Here’s a full blog post titled “How to Get Your Book Printed and Ready for Bookstores”, ideal for authors and small publishers aiming to get their books on shelves. It’s written in a clear, SEO-optimized style:
How to Get Your Book Printed and Ready for Bookstores
Getting your book printed and onto bookstore shelves is a major milestone for any author. But before your book hits the market, you need to navigate a few essential steps to ensure it’s professionally produced, properly distributed, and retail-ready.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you turn your manuscript into a bookstore-worthy product.
1. Finalize Your Manuscript
Before printing, make sure your manuscript is:
- Professionally edited (content and copyediting)
- Properly formatted for print (correct margins, font size, spacing)
- Converted into print-ready files (usually PDF with embedded fonts and CMYK color settings)
Tip: Use tools like Adobe InDesign or hire a professional typesetter to prepare your interior layout.
2. Design a Professional Cover
Your cover is the first thing buyers notice—make it count. A bookstore-ready cover should:
- Include a compelling front design
- Have a correctly sized spine (based on page count and paper type)
- Include a barcode and ISBN on the back
- Follow your printer’s bleed and trim guidelines
👉 ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) are essential for distribution. You can buy one through your country’s ISBN agency.
3. Choose the Right Printing Method
✅ Offset Printing
- Best for large runs (typically 500+ copies)
- Lower cost per unit
- Consistent high quality
✅ Print-on-Demand (POD)
- Great for small batches
- No upfront inventory cost
- Faster turnaround, but higher unit price
Choose based on your budget, sales expectations, and how quickly you need your books.
4. Select Paper, Binding, and Trim Size
Pick specs that suit your genre and bookstore standards:
- Trim size (e.g., 5.5” x 8.5”, 6” x 9”) — standard for fiction and nonfiction
- Binding: Perfect binding (paperback) or hardcover
- Paper: 80–100 GSM uncoated for novels; heavier, coated paper for photo books
Get printed proofs before a full run to check quality.
5. Get a Barcode and Set Your Retail Price
To sell in bookstores, you’ll need:
- An ISBN
- A barcode (linked to your ISBN and retail price)
- A retail price that aligns with market expectations and gives retailers room for markup (typically a 40–55% discount)
You can generate barcodes online or through your ISBN provider.
6. Set Up Distribution Channels
To get into bookstores, you’ll need a wholesale distributor or aggregator such as:
- IngramSpark (widely used by bookstores and libraries)
- Baker & Taylor
- Amazon KDP (for online retailers)
Distributors handle:
- Order fulfillment
- Returns (important for bookstore placement)
- Catalog listing
7. Prepare Marketing and Metadata
You’ll need:
- A Book Description (short and long versions)
- Author bio
- Keywords and categories
- High-resolution cover image
- Blurbs or endorsements (if available)
This info helps retailers and readers find your book.
8. Pitch to Bookstores
Once your book is available through distributors:
- Visit local bookstores and ask to speak with the buyer
- Offer consignment deals if they don’t order through distributors
- Bring a sell sheet (1-page summary of your book, price, ISBN, distributor info)
- Be prepared to do book signings or readings to support sales
9. Promote Your Book
Marketing is key to bookstore success:
- Create an author website and media kit
- Reach out to bloggers, reviewers, and local media
- Host a book launch event
- Use social media and email lists to drive interest
Conclusion
Printing your book and getting it into bookstores takes planning, but it’s entirely doable with the right approach. Focus on producing a professional product, setting up reliable distribution, and actively promoting your book. The payoff? Seeing your work on a shelf where readers can discover it.
Would you like a checklist, downloadable sell sheet template, or pitch email samples to go with this post?
