The self-publishing revolution continues at full speed, making print on demand books a hot topic. But is your book suitable for on-demand printing? If it is, and you are okay with losing a substantial part of the profits, it might be the way to go. However, there are other options, and you owe it to yourself to learn more about them. The ready-made book fulfillment service accompanying print-on-demand services can also be appealing. But there are fulfillment companies, some of which also provide printing services, that can help. The most important thing is to print a high-quality book that's profitable.

One of the things to keep in mind as a self-publishing author is the need to be competitive. If your book existed in a stand-alone world, the expectations would be less demanding. But the reality is it will compete in a crowded marketplace with titles from large traditional publishers and other high-end independent authors. Therefore, you need to take some extra steps to make yourself competitive. You'll miss opportunities if you write an outstanding book, but its external appearance is anything less than perfect. Working with a professional book printing service giving you all the options is beneficial.

The catch with many print-on-demand setups is the template-like environment. It means your book looks and feels like many others, and you miss out on opportunities to make it unique. If you accept them, you may have regrets in hindsight. You'll always be happy with how your book looks if you go with a full-service printer and take advantage of the options. For example, you might want embossing on a deluxe hardcover edition. You might want to print in paperback with nicer cover stock than usual. There are countless options to consider depending on what you feel is suitable for your book.

How your book is bound says a lot about it. Most books today are printed as perfect bounds (paperbacks). But for some volumes, a hardcover is essential. Spiral bindings are the right way to go for cookbooks, manuals, and other heavily used books. If you sign up for print on demand, you'll likely have fewer choices and need to fit into a template. Photo books that print in larger trim sizes are also expected to benefit from working with a real printer. Anything that helps your book look and feel its best is an asset. Surprisingly, you can earn more money per copy with regular book printing.