POD – What Is It and Can Anyone Do It?

Print On Demand, the Self Publishing Solution for Freelance Writers

Nov 2, 2009

Print on Demand is a way of printing books using digital technology which makes it as cheap to print one or two books as it is to print one book.

POD or Print On Demand has become a cost effective way for individuals who wish to self-publish, to produce books and market them through online outlets such as Amazon.com.

Many freelance writers with collections of related articles are now putting the articles together to create books which they can sell direct from their websites. However, POD can come with hidden costs.

POD Companies Push Prices Up With Additional Services

The increased number of individuals now considering self-publishing by the Print On Demand method has led to the burgeoning of companies providing services which will guide the complete beginner through the process, such as: BookLocker, BookSurge, iUniverse, Xlibris, AuthorHouse. Prices can vary by thousands of dollars for basically the same service, so research is recommended. Companies often offer to supply packages which include formatting, book cover, isbn code, bar code, distribution to bookstores, fulfillment of orders, or marketing and promotion packages.

It is worth bearing in mind that using a company and taking a package of publishing and promotion services means paying up front and surrendering part of your rights to them. In effect you are not self-publishing, but engaging in something closer to vanity publishing.

Using POD to Self Publish

It is possible to use a POD service as a simple means of printing and distributing your book through companies such as Lightning Source and Amazon’s CreateSpace.

Authors who decide to go down the road of self-publishing will always have a huge amount of promotion to do in order to get attention for a book in the marketplace, but by learning a little about formatting and cover design, they can cut costs and vastly increase their chances of making a profit on their books.

Formatting

Using a standard program such as Microsoft Word, it is possible to get the layout perfect for any book. Some POD companies provide templates, but many require the file to be saved as a pdf. Sizes will vary depending on the type of book - fiction or non-fiction, children’s books, large format books.

The important thing to remember is that there are certain pages which should be included as standard at the beginning of the book.

Cover Design

A simple cover design can be commissioned independently, or with the help of a graphic design program, an author can design their own cover. It’s important to follow the instructions or templates given by the POD company. Remember that the thickness of the spine will vary according to the number of pages of the book, so only proceed to the cover design when the book is finished and formatted.

ISBN

An ISBN is a unique number assigned to every published book. Some POD companies will offer a free ISBN, but if you are thinking of creating your own company for self-publishing, then it makes sense to get your own ISBN numbers and have the books registered in your own company’s name. All information about ISBNs in the United States can be found here.

Barcode

In order to sell a book through booksellers, every book requires a barcode which encodes the ISBN and the price of the book. The industry standard is the EAN Barcode. EAN barcodes can be created by online providers, or by software which can be purchased for the purpose.

The copyright of the article POD – What Is It and Can Anyone Do It? in Freelance Writing is owned by Janice Hally. Permission to republish POD – What Is It and Can Anyone Do It? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.