What is Print-on-Demand?
Print-on-Demand companies allow an author to submit a digital file of their manuscript on any subject matter. Unlike traditional publishing companies, these publishers only prints the books when an order has been received customer, thus the term "print on demand." Therefore, print-on-demand publishers are able to print very small quantities of paperback or hardcover books, a far cry from most traditional publishers, who often require minimum orders of at least 500-1,000 copies. Some print-on-demand publishers will even allow you to order as little as a single copy! This makes print-on-demand a great option for family historians looking to print a few books for their family, or to set up an option for relatives to order their own copies.What Print-on-Demand Can Offer Family Historians
The biggest advantages of using a Print-On-Demand publisher for your family history book is that it will generally save you some money over traditional publishing, and even doing it yourself on your own home printer. Printing up your own books can be much more expensive than you might think with many inkjet printers costing in the neighborhood of 15-20 cents per page for black and white printing. Your local copy center will generally be able to come in under half of that price. A good Print-on-Demand service, however, might end up costing you as little as 2-5 cents per page for a more professional looking family history book. Another plus for going the print-on-demand route is the speed with which your book gets from digital manuscript to printed book, often just a few weeks.Many family historians struggle when it comes to the layout, design and physical publication of their family history. This is where a good POD service can be of benefit. You can even get someone to do the typing, cover design, editing, or even the writing as long as you're prepared to pay for it. Full-service companies will usually either charge separately for the manuscript preparation services, or roll the cost into the book printing charges.
More:
Getting Your Family History Ready for Publication
Print-on-Demand Family History Publishers
