Introduction
It’s a dream for many authors to have their books read by as many people as possible. The problem, however, is that many writers can’t afford to partner with larger publishers that distribute books in other countries. This restricts their audience and makes it hard for them to reach audiences from different parts of the world.
Thankfully, there’s a simple solution for that. Try book fulfillment solutions in the USA so you can sell your works in foreign nations and possibly get more readers and supporters.
Turn your dream into reality with the help of Omnibook Co.! We are a self-publishing company that can help you reach a wider audience in various countries. Contact us today for more information about our book fulfillment services for self-publishers.
What Is Book Fulfillment?
In a nutshell, book fulfillment refers to the process of distributing your published output to your readers without going through a third-party retailer. This is extremely beneficial to self-published authors because they no longer have to print, package, and ship their written works to their buyers one by one. Instead, those tasks will be done by the company they partner with.
Book fulfillment is also a great way for writers to reach a wider audience. Authors in the USA can partner with organizations in other countries to sell and distribute their books to a foreign market.
Some may think book fulfillment is no longer relevant because of the advent of more accessible formats, particularly e-books and audiobooks. However, this isn’t the case since many people still prefer physical volumes over other options. A 2019 survey by Pew Research Center, an independent think tank, revealed that 7% of US adults read electronic copies only rather than traditional paperback and hardbound books.
Important Tasks of a Book Fulfillment Company
Traditional publishing has a lot of benefits both for established and aspiring authors. However, while it offers a lot of perks, it also has quite a few drawbacks. The most obvious one is that it may take budding writers several years and dozens of tries before any of their works are noticed by publishing houses in the USA. Not everyone can wait that long, especially if writing books is their only source of income.
Book printing and fulfillment services will be a great help if you’re an author who wants to sell your books fast. Most companies that cater to writers in the USA also offer the following:
Editing
Even the most prolific novelists still make blunders when writing. Minor mistakes in grammar, spelling, and syntax are inevitable for everyone. In some cases, there are also major errors, such as poor content organization. These mistakes, no matter how big or small, can make or break your book, so it’s best to get rid of them as much as possible. Editors are there to help you with that.
If you partner with a reliable book fulfillment company in the USA, they will handle the editing of your works. Editors in these companies are well-trained in spotting all kinds of mistakes, so you can rest assured your book won’t have any grammatical or typographical errors. They will also tell you if they catch any inconsistencies with the plot so you can change the flow as necessary.
Printing
Printing is often described as the stage in which the book comes to life as the author’s words are slowly transferred from the text editing software to paper. However, it isn’t as easy as it seems.
This step in the book fulfillment process is indeed the most crucial. As the author, you have many things to consider before the printing of your book even starts:
- Size – By standards, a book should be around six inches in width and about 9 inches in height. This size is ideal for anyone because it’s not too big to hold and carry around in their bags. It’s also not too small that it would get easily lost or misplaced.
- Paper Quality – Be sure to check the paper quality to see if it meets your standards. If it’s too thick, your book might be too heavy and bulky; if it’s too thin, the pages would be extremely fragile and almost see-through.
- Typography – Choosing the right font is difficult. But as a general rule, simpler options are always better since they make the text easier to read. If you’re having trouble selecting the right one for your book, experts can guide you and tell you the pros and cons of specific fonts.
- Cover Art – The cover design is a big attention-grabber. It’s not a simple decoration that serves no purpose; rather, it’s an important asset that can potentially attract more readers.
Binding
Once all the pages are printed, the next step would be binding. At this point, the book fulfillment company might ask you if you want your work to be hardbound or paperback.
Hardbound books are more expensive, but they are known to be more elegant. They have thick front and back covers that are extremely durable, which makes the volume almost resistant to most kinds of damage. The downside, however, is that this option makes the book significantly thicker and heavier, so they’re no longer easy to carry around.
Paperbacks are popular among avid readers not only because they’re lighter but also because they’re more affordable. They’re not as durable as hardbound covers, but they can still last for decades, depending on how the user takes care of them.
Inventory Management
Some self-published authors collaborate with a printing press to help create a few copies of their books. The writer will then market and sell their written work on their own through different platforms, such as social media, online bookshops, and personal websites. This practice might work, but a few problems will undoubtedly arise in the long run.
If you have dozens or hundreds of volumes waiting to be sold, managing them can be quite a pain. It will be hard for full-time authors like yourself to juggle the tasks of monitoring your inventory and writing your next book. Not to mention, storing copies of your work at home might not be a good idea. This is because books can be quite sensitive, so their paper might turn yellow if not kept in a proper stockroom for a long time. Plus, buyers might complain if the item they bought doesn’t look “new.”
Book fulfillment companies in the USA can help you with inventory management. They have staff members who can monitor your stocks and even help you market and sell your written works. Also, they have temperature-controlled warehouses that store books to prevent them from yellowing.
Shipping
You’ll surely be elated if you get notified that someone placed an order for your book. But surely, you’d scratch your head after finding out they want it delivered to a foreign country, compelling you to ship a copy abroad. The fees, along with the tedious process, can be a considerable problem for self-published authors. Thankfully, this issue is as good as solved if you partner with a reliable book fulfillment services provider.
These companies have staff members who will take care of the shipping process for your book. They will manage everything for you, saving you the hassle of manually sending copies of your written works to your reader from abroad.
If you have a growing audience in the Philippines, it’s a good idea to partner with us at Omnibook Co. We offer book printing and fulfillment solutions for self-publishers. Feel free to get in touch with our team to learn about our services.
