| By definition, a vanity publisher is where an author | | | | commercial printer who can complete the project |
| incurs the expenses of printing and binding of the | | | | entirely in-house. At all cost, try and avoid a |
| project itself. In turn, the vanity publisher is to | | | | premium on outsourcing any printing or binding |
| provide services to the author such as editorial | | | | costs. |
| guidance, marketing and promotion direction, as | | | | If your print run will be small than look for a |
| well as advertising suggestions. | | | | commercial printer that prints small runs. If your |
| With that being said, you want to make sure that | | | | project needs four-color printing and color |
| the vanity publisher has an in-house facility to | | | | separations; or, perfect binding, or smythe-sewn |
| print, bind and market your project. In other | | | | binding, or even hard-cover binding, please find a |
| words, if any aspect of printing or binding is | | | | commercial printer who can complete the project |
| out-sourced to another facility, you will be paying | | | | in-house. |
| a premium for those services. No different than a | | | | The more you acquaint yourself with how you |
| commercial printing broker. | | | | envision your finished project, the better off you |
| Please be aware that even if the vanity publisher | | | | will be when discussing it with a vanity publisher or |
| has an in-house facility to complete your project, | | | | a commercial printer. |
| you will probably be paying a premium for those | | | | If in fact you are willing to learn how to promote, |
| services. They are a vanity press and you should | | | | market and sell your book in the marketplace, |
| expect like all other businesses that they are in | | | | and there is certainly enough information that will |
| business to make a profit. | | | | teach you how to do exactly that, you might |
| Just to keep everyone honest and to educate | | | | enjoy the control and cost savings of self |
| yourself, you should also acquire other printing | | | | publishing instead of vanity publishing. |
| quotes on your own from commercial printers | | | | Regardless of any decision, please educate |
| who print the type of book project you are | | | | yourself so you know beforehand what vanity |
| working on. But the same rules apply. Find a | | | | publishing really means. |