How to Select a Christian Book Publishing Company

Jesus told Peter, “if you love me, feed my sheep” (John 21:17). As believers, it is a message that all of us should take to heart. One way to feed our Master’s sheep is through the written word. Whether that word comes in the form of devotionals or the sharing of how becoming a Christian has changed our lives, the written word has the power to share God’s message with all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.

Finding the right book publishing company can help you as you share Christ’s message of love.

What Do You Need?

What are your goals? Is your book a collection of devotionals you want to give as gifts to family and friends? Is it a collection of sermons to share with your congregation? Is it a book of your personal journey of faith that you wish to sell at conferences where you have been called to speak? Understanding what you need from a book publisher will give you a clearer picture of what things to ask for and how to decide if that publisher can meet your needs.

Self-published book from a Christian Publisher.

How Many Copies?

How many copies do you need? Having an idea of how many books you want to print is important when you approach a publisher. Look for publishers who can cater to your individual needs whether you are printing twenty devotionals to give as Christmas gifts or one thousand books to take to conferences.

The book publisher you choose should be able to provide as many or as few copies as you need, all at a reasonable rate.

Do You Need Help Writing Your Book?

When God called Moses to speak to Pharaoh on behalf of the enslaved Hebrews, Moses was worried he wouldn’t have the skills to relay the Lord’s message. God appointed Aaron to help Moses share his message with the Egyptians.

If you, like Moses, have a message God has put in your heart to share but are worried about your skills as a wordsmith, some publishers offer ghostwriting services. These services allow you to work with a qualified professional who can help you put your message on paper in a clear and readable way.

Do You Need a Custom Book Cover?

In Romans, chapter 12, we are reminded that God gives different gifts to different people. If art isn’t your gift, you may need help designing your book cover. As you look for a Christian book publisher make sure they offer services such as custom book cover design and book manuscript formatting if those are not talents you have been blessed with.

E-book Distribution

If your goal is to feed Jesus’ sheep outside of your local area, then you should consider choosing a book publisher who can convert your manuscript into an e-book and set it up for distribution. The internet has made it easier than ever to spread the message of God’s Grace globally. By turning your book into an e-book and distributing it through online sellers you are able to share the words of God more widely than ever before.

For all your Christian Book Publishing Needs InstantPublisher is here to help. Connect with our knowledgeable and experienced staff by calling 1-800-259-2592 or complete our simple online contact form today.

What is Short Run Book Printing?

Short-run book printing, also called low volume book printing, is when you print under one thousand copies of a book at a time. There are many reasons one might wish to print fewer copies of a book, including the investment costs of a large print run and the storage requirements for the final products.

Is Short-Run Book Printing New?

While short-run printing isn’t exactly new, it has never been cheaper and easier to do than right now with today’s available technology.

Historically, printing was done using metal plates that were covered in ink and pressed to paper. This process is still used by some in the publishing industry today.

A man using a press for short-run book printing.

The large amount of time involved in setting up those plates meant that, once they were ready, printers often created large quantities of pages at a time. If another printing was needed, the plates would be set up again. To save took time and money, publishers try to print just the right number of books though estimating demand is difficult even today.

When companies save book templates digitally instead of using metal plates, they can access the templates quickly and easily. This allows the printing of smaller numbers of books without the added costs.

Saves Storage Space

The size and thickness of books vary but storing large quantities of them is something few people have space for.

In traditional print runs, the books would be sent off to a warehouse to await distribution to different stores which would each hold only a few copies apiece.

If the person ordering books is storing them in a garage or spare bedroom, instead of a warehouse, space can quickly become an issue.

Short-run book printing allows the individual the option to only order the books they can easily store and then to reorder a manageable number when their stock dwindles.

Smaller Initial Investment

Predicting book sales is tricky. Even companies that have been in the book industry for years can’t always accurately predict how well or poorly a book will sell.

Printing too many books may result in an inability to turn a profit because the initial print order, and its associated costs, is larger than the demand for printed books.

Short-run book printing allows for production in alignment with demand. More books can be printed cheaply and easily as needed without the risk of unsold copies tying up funds and taking up space.

Short-run book printing has become the solution for many smaller presses and independent authors. It makes short-run book printing more affordable and allows printing in line with demand for the book.

Get Help with Your Short-Run Book Printing Needs

InstantPublisher is available to help you with your short-run printing needs. Connect with our knowledgeable and experienced staff by calling 1-800-259-2592 or complete our simple online contact form today.