Well put simply digital printing has changed the face of print advertising. Not only has the digital age made print more affordable to everyone but, in this fast paced world we live in where time is everything, that all important question of turnaround has been addressed by the advent of digital printing and has been the saving grace of many a hard pressed over stressed printer.

Not so long ago, this was not the case. Professional printing was largely produced by offset litho printing, which, is not only expensive and for the most part out of reach for the general public who simply want to get some invitations printed for their special occasion or some memorial cards. The biggest cost implication for any printer using only offset litho printing is the time it takes to produce the simplest of invitations or a few hundred business cards or flyers. In order to print using an offset printing press the printer must first create the file, place the print on a plate, expose the plate to light using a print down frame and then develop the plate using a special solution. The image is then transferred to a rubber blanket and is finally printed on the your chosen media. This is a time-consuming and messy affair and if you change the content / text or graphics then the plate has to be made all over again which adds extra cost.

But thanks to modern advancements and technology this arduous procedure is no longer necessary for 80% or print media. More than ever before, businesses now opt for high speed fast turnaround and cost effective digital printing, with the added benefit of personalised variable data digital printing. Variable data is an ideal tool for use on a few hundred promotional brochures or promo cards to new potential customers which will make a lasting impression and maximize the effectiveness of your marketing and promotion campaigns.

Outlined below are seven basic activities that may simplify the self-publishing journey. These tasks appear sequential but they may be done simultaneously. Decide what to write about. This is the first thing a writer ought to do. Getting the manuscript printed is important but making sure that the story is interesting to the readers is even more critical. Right from the start and before working on the book, the writer must seriously study the themes people want to read.

Discover your readers. A book’s market niche must be clearly spotted out. This allows the author to write effectively and tailor-fit the book’s overall package to the identified audience. Dedicate time for writing. When the topic and the readers are already clear, the writer must dedicate quality time in writing the book. If it is best for the author to compose during nighttime, then writing should be done at night and not in the morning.
Design effectively. As a house needs interior designing, a book needs one as well. It entails not only designing the physical look of the book but also the flow of the contents. This needs careful planning and meticulous execution. Designate a professional editor. A book author must not self-edit the manuscript but must consult professional editors to improve the copy and make it more appealing to the readers. A writer may think that the message is plain and written well but it could be unclear to the person reading it. Making the story as lucid as possible is an editor’s job.

Deal with a professional publisher. A writer does not have go through the trouble of thinking about technical details in book publishing. Professional publishers like Xlibris can do the whole process with efficiency and excellence. The company offers different publishing packages depending on the author’s needs. Distribute the book effectively. A book’s success doesn’t end when it gets published. It starts when it is promoted and distributed. Though marketing services are available from publishing companies like Xlibris, the book author is still the best person to market the self-published book.