Print on Demand: Choosing the Right One for Your Needs
Newer Ideas in On-Demand Book Printing
The promise of printing books on demand is to publish them only after orders are received. It’s marketed to self-published authors as a “sure thing” and a “safe bet.”
While there is no doubt self-publishing and print on demand have shaken up the book industry, there are newer and potentially more profitable ways to print books and fulfill orders.
If you’ve written a book and are trying to learn more about your options, ask yourself the right questions.
- Can I predict how many books I will sell?
- Will I receive many book orders at once?
- Do I need generic or custom printing?
- What’s the best binding choice for my book?
- Do I want to sell/ship other items with my book?
Your answers to the questions above can help you earn more money, publish a higher-quality book, and satisfy your reader-customers.
Are My Book Sales Predictable?
Using a print on demand service generally means making less profit on your book because the costs to print each copy are higher. If you have a good idea of how many books you will sell, you don’t need the safety of printing them individually.
You’ll always pay less per copy when you make a bulk order with a book printer. You also can print for the lowest price possible by choosing digital printing for smaller print runs and offset printing for runs of 2,000 or more.
Many successful self-publishers have a clear idea of their sales and can take advantage of bulk printing to improve their profit margins.
What is My Book Order Flow Like?
If you sell most of your books during a peak season, your customers may get stuck waiting in an on-demand print queue.
Most large, on-demand printers have thousands of books in their systems, and it’s impossible to print and ship quickly when a flood of orders comes in quickly.
Printing books before a peak order period means they are ready for immediate shipping. Fulfilling orders within a day or two greatly improves customer service and satisfaction.
Pre-printed books and a technology-driven order fulfillment service like we offer at Acutrack can easily improve on print on demand efficiency.
Can My Book Benefit from Custom Printing?
Many self-publishers produce nonfiction books that are about their businesses. Volumes like those often need a unique look that makes a statement. Going outside the print-on-demand system can open up other beneficial options.
- Trim size – do I need flexibility?
- Cover – are embossing or foiling a benefit?
- Inside paper stock – am I printing photos?
If you’ve written a novel or other fiction book that’s all text and works well in a generic size, you might be okay with on-demand. But for anyone who wants to publish a book that stands out visually, working with a “real” book printer is always beneficial – and may save you money or boost your profits in the long run.
Which Binding is Best for My Book?
Together with your book’s title and cover design, its binding makes a first impression. If you’ve been looking at on-demand printing and noticed limitations, consider book printers who offer you all the choices.
Hardcover: Also known as casebound, hardcover book printing is the permanent, premium choice. It is a good choice for higher-end volumes, coffee-table books, and others selling at a higher price.
Softcover: Perfect bound (softcover) book printing is the best choice if you need a lighter-weight version of your book. It is less expensive to produce than hardcover and easier for people to carry.
Spiral: Manuals, cookbooks, and other heavily used books often benefit from being published with spiral bindings. Coils today are impact-resistant plastic, available in multiple color options.
Wire-o: If you like the idea of spiral binding but prefer a metal coil, wire-o binding is the way to go. Coils are available in shiny silver or vinyl-coated in black or white.
Before you settle on a book binding choice, it’s wise to check other successful recently published books in your genre to see their bindings. You can either follow the pack or make a fresh choice that’s different.
Book Order Fulfillment and
Other Items
Many print on demand companies digitally print individual copies of books and fulfill orders for them, case closed. Does that feel limiting to you?
If you see your book’s buyers as potential customers for upselling, you may want to sell and ship other items with your book. That’s when it’s wise to print outside the on-demand system and look for a book fulfillment company that can ship books with whatever other products you specify.
A good fulfillment service can connect to your website or other platform you use online to sell books. You can take orders, set your pricing, manage your revenue, and communicate directly with customers – all opportunities you give up when you sign up for print-on-demand.
Just-in-Time Book Printing with Acutrack
If you’ve asked yourself all the frequently asked questions about print-on-demand, do you think it’s right for you? If yes, you have your answer, and if not, consider our book printing and fulfillment service at Acutrack. We’re a full-service book printing and fulfillment company for self-publishers.
We offer you many advantages with a just-in-time method where you print books ahead in reasonable quantities and let us fulfill your orders.
- Customizable book printing – digital and offset
- Order fulfillment for books and other products
- Seamless integration with your eCommerce platform
- You run your business while we print and ship books
- Keep customer data for upselling and set your prices
- No bottlenecks or delays during peak sales periods
- Improved profitability and faster shipping
If you’d like to learn more about our services that are alternatives to print on demand for your book, please call or contact us online today. Our printing and fulfillment specialists are ready to answer your questions and help you understand more about your options.