How Book Fulfillment in the USA Helps Independent Publishers
Book printing and fulfillment solutions are a big help to anyone who wants to publish their own written work. Here are some of the ways these services can benefit writers, especially first-time authors and self-publishers:
Gives You More Money per Sale
Putting up your work on both online and physical bookshops is an excellent way for it to gain attention from the patrons of those stores or platforms. Doing that sometimes comes with a catch, though. The company will buy your books from you wholesale so they can sell them on the shelves at a higher price. In the end, you’ll get less for each sale, hindering you from earning a lot.
You won’t experience this if you partner with a book fulfillment company. In most cases, they do print-on-demand services, so they’ll only publish a certain number of copies, depending on how many people placed an order on your book. They won’t purchase your work at a wholesale price, so you’ll get to earn more.
What’s more, you’ll have much more freedom to control the price of your book. If you want to give discounts and promos to some of your readers, you have the choice to do so.
Serves as Your Book Storage
As a writer, it’s pretty much a given that you’re an avid reader, as well. You might even have a small library at home or at least a few shelves filled with some of the books you’ve read over the years. If you would notice, many of them have gotten old, and their pages have already gotten yellowish and musty. This naturally happens when your books are exposed to sunlight and ambient air.
Old books might have their own appeal, but the usual reader would prefer something they newly bought to look as fresh as possible. Thankfully, this won’t happen to your works if you collaborate with a reliable book fulfillment company in the USA. In most cases, they have facilities that are specifically designed for the storage of books to prevent them from yellowing.
Handles and Processes Each Order
Writing a book and selling it require two different skills. You already have the ability to become an author, but apart from that, you need to have the aptitude for business if you want to market your works to a broader audience and make them popular. If you don’t have that, don’t worry because book fulfillment companies can help.
It could be a huge pain for any author to balance their writing time with their marketing tasks. That’s why it’s a good idea to leave sales to the experts. Book fulfillment companies typically train staff members to process transactions for people who want to buy your works. These employees oversee taking orders and shipping them to the buyer’s home.
Controls Book Distribution
Book distribution refers to the process of bringing your written work to the hands of the customer. It maximizes every platform, such as physical stores and online shops, for readers to get to know your book and possibly make a purchase. Doing it on your own can be pretty tedious, so you might want to seek assistance from professionals.
Companies that offer book fulfillment solutions sometimes provide distribution services, as well. They are typically partnered with private and public establishments, so you can rest assured that your book will be displayed on physical and digital shelves of local bookshops, libraries, and online stores.
Deals With Book Returns and Damaged Copies
Hardbound and paperback copies can sometimes get damaged, especially during packing and shipping. There might be tears on the pages, scratches on the cover, or any other kinds of physical defects. The customer who receives such a book is entitled to return and exchange it for a new one.
Through fulfillment services, you won’t have to worry about dealing with book returns. The company you partnered with will take care of everything, even ensuring the buyer that such a mishap will not happen again.
Preserves Good Relationships With Customers
In any kind of business, forging bonds with customers is an excellent way to succeed. The same goes for authors; you need to develop a good and lasting relationship with your readers because they are the ones who buy your books and give you your income.
However, creating a connection with readers can be quite tricky for some authors. It’s a good thing that book fulfillment companies can help you in developing a good relationship with some of your readers. You can ask the staff member of the company for tips on how to engage your audience and tell them how grateful you are for their patronage.
What To Look For in Book Printing and Fulfillment Companies
There are a lot of book fulfillment companies in the USA, and it’s up to you to choose which of them you’d like to collaborate with. Here are some of the characteristics you might want to look for:
Years of Experience
It’s a good idea to choose companies that have been in the industry for quite a while. In most cases, they have the knowledge and expertise to market your books to a wider audience and possibly help you earn more. Additionally, they usually have more and better connections, so your works can be put on the shelves of some of the best bookshops, libraries, and online platforms.
Shipping Speed
Book fulfillment companies are in charge of bringing your book to the buyer. For this reason, they should have an excellent logistics service to ensure that the hardbound or paperback copy will be delivered to the customer fast.
Usually, book fulfillment companies simply partner with local shipping service providers. You can ask them about their courier to get an idea of how long it might take for your book to be delivered to the buyer.
Packaging Options
Books can be pretty sensitive, so they should be handled with care, especially during shipping. Doing so prevents them from getting torn, dented, or scratched. Ultimately, your customer will be elated because their copy looks good.
For this reason, it’s essential to ask about the packaging options of your book fulfillment company. Some simply wrap the book in paper and plastic before being delivered; others go the extra mile and put the item secured in a box with a proper cushion.
Where Can You Find Reliable Book Fulfillment Services in the USA?
Your search for a reliable book fulfillment services provider ends today. Omnibook Co. is here to help you with all your needs regarding publishing and distributing your book. We understand how passionate you are about your written work, and we know how much effort you’ve put into completing it. That’s why we will try our best to provide you with the most excellent services you truly deserve.
Contact us at Omnibook Co. today to learn more about our book fulfillment solutions.
Conclusion
If you are a self-published author looking for ways to make your book more popular, it’s wise to request fulfillment services from us here at Omnibook Co. We are a publishing house you can partner with, and we can provide you with different print and distribution solutions to help you reach a wider audience.
We have been in this industry for quite a while, so you can expect us to have the skills, along with the knowledge and expertise to help you with all your needs. Reach out to our team today for more information!
