Thanks to technology and the internet writing, publishing, marketing, and even fulfillment and distribution for your book can be handled online. These leaps in technology and this open and easy access has opened publishing to anyone with internet access. Do you have internet access? Take a look at what you can do today!

You probably know that Amazon is the world's largest bookseller, but did you know that they also publish books? They will also distribute your book for you. Barnes and Noble has a distribution program too. You can also place your book on Amazon yourself. Here's how:

• You can join their Advantage Program. This program allows you to use their service to sell and distribute your book. There's an annual fee, $30 at the time this book was written, and they take a percentage from every sale of 55%.
• You can also participate in their Pro-Merchant program. This allows you to sell a large volume through their marketplace service. I do not recommend this for your self published book. This is better for auction type items or stores.
• You can also list your book with a distributor, like Ingram and a listing will automatically be created for you on Amazon.com, which you can then edit and expand upon.


ISBN numbers, Library of Congress numbers, and copyrights can be quickly and easily obtained online:


• Copyright Registration. To protect your content legally, it is advised to register a copyright. It is not necessary as content is protected the moment it is created, however it may serve as a deterrent to would be thieves. In order to obtain a copyright, first publish your book. After your book has been published, http://www.loc.gov/copyright/forms to register it. Of course, include the copyright symbol and date inside your book.



• Visit the ISBN website, http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/isbn/us/secureapp.asp The application costs $29.95 and it includes 10 ISBN numbers.
• Library of Congress Number gives you a PCN or a preassigned control number. Numbers are only assigned to books that will be added to the library. To apply for a PCN, visit http://www.copyright.gov
And we have not even talked about the most basic step of publishing a book, finding a printer! These can be found online, meaning you do not have to drive to your local printer and can find the best printer for your needs. Here is a basic description of your printing options:


• POD Printers. Stands for Print on Demand. They print books plain and simple. The cost ranges from $5 to $10 per book which can be expensive however they're a good option if you are using your book as a calling card or it is nearing the end of it's publication life. For example if you plan on writing a revised version then printing a large batch may not be cost effective and using a POD printer may make more sense.
• Digital Printers PQN. Print Quality needed is an ideal option for authors that require less than 2500 copies. The quality is generally very good and the process is extremely fast. This is often a great way to get started.
• Offset Printers. Offset printing is the most affordable for large volumes. It generally breaks down to about $1.25 per book for about 3000 books. As with most things, the more you buy the cheaper it is so if you order 5000 books the cost will likely drop below $1.00 per book.