What is POD and Why Do You Need to Know the Answer?

You might think such a simple little question would have a simple little answer, but unfortunately, that's not the case. POD is one of the most confusing terms in the industry right now. Misunderstanding it is also a big source of disappointment for many new and would-be authors. The good news is once you understand a few key points it gets much easier to  make good decisions as to whether it's right for you.

Key Point #1: POD is not a publishing option; it is a print technology. If you take away nothing else from this column, please make sure you're clear on this. POD stands for print on demand and it's the process of using a big digital printer to print books similar to what is done at your local print shop when you make copies.

Key Point #2: POD Publishers are so named because they rely on this technology to produce books. If you do a search about publishing, many of the sites and names that come up will be these kinds of companies. However, it is also important to know that publishers of all sizes and shapes use POD every day for a variety of reasons.

Key Point #3: POD isn't inherently right, wrong, good or bad. Along the same line, POD/fee-based publishers are not universally good or bad either. Like any other tools, good/not good all depends on how they’re used and whether they’re utilized intelligently.

When you see the terms POD, or POD publisher, dig a little deeper, don't jump to conclusions and you'll be on your way to making good choices.

Contributor

Cheryl PickettCheryl Pickett has been a freelance writer for almost a decade. Her work has appeared both on and offline in newspapers, ezines and more. Her current endeavor is to encourage others in their writing careers and to help them avoid the pitfalls on their path to published.

In her new book, Publishing Possibilities: 8 Steps to Understanding Your Options & Choosing the Best Path for Your Book, she puts her skills to work helping authors navigate the book publishing world. Her personalized, step-by-step approach is unique, and will empower authors to make solid decisions throughout their publishing journey.  Find out more about Cheryl and her work by visiting Publishing Answers.com.

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