Everything you need to know about casebound books

Everything you need to know about casebound books

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There are a few different kinds of printed books available for readers and one is the casebound book. What exactly is involved in the making of a casebound book and is there any benefit to it? Read through this post and find out.

1. What are casebound books?

Casebound, often referred to as hardcover, is a very common format for a book to be made in. How to identify a casebound book is by its cover, which will be hard and sturdy. This differs from the other common format, paperback (or softcover), as they have soft and flexible covers.

Some casebound books also come with dust jackets, which are made from a higher GSM paper than the interior pages and feature the same cover design as its paperback version. In instances like this, the casebound cover would have a more simplified design or be left almost blank and only have detail on the spine.

In traditional publishing, books are often first released in a casebound version before they transition over to paperback.

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2. How are casebound books made?

Firstly, the book blocks are created. This begins with printing, then moves to guillotining, and then binding. The binding style can differ but is usually limited to one of the standard processes: section sewn or glued. Once bound, cloth spines are added and the book blocks are complete.

Next, the cases are made. The process depends on the style of case (paper- or material-covered), as they require different steps and machines to complete. For paper-covered casebound books, the covers are first printed and cut to shape, then glued to and folded around the three pieces of board (front, spine, and back), before the book blocks are glued in place. For material-covered casebound books, a dedicated machine is used to attach and wrap cloth/imitation cloth around the three pieces of board (front, spine, and back) before they are glued to the book blocks.

Casebound books (either material- or paper-covered) can include the following extras:

  • Endpapers
  • Ribbon
  • Head- and tailbands
  • Dust jacket

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3. What are the benefits?

There are pros and cons to any book format. Casebound books have some great benefits over the other formats you could print your book in:

  • Strength and durability: Casebound books are capable of withstanding more rough-handling and lasting a lot longer than their paperback counterparts. This means that they are great for archives and for collectors who are wanting their books to last many years.
  • Professional-looking product: Having your book casebound brings an element of sophistication, gravitas, and importance. It makes your book like a higher quality than other binding types, especially if it has some print finishes like foiling, em- and debossing, etc.
  • Stands out to readers: Casebound books have an eye-drawing presence on bookshelves that draw a reader’s eye. This is especially the case as they usually incorporate print finishes (like previously mentioned).
  • Set RRP higher: Because casebound books have a status of being a higher quality book than other formats with more processes put into their production, they retail for a higher price. If you print savvy, this can mean authors turning a better profit from their sales.

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4. What are the downfalls?

As with any book, casebound books do have their issues for readers and authors alike. It’s up to you to decide if the pros outweigh the cons:

  • Heavier and bulkier: On average, a casebound version of a book will be weightier and larger than its paperback counterpart. This can effect a couple of different things. The first is that it will bump up the shipping prices during the print phase, in turn effecting the RRP and an author’s profit margin. The second is that some readers—especially the older among us—have trouble holding the book for a long period of time, effecting the reading experience for some. Another is that it makes it harder to travel with a book.
  • More expensive: While a high RRP might be useful for authors, it can be a deterrent for readers who can’t afford to spend $30 – $60 on each of their books. The print cost of casebound books is also higher as the production process is more complicated—especially for books with numerous print finishes.

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5. What kind of books should be casebound?

Having a casebound version of a book is especially useful for publications that need to last a long time or have a high capacity for durability, but really any book can be casebound. It is very common for most genres of fiction and non-fiction to have a casebound version as traditional publishers release a casebound version of their books first to help maximise their profits.

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6. Is case binding viable for my book?

If you are publishing your book traditionally, it’s likely that your book will have a casebound version as it is a standard procedure for these publishers. On the other hand, self-publishing authors need to be aware of the costs of printing casebound books and decided whether it is worth the cost (discussed a little later).

Otherwise, as a general rule, a book can be casebound if it has more than 30-80 pages. If your book doesn’t fit these specifications, check with your publisher or printer to see if your book is able to be casebound or have a think about other strategies, like making your book size smaller or adding more content.

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7. Do casebound books do well in the book market?

As a general rule, paperback books sell more copies than casebound books. Paperback books are almost always cheaper for customers than their casebound counterpart and many readers prefer their lightweight nature. Casebound books, on the other hand, generally do not sell in as large of quantities, but they do generate higher returns on sale. This means that you don’t have to sell as many books to be profitable compared to paperback.

Many readers have their preferences for the kind of book format they like, and there are certainly a lot of them who will opt for a casebound book when given the decision.

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8. How much do casebound books cost to print?

