Learn What is Print on Demand and How Is It Beneficial?

Print on Demand. You may have heard this phrase, especially if you're a writer or in the publishing industry. What is it and how does it benefit the author? Read on for more information about print on demand publishing.

While the vast majority of indie authors turn to print-on-demand services when it's time to take their book public -- and for good reason - there are certain cases in which offset printing is the way to go.

Print on demand (POD) refers to digital printing technology that allows one or two copies of a book to be printed at a time, dispensing with the expense of warehousing books, making it an attractive option for small presses and authors wishing to self-publish.

The benefits of on-demand publishing are numerous, but these benefits are often outweighed by stigma in many publishing markets. With on-demand publishing, there is very little waste when it comes to printing, and there is no need to keep a stock of items. For businesses, on-demand publishing involves very little risk, and for individual authors, this type of publishing allows for a quick and independent startup.

Self-publishing in general is turning the traditional publishing industry on its head, but print-on-demand services, or POD, are making every writer’s dream of becoming a published author achievable, and it’s not just because of the obvious reasons: that the out-of-pocket cost of printing one book at a time is relatively less expensive than gambling on a 1,000-book run.

A question nearly every author asks -- at least, every author who's ever had difficulty getting a book published the "traditional" way -- is "should I do it myself?" With the advent of print-on-demand technology, the do-it-yourself option has become increasingly appealing.

POD technology allows authors to release self-published works without paying high up-front costs, so this technology means more people are able to print "short runs" of books for a small group of people, such as family histories and photo albums.

McPherson's Printing Group in Australia provides completed printing solutions and providing end to end value from creation to consumption while reducing costs.