Selecting the Right Book Printing Services for You

Getting a book printed isn’t easy. No matter if you are a writer looking to print your first book, or you are in charge of printing your company’s catalog, choosing the right printing service is vital. Because there are so many book printing companies in the country, choosing the best one might be tricky.

A book printing service that is tailored to your needs, is quite difficult since there are several technical aspects and various factors to consider. This article will introduce you to the two main types of printing services, as well as some things you should consider when choosing a printing service.

Printing Services and Their Strengths and Weaknesses

Quite simply, a book printing service is a company that can take your manuscript, and turn it into printed copies of the book. They usually work in one of the following ways: 

Offset Book Printing

Offset printing is a common printing method. It involves inking a plate, transferring it to a rubber blanket, then printing it on a surface.

A major advantage of offset printing is that a large number of books can be printed at once, at a reduced cost. When you already have a buyer who is interested in your books, you can save a lot of money and increase your profit margins. It also allows you to print the best quality books.

Offset printing also has its disadvantages. Offset printing requires that you order at least 500 copies at once. Due to the lengthy process, it can take years for your book to hit the market. 

Be mindful that before a publisher will even consider providing you with a contract, you’ll need to contact an agency. The publisher handles editing, formatting, and the designing of your book, so you might have the less creative freedom of the final product.

The cost of a large order is high, and always due to be paid upfront. A book that doesn’t sell can result in piles of books lying around. Furthermore, you run the risk of having your inventory of printed books damaged, before they are ready for sale. Offset printing typically requires self-storage and shipping. 

Print-on-Demand Book Printing 

With Print-on-Demand (POD), book copies are printed digitally according to the number of copies needed. Additionally, you can put your book up for sale and wait for someone to buy it, before printing it, making it available on-demand. 

One advantage of POD is the availability of older, and rare, titles. You can republish them whenever needed. POD doesn’t have storage issues. POD services are often integrated with sales and distribution channels, making your book easier to access, for your customers. Because printing costs are deducted from the sale price, at the point of sale, POD services require fewer upfront costs. 

In POD services, there is no need to dispose of unsold books, nor to have your books transported from the printer to storage, making the service environmentally friendly.

A disadvantage of POD is that it is often more expensive, per copy than offset printing. As a result, most books are sold at a higher price, than traditional books, to obtain the same profit. 

POD quality still lags offset quality, especially for color photos. POD books are also often non-returnable, so unless they are handled by a reputable distributor, retailers are less likely to stock them.

What printing service is right for you?

When choosing a book printing option, you need to consider the following factors, besides the advantages and disadvantages.

Create A Stunning Product

Consider how well they can produce the book, according to the specifications you want (e.g. binding, cover, paper size, image resolution, finish, layout, source of paper, etc.). 

A good printing company can assist you at every stage of the printing process. If they understand your requirements, they will know what the best process is for your book. The quality of your book is also affected by the printing equipment. 

Therefore, you should always examine the equipment used by the service providers. Look at the examples of books previously printed. The reviews published online can also help you to find the best book printing service providers.

Cost and Profit Matters

In traditional publishing, you won’t have to pay anything upfront. All costs are covered by the publisher. While self-publishing platforms offer eBooks, for free, authors must pay for other services (e.g. professional editors, cover designers, and marketing tools). 

Ask the printer for an offer, as soon as possible. By doing so, you can determine if you have enough money to print books through them and calculate your royalties, after paying all expenses.

While e-books have been growing, neglecting readers who prefer to feel the pages between their fingers and thumbs, would mean missing out on a lot of sales. Therefore, if you want to make money from your book, printing it is a wise move. 

While you can increase profits by printing offset, and paying less per unit, you are much better off with POD, if you do not have large orders lined up, or if you do not want to waste money on books that don’t sell. With PODs, you may make more money over time.

Get Your Book Into Bookstores

Finding out if the printing company offers sales and distribution is important. For self-publishers, seeing your book on the high street means contacting individual booksellers and small local shops, preferably those who have customers who are particularly interested in your book. 

Fast Fulfillment of Large Orders

You can consider offset printing if you are getting orders from stores and bookshops before the book is printed, and you need to fulfill large orders quickly. When it comes to offset printing, do your own research into printers, since quotes and customer experiences may differ. 

To get quality work done, finding printing services with experience, based on the number of years they have been in this field, is an essential step.

Final Words

Whether you’re considering publishing yourself, or working with a traditional publisher, learning more about the process will help you make an informed decision. 

In addition to numerous technical considerations, you must also consider certain factors, so that your book is printed correctly. Hope our suggestions above will be helpful to you as you decide what to do next.