The cost of any printing venture is highly personal and varies from project to project. This is because the cost of printing a book depends on many different variables, such as the quality of the print, the size of the book, and even the printer itself.

8.1 Specialty print finishes

This includes embossing/debossing, foiling, spot-gloss, printed ends, and more. Applying one or more print finish will increase the cost of your book as it adds extra material and processes.

High-end Print finish holographic foil   High-end print finish foiling and debossing   

8.2 Binding

Certain types of binding are cheaper than others. Casebound books are more expensive than other binding types because the materials used in the production costs more to source. There are also additional processes undertaken by printers create casebound books.

8.3 Paper type

The quality of the paper will dictate both how much the paper costs (higher quality = higher cost and vice versa), but it can also have an impact on freight costs as higher GSM paper is thicker and therefore weighs more.

8.4 Page count

Books with a smaller page count require less paper and are lighter, meaning they cost less both in the printing process and when it comes to freight.

Difference in page count between casebound books

8.5 Individual printers

No two printers will give you identical quotes for a print run. This is because printers differ in factory (capacity) size, stock type and availability, and profit margins.

8.6 Printer location

The location of a printer factors into the cost of printing for a few different reasons. Often, printing in countries like China will mean a cheaper price, but you’ll have to print in bulk and then pay for freight, which can also be quote costly. For our Australian authors, printing locally in Australia can cost more per book, but freight is often more affordable, and smaller print runs are available from most printers.

8.7 Number of books printed

Organising a large (or bulk) print run will make the cost of printing a book cheaper per unit than they would be on a small print run. Choosing to print in bulk, however, means committing to a greater up-front cost.

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In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

How to market your self-published book

How to market your self-published book

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Marketing your self-published book doesn’t have to be difficult – Green Hill Publishing provides guidance on how to engage in marketing successfully.

1. What is book marketing?

Book marketing is the process of promoting a book to potential readers and increasing your book’s visibility within the book market. This can include many different tactics which will be touched on below, such as, creating a successful social media presence, reaching out to book bloggers and book reviewers on different platforms, using paid advertising, collaborating with authors and reading groups or book clubs, and more.

The goal of book marketing is to generate interest in your book, attract new readers, and increase sales. It is an ongoing process which requires creativity, persistence, and a deep understanding of both your book and the target audience, as well as your book’s place within the market. Additionally, self-marketing efforts would work best in conjunction with book publicity, which is a focused effort to help generate reporting and coverage of your book via the media.

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2. Who is the target audience for my book?

Determining who the target audience for your book is an important and vital step in the marketing process. A target audience is a group of people who are most likely to be interested in your book and will more than likely purchase it.

Consider the following points when determining your target audience:

  1. Genre: Who is most likely to read your genre of book?
  2. Theme: What themes does your book touch on?
  3. Setting: Where does your book take place?
  4. Character: Who are your main characters and what are they like?
  5. Audience demographic: Understand and consider the age, gender, income level, education and occupation of your target audience.
  6. Interests: What are your target audience’s interests?

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3. Strategies for marketing my self-published book

Self-marketing is not an easy job by any means. You must put in the work if you want your book to succeed. Remember: marketing of any kind is a long-term job, and it takes time, effort and consistency, but it will pay off in the end if you do it right.

3.1 Establish an author platform

The first key component of marketing your book is ensuring that you have an author platform to use as your ground-zero. Building an author platform means that you need to develop a strong online presence to help connect with readers and build a fanbase which will be loyal to you and your book or books.

3.2 Self-marketing strategies

There are also many marketing strategies that can you can use to promote your book in a specific way that works for your author platform, author brand, and book type.

Some of these include:

