This is another in my series of articles that explains the online publishing model and how small-time authors and / or self-publishers can use OPM as a more lucrative alternative to the traditional, often archaic and dysfunctional model of book publishing. . In short, by using OPM, you will get more book sales and get more net profit, faster.
Typically, you will create your book / e-book in a source word processing program, such as MS-Word or WordPerfect. Once you’ve converted it to PDF, you’re ready to start selling it through the three main channels that make up the Online Publishing Model: 1. Sales Mini-Sites, 2. Digital Download Distributors, 3. Printing in Demand Distributors (POD).
This article explains OPM Channel 3, Print-On-Demand (POD) Distribution.
I must tell you, I was already quite excited when I heard about Channel 2 from OPM, the digital compliance channel. However, when I found out how I could ALSO take advantage of Channel 3, the print-on-demand channel, I was very happy!
POD COMPLIANCE: DEFINITION
It is important that you understand exactly what I mean when I use the term “POD compliance”, as opposed to “digital compliance” that I explained in another article I have written about OPM.
Print-on-demand (POD) compliance up to the point your book is delivered to the customer strictly on printed paper like a standard book. With POD, when you place a single order (or a low-volume order) for your book, your POD fulfillment company prints, binds, and ships that small amount directly to the customer. Hence the term, print on demand or POD, as it is widely known.
A typical example of POD compliance in action would be when you provide your POD electronic files to a digital compliance company that distributes POD books to bookstores like amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com, for example. These booksellers would offer their pocket POD book to those of their customers who prefer a standard print version of their book.
WHY CHOOSE POD COMPLIANCE?
As explained above, when people order a print-on-demand book, they get a real paper pocket book that they can get their hands on.
But why choose to produce a POD version when you already offer an e-book version? This is a good and logical question.
The main answer is this: an e-book is NOT a perfect substitute for a printed book.
This becomes particularly clear when the two products are marketed through an online bookstore such as amazon.com. It turns out that even when Amazon offers a 30% discount on the digital download ebook version, about 50% of buyers of the exact same title still choose the more expensive pocket version of POD.
So these people are not only willing to pay more, but they are also willing to wait 5-7 days for the POD book to be shipped to them.
These are the traditional people who buy books. They want a conventional paper book that they can hold in their hands. They want to be able to turn the pages. Many of these buyers don’t really understand what an e-book or digital download is all about.
And even if they understand the “e” part of the e-book, they don’t want to have anything to do with something that sounds so “technical.”
Clearly, if you don’t provide a conventional paperback option through POD for these traditional book buyers, you’re leaving that money on the table. Those people will NOT purchase your digital download products.
PODS LOOK AND FEEL LIKE REAL BOOKS
So what does a POD book look like?
The quality of my POD books when printed is very acceptable. The glossy, full-color cover is printed on standard cover paper and the book is perfectly bound. Inside is comprised of standard 8 1/2 “x 11” paper, printed on both sides. It’s like premium quality Xerox work between professionally designed, full-color glossy covers. Then the people who order them get a paperback of equivalent quality to what is normally found on the shelves of a bookstore.
That is just the format I use for my instruction books. You can also have PODs produced in all kinds of sizes, shapes, and bindings, including hardcover books!
POD BOOKS SUMMARY
If you want to sell books to the traditional book-buying public, you need to give them what they want: a printed book. Print-on-demand (POD) is a technology that allows you to do just that – one copy at a time.
What’s really exciting about these POD sales is, as I explained above, PLUS any sales you make through a website or digital fulfillment channels. It really is like “found money”.
That’s what makes using the online publishing model so exciting; offers you three equally productive sales channels for your books and / or e-books.
Copyright © Shaun R. Fawcett. All rights reserved.
