You're close to finishing your book and you know
you'll be using a print on demand service - how the heck do you choose
the POD company that's right for you?
This is not a trivial question. The number of
companies out there and the variety of promises they make and the huge
range of prices make for lots of confusion. Couple these items with some
POD company's high pressure sales techniques, it becomes easy to see how
many people are disappointed in the results they get.
Review Your Vision, Purpose and Goals
Before you start looking for your POD publisher,
review your Vision, Purpose statement and your own goals for your book.
Now, make a list of what you want, with your Vision, Purpose and Goals
at the top.
Next add some details, like:
Paperback
Attractive Cover that will help sell your book
Interior design that looks good and reads well
Great back of jacket copy
ISBN number so you can sell on Amazon, etc.
Professional copy editing of manuscript
Give some thought to your budget - not just how much
you have to spend on getting your book into print, but your marketing
budget as well.
Get Some Bids
Get some bids from professional cover designers, book
designers and editors so you have a sense of what each of these elements
will cost you. Know that the fees may vary widely.
It may make sense to buy a package from a POD
publisher that includes some or all of these elements, or it may not.
You want to be in a position to evaluate your options and not get sold
on something you don't need or want.
Begin Your Search
There are roughly a gillion POD publishers out there.
The blog, PODdy
Mouth - Daily Dirt on POD and Self-Publishing, seems to
offer a pretty good guide to what's happening in the POD world and
provides a way to keep up with it as it changes rapidly.
Before you sign any contracts or spend any money, see
if you can't find one or two people who have actually used the POD
publishers you're considering. Ask around, you may be surprised. Ask the
POD publisher for references. Check on some writers and publisher's
forums.
Take your time. Study the contracts and make sure you
truly understand them. If there's something that isn't clear, ask until
you are clear. Be sure you understand how much money you're spending,
exactly what percentage of sales you'll make, and how to end the
contract if you want to end it. Make sure, no matter what, that you
retain all rights to your book and are merely granting the POD company
you choose limited rights to publish and sell.
POD is a valid way to get your book out there. Just go
carefully as you take this steps.