  1. Social Media: Use online platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest to connect with potential readers and promote your book. Engage with readers and authors to determine your place in the market.
  2. Online distribution/bookstores: Make sure your book is listed on online retailers such as Amazon, Book Depository and Booktopia.
  3. Advanced reader copies (ARCs): Give away copies of your book in exchange for honest reviews. This can help boost visibility on online retailers, as well as other online platforms such as social media and online blogs. It not only does this, but can also generate a buzz on your book and attract new readers.
  4. Blogging and guest blogging: Reach out to online bloggers, social media influencers and website owners who do work related to your book. Ask if you can write a guest post or review of your book on their website. There is the chance they may say no, but this is good way to reach a wider audience which you may not get the chance to do in the future.
  5. Book clubs and reading groups: Contact book clubs and reading groups in your local area to see whether they would be interested in hosting an author talk, or if they’d be interested in featuring your book as one of their monthly reads.
  6. Readings and book events: Attend events and conventions in your local area to connect with readers and authors. This helps to expand your audience.
  7. Book launch: Planning a book launch is a great way to make sales and get the local community around a new author. This can include a launch party, book signing, book reading and an online launch.
  8. Author networking: Attend writing conferences, workshops and festivals to expand your network and connect with likeminded authors and readers. There often publishers and literary agents in attendance, too!
  9. Email marketing: Build a list of email contacts who are interested in your book and send them updates and exclusive content.
  10. Create a website or blog: Promote your book and gain readership by having your own website to drive traffic back to.
  11. Reviews: Encourage your readers to leave reviews of your book on online retailers’ websites, social media and review platforms such as Goodreads.
  12. Podcasts: Reach out to book podcasters to see if they would be interested in talking about your book.
  13. Use paid advertising: Pay for paid adverts on a variety of different online settings, such as Facebook and Instagram. You can narrow down audience and demographics to target the right people.
  14. Influencer Marketing: Partner with well known book influencers to promote your book.
  15. Publicity: Consider reaching out to journalists, newspapers and magazines to secure coverage for your book.
  16. Consider hiring a marketing expert: Sometimes you just need a little extra help. Look for marketers that specialise in helping authors gain readership.

Developing a well-rounded marketing strategy that combines at least a couple of these tactics is a good idea. It is also important to be consistent and to research your target audience. The more you know about your target audience, the more you can tailor your marketing efforts to make sure you reach the right people.

The most important thing is to keep your readers engaged. Keep in touch with them through a website, social media and email lists to keep them up to date on your writing and any new projects or opportunities you are working on.

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4. What does successful book marketing look like?

Successful book marketing is one that generates interest and sales for your book in an effective manner. Your marketing should have a strong and consistent message which can be determined easily—it must effectively communicate the value and unique selling points of the book.

Successful book marketing has measurable results. This means that clear goals and objectives should be set to measure the results of the marketing (this also makes it easier to track).

Ultimately, successful book marketing is dependant on the individual book, the target audience, and resources used in the marketing campaign. As well as this, the author must be willing to consistently work on the marketing. It is essential for both the author (and/or the marketing team) to have a clear understanding of the book market, the genre of the book and the target audience, and adapt their marketing strategy appropriately.

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5. What is a good book review and how does it help with marketing?

A good book review is an honest and well-expressed analysis of a book that provides prospective readers and a sense of the strengths and weaknesses of a book. Some key elements of a good book review are:

  1. Reviewer objectivity: A good book review should be unbiased and provide a critique of a book with no prior influence. Sometimes reviewers add personal opinions on the book’s readability also.
  2. A good analysis: A good book review should include an in-depth analysis of the book, including structure, themes, characters, writing style, strengths and weaknesses.
  3. Provides clarity: A good book review should be clear and concise. It should be written well and easy to understand for the average person. Reviewers should also steer away from using jargon or complex language—it should be accessible for all.
  4. Goes into specifics: A good book review should provide specific examples from the book to support the analysis. This helps readers understand how the book was perceived by the reviewer.
  5. Provides context: A good reviewer should be able to place a book in a specific genre and compare it to other books of the same genre.
  6. Has a personal touch: A reviewer should also be able to share their own perspective, but not in a way that sways the opinion of the reader. It will provide the reader insight into how the book affected them.
  7. Doesn’t include spoilers: Reviewers should not give away any spoilers or reveal vital parts of the book’s plot.
  8. Comes from a credible source: A good reviewer should have knowledge of the book’s genre and a history of reviewing in your genre. A credible reviewer will have a history of offering extensive reviews and usually do so on more than one platform e.g. Goodreads, Instagram, TikTok, etc.

Book reviews assist in marketing your book as they provide potential readers an overall idea of what they can expect in a book, which gives the reader a chance to decide if this is something they are interested in. Not only do they do this, but they also give an independent assessment of the quality of a book, often shortcutting lead times and encouraging people to pick up a copy.

Positive book reviews also provide word-of-mouth advertising, as most readers, reviewers or book bloggers will share their thoughts with their friends, family and followers. In addition to this, a good number of positive reviews can help books become more visible on online retailer websites such as Amazon, Booktopia and Book Depository (as well as others) which can lead to increased sales.

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6. Connect with Green Hill Publishing

Marketing does not happen overnight—it takes time, effort and consistency. However, it can be easy once you wrap your head around the wants and needs for your book!

Don’t know where to start on your marketing journey? Enquire with us to claim your copy of The Little Book of Big Marketing Tips and give yourself a head-start into the book marketing world!

