment and examine books you have on your shelf. Look at how they are put together. You probably never noticed that before. You might even want to pull the cover off of one and take a closer look at how it was created.

When you strip a book down to its parts you have a cover, with a front and back; what I refer to as the “guts,” the contents, the text which make up the inside of the book. You will notice that this part has a certain format, a copyright page, maybe a dedication or acknowledgement page, plus a table of contents. This format is called a typeset copy. 

This is the beginning of knowing what you need when you start looking for a POD: a cover designer, a typesetter, perhaps someone who can write copy for your back cover, if you don’t think you can handle it.

The first thing you want your POD to do is: take your cover ideas, make a cover and typeset your manuscript.

Your job will be to deliver a manuscript ready to be typeset. That means you have proofread it for as many times as it takes, since you are self-publishing and perhaps did the editing yourself, or hired someone to do it for you. If you don’t know how to typeset, you definitely want a POD who can deliver that service, preferably as part of your print package.

Because you don’t have the clout the big boys have, you would want your POD to give you an online presence, either placing you in their bookstore, or placing you in some of the major chain bookstores. In addition that positioning should include providing you with an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), which gives you worldwide exposure.

As a first timer, a pre-print proof is a life saving benefit you want your POD to provide, just in case you have missed something. This gives you a final opportunity to correct it before you go to print. You may have to pay for it but it’s worth it. Find out how many corrections you are allowed before being charged an additional fee. 

You want to be at liberty to order one book or more so you won’t have to worry about storing inventory. The turn around time on re-orders is important to know when planning your future activities.

Some POD’s have Author’s Agreements; get a copy so you will know your restrictions, if any. Don’t be so excited about getting published that you forget to read the fine print. If you have trouble doing that, ask a friend to read it and underline the important points.
           

Consider any marketing tools your POD offers a plus, such as Post Cards, Book Marks, Press Releases, etc. Make sure that your computer programs are compatible and that you can upload pretty easily. You want to also be able to talk to somebody when you have concerns and problems. If you are an impatient person, some POD’s won’t work for you because they deal with e-mail, fax and very little phone interacting.

A good place to start when shopping for a  POD, look for those that offer print packages, which include designing covers, typesetting, ISBN’s, giving you an online presence, with worldwide exposure.

Now, let’s look at what a POD is not:

They are not traditional publishers, though they may look like it based upon additional services like marketing, or they choose to print your book with minimal expense on your part; they are what they are, printers. Though they offer additional services, don’t forget who you are, an unknown, first timer, no experience. It will take time to get you where you want to be as a published author so don’t read the hype and expect miracles; otherwise it will lead to your disappointment. Using a POD will jump start and position your books strategically in the marketplace to make sales. If you get this, you will have a happier experience in the process of establishing yourself as an author.

In case you’re thinking, forget the POD’s, that’s not what I’m looking for. You would probably be surprised to know that traditionally published authors have to fiend for themselves after about the first year, if they’re not a big name. So don’t feel it’s just self-published authors who have to make their

way.
 

The key is to know what you are getting into, how the system works and work it to your advantage. 

What POD’s do: Keep great writers from dying with their works on the inside. They assist authors in carving out a place in history for themselves, their family and, leave a legacy for future generations. That’s the real power of POD’s and if you work them effectively, you can make your dreams of a published author come true . 

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing--the more you understand about any subject, the more you will be able to share with others. 

Blondie L. Clayton, Realization Strategist™,  Publishing Coach and Author of The Secret to Publishing High Quality Books For Under $299.00, Making It Into Book Stores, and Getting Worldwide Exposure; she is the host of the Christian Reality Show: Say It Like It Is; Co-founder of the Online School of Publishing (E-Course); works as a freelance writer; hosts the “Author’s Spotlight at Positive Change Radio.Com.

You can visit her web site at: www.blondie2book.com