| In previous installments of this series we talked | | | | book ordered. |
| about the advantages and disadvantages of | | | | To many of you, this may sound like the ideal |
| Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing. In this | | | | compromise between traditional publishing and |
| article, we will continue to explore the publishing | | | | self-publishing. But there are, of course, some |
| options by talking about Print-on-Demand | | | | drawbacks to this method. Let's take a look at a |
| publishers, Vanity Presses and similar solutions. | | | | few. |
| If you are an entrepreneur, you may be used to | | | | 1. Upfront Cost - It's going to take some cash up |
| solving your problems with your checkbook. | | | | front to play this game. Sometimes thousands of |
| Sometimes the quickest, easiest strategy is to | | | | dollars. And even after you've paid these fees, |
| simply pay someone to accomplish the task you | | | | you still don't have an inventory of books to sell. |
| are facing. Real estate millionaire Ron LeGrand | | | | You have to buy those separately. |
| was once asked about the best way to kill | | | | 2. Limited Input - Most Print-on-Demand solutions |
| termites in the homes that he bought. LeGrand | | | | will let you make some suggestions on cover art |
| replied, "The best way to kill termites is to write a | | | | and other production decisions, but the final say |
| check. Write a big check to the right people, and | | | | will still be theirs. You may be able to ask them to |
| they die." | | | | make a few changes, but the final result will be a |
| Print-on-Demand and Vanity Presses are very | | | | negotiated compromise. |
| similar to that model. If you've got a completed | | | | 3. High Cost Per Book - As you can imagine, if |
| manuscript, and you want it published fast, simply | | | | they are going to print your book "on demand" in |
| write them a big check and like magic, your book | | | | small runs of one or two, the Per Book cost is |
| is published. If you are planning to release a book | | | | going to be much higher than standard. Your |
| as part of your business strategy, then this might | | | | paperback book that looks identical to others on |
| be just the solution you are looking for. | | | | the shelf costing $5.99 may be priced at $23.99, |
| Here's the way it works: There are companies | | | | or possibly higher. If you choose to go with this |
| out there that will publish your book for you, | | | | publishing option, you must resign yourself to the |
| without questions. They will handle all of the | | | | fact that your book will be the highest priced in |
| details, such as layout work, cover design, legal | | | | the section. |
| paperwork (ISBN numbers, Bar Codes), and more. | | | | 4. Lack of Ownership - One thing that most |
| Then, once the process is set up, they will print | | | | people overlook is that they are giving up some |
| copies of your book as you need them. That is, if | | | | rights to the book. You will not own the ISBN |
| five people buy your book, they will print five | | | | number, and you will not be able to reproduce, |
| copies and send them out. This is known as | | | | reprint, or resell the book without going through |
| "Print-on-Demand." If there is a demand, they will | | | | the Print-on-Demand company. |
| print. Otherwise they will not print the book. No | | | | Some of these drawbacks may mean nothing to |
| inventory costs! | | | | you, or they may become "deal-breakers." It |
| In exchange for this service, they require an | | | | really all depends on what your goals are for |
| upfront fee, and a certain percentage of each | | | | getting your book in the hands of readers. |