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The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

Is Goodreads good for authors?

Is Goodreads good for authors?

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Goodreads for self-published authors is a great marketing strategy. Goodreads is often used for book reviews and tracking your reading progress, but it can also be an excellent tool for authors. Marketing through Goodreads can help boost your book’s visibility and reach a wider audience.

1. What is Goodreads?

Goodreads is a platform (website and app) that allows users to search for and find books. Alongside this, the platform allows users to review and rate the books too. It is basically a social media platform for books where users can create book clubs, join groups, and follow their favourite authors.

Users can create their own personal account on Goodreads and also claim author profiles. You are able to search for books by title, author, or ISBN and add these books to personal virtual book shelves (read, want to read, etc.). The shelf feature  allows users to categorise the books they’ve read, are currently reading or want to read. You are also able to participate in group discussions about particular books/authors. Goodreads collects data to recommend books to users based on their reading history and preferences.

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2. How to create a Goodreads account

To create a free Goodreads account, follow these steps:

    1. Go to the Goodreads website (goodreads.com) and click the Join button located on the homepage.
    2. Fill out the registration form by entering your name, email address, and password.
    3. Click on the Sign Up
    4. Verify your email address by following the instructions that are sent to your email address.
    5. Once you’ve verified your email address, you can log into your Goodreads account, you can start building your virtual bookshelves, follow authors, and join groups.

You can also create an account by signing in with your Google or Facebook account, which can be faster and more convenient.

You need to be 13 years or older to use Goodreads.

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3. How you can use Goodreads for self-published authors

Goodreads is a relatively easy social media platform to use. To use it:

    1. Create a Goodreads account following the instructions above.
    2. Search for and add books to your virtual bookshelves by searching the Goodreads database.
    3. Rate and review the books you’ve read.
    4. Follow your friends and other reviews to see what they are reading and to keep track of their reviews.
    5. Participate in online book clubs and discussion groups.
    6. Use the Goodreads website or app to track your reading progress.
    7. Discover new books by exploring recommendations, lists and author pages.
    8. Keep your bio up to date (especially if you are listed as an author).

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4. Why is Goodreads a good platform for authors to use?

Goodreads is a great author platform because it provides authors with a way to connect with readers and also promote your books. Some benefits of using Goodreads include:

    1. Exposure: Goodreads is one of the largest book-related social media platforms, that hosts millions of users. By having a presence on this site as an author, you can increase your visibility and reach new readers.
    2. Reviews and feedback: Goodreads allows readers to rate and review books providing valuable feedback for authors. Positive reviews can boost author’s reputations and increase book sales as well as attracting new readers.
    3. Networking: Goodreads helps authors connect with other authors and industry professionals. You can join groups, participate in discussions, and attend virtual events.
    4. Marketing: Goodreads allows authors to create author profiles, list upcoming events and book releases, as well as promote books through targeted advertising campaigns.
    5. Analytics: Goodreads provides authors with data on how their books are performing. This includes number of page views, ratings, and reviews. This can help authors understand their readers and help with future decisions on their work/releases.

Goodreads is a platform which can increase the visibility of authors, connect authors with readers and other authors, as well as promote books to a wider audience.

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5. What is the Goodreads Author Program?

The Goodreads Author Program is a service offered by Goodreads that allows authors to claim their author profile. Authors are also able to connect with readers and promote their books on the platform. Some of the features include:

    1. Author Profile: Authors can create their profile on Goodreads that includes important information about themselves and their books. You can also list upcoming events and book releases.
    2. Giveaways: Goodreads Author Program members can run giveaways for their books, allowing readers to enter to win a free copy. It is also a good strategy to engage new readers.
    3. Advertising: Goodreads offers advertising which is targeted for authors. This includes sponsored review and placements.
    4. Analytics: Goodreads provides authors with data on their books’ performance, including number of views, ratings and reviews.
    5. Promotions: Author Program members can join the Early Reviewers program, which allows them to send advanced readers copies to Goodreads members for review. You can also create custom lists of your books and have them featured on the Goodreads homepage.
    6. Community: Goodreads Author program members can join groups and participate in discussions, allowing them to connect more broadly.

The Goodreads Author Program is free to join and is available to all authors. By joining the program, authors can promote their books, connect with readers and other authors, and also gain valuable insights about their readership.

