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The excellent news for authors self-publishing their work today is that any stigma about not having a traditional publisher producing the book is fading away. What matters is the quality of the work and that editing, cover design, and book printing are handled professionally. When your book is on par with those produced by big-time publishers, you'll be in an excellent position to compete. It's also why more authors publishing independently are looking for alternatives to print-on-demand. It enforces some limits that are necessary logistically and diminishes your ability to produce a fully competitive book.
Wise authors also think long-term, and going with print-on-demand keeps you tethered to the companies that provide the service. They keep the contact information for people ordering the books and their branding overshadows yours. When you go with a professional book printer willing to work in smaller quantities, you can warehouse the books efficiently and sell them yourself. When you do it that way, your readers develop a direct relationship with you, and you keep their contact information for future marketing. It's a much wiser approach and lets you build a brand starting with your first book in print.
It would be best if you also figured your book will sit on people's shelves next to ones from other printers. If you want to be taken seriously and well regarded, it needs to have an appearance of equal caliber. It's another way print-on-demand can fall short. If your book has a more generic appearance, people will likely feel it's second best compared to others. If you've paid for a professional cover design and book formatting, it's a shame to let down-and-dirty publishing methods diminish them. It's the same for companies and others self-publishing their work – making it look good counts.
Books are about image and branding nearly always. They are meant to impress their readers and provide valuable information or entertainment. Even with the digital revolution, more than 80 percent of books are still purchased and read in physical copies, therefore printing matters. You don't need to spend a fortune on printing, either. When you find good resources online, they have impressive capabilities for competitive prices. You'll also have options to select cover stock, the paper used to print inside pages, and the type of binding – hardcover, and paperback continue to be popular.