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6. The benefits of Goodreads for readers

    • Book discovery: Goodreads allows users to search for books by title, author, or ISBN, and to browse through individual genres and categories. It also provides personalised book recommendations based on the reader’s reading history and preferences.
    • Reviews and ratings: Goodreads allows readers to rate and review books, providing a way for them to share their thoughts and opinions about the books they read. This can also help other readers who are looking for recommendations.
    • Social interaction: Goodreads is effectively a social media platform for book lovers which allow readers to interact with one another as well as join book clubs and participate in group discussions. This is a great way to discover new books and engage in discussions about literature.
    • Author connection: Goodreads allows users to follow their favourite authors, receive updates about new releases and attend virtual events.
    • Reading tracking: Goodreads has a shelves feature allowing readers to keep track of books they have read, are currently reading, or want to read. This can help keep track of personal reading goals and for sharing reading lists with friends. Readers can also take part in the Goodreads Reading Challenge yearly, where they create a reading goal for the year.
    • Goodreads Choice Awards: Goodreads holds an annual book award allowing readers to vote for their favourite books of the year over multiple genres.

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7. How does Goodreads recommend books to readers?

There are a few factors that determine how Goodreads recommends books to readers. These include:

    1. The users’ reading history and preferences: Goodreads tracks the books a user has read, rated and reviewed, and then uses this data to suggest books that are of a similar, style, genre, or subject.
    2. Users’ shelves: Goodreads allows users to categories into virtual bookshelves as mentioned before. These books that are displayed on the user’s shelves help Goodreads make recommendations to the user.
    3. Users’ friends: Goodreads also looks at the book’s the user’s friends have read and rated, and then also suggests books based on this data.
    4. Popularity: Goodreads also considers the popularity of books, based on the ratings, reviews, and shelves it has been added to by other users.
    5. Machine learning algorithms: Goodreads uses machine learning algorithms to analyse and learn from a user’s behaviour and patterns. This information is then used to improve recommendations over time.

    By considering these factors, Goodreads can provide users with personalised book recommendation which are tailored to their reading preferences by the data they’ve collected.

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8. Is Goodreads safe to use as it uses my data?

Goodreads collects user data as part of its normal operations, but they only take data in context to reader habits. This being said, they do not steal user data. Goodreads Privacy Policy states that the company uses user data to provide and improve its services, as well as for advertising and promotional purposes.

Users should always be careful when sharing personal information online and should review the privacy policy of any platform used (including Goodreads) to understand what data is being collected and how it is used. If you have concerns about privacy, you should take steps to protect your information by adjusting privacy settings, being cautious about what you share, and also reviewing what data is being collected.

Goodreads is considered safe to use and they have security measures in place to protect individual user data (this includes encryption of sensitive information and regular security audits).

However, like any online platform, there are always risks of data breaches and hacking, and all users should be cautious of the information they share on the platform. It is recommended to use a strong password which only you know and enable two-factor authentication.

As Goodreads is a social platform, users should be aware of the information they share and be cautious of online scams and phishing attempts. However, as long as users are aware of potential risks, don’t share personal information on the platform, and take steps to keep your information safe and private, Goodreads is a safe platform to use.

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9. What are some other applications similar to Goodreads?

Here are some other applications that are similar to Goodreads:

BookLikes

BookLikes is a social media platform for booklovers to create virtual bookshelves, review and rate books they’ve read, and also connect with other book lovers. It has similar characteristics to Goodreads in that you can discover new books, share reading experiences and engage in the book community.

BookPage

BookPage is a little different to the rest of the platforms as it is a literary magazine which focuses on reviewing and recommending books to their readers. They have articles about the latest and best books in a variety of genres such as fiction, sci-fi, and more. The magazine also features author interviews, essays and features about the publishing industry. It is aimed at readers and provides a physical and digital resource to discover new books and authors.

LibraryThing

LibraryThing is a website that caters in categorising books. Users are able to create a personal catalog of books and keep track of their reading progress, reviews, and rating like Goodreads. Similarly, it also gives book recommendations and author information. It is a platform which allows book lovers to connect.

Novellic

Novellic is a digital application for mobile for readers and book club members. The app curates and personalises recommendations for readers based on their individual reading preferences as well as allow users to join and create book clubs.

StoryGraph

StoryGraph is an application that specialises in book discovery and recommendation platform that assists readers find their next favourite read. It has features such as personalised recommendations, book lists, reviews, ratings, and a community of likeminded book lovers. Users are also able to track their reading progress and rate books they read similarly to Goodreads. You can also link your Goodreads account so they sync up!

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Interested in publishing your book but unsure where to start or what is even involved? Tell us about your project and we will post you a copy of our:

 

The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.