Small Batch Customization with Print-on-Demand

Publishing 5 min read

Print-on-demand lets authors and organizations create small, purpose-built versions of a book without treating each version like a major publishing project.

Sometimes, AI does get it right. I gave it my outline and a list of source material I was looking at for this post. I wanted a simple, single sentence that got to the point.

Yes, that sentence is pretty clearly AI. But it’s right.

Print-on-demand, dropshipping, and direct-to-consumer selling have the publishing industry on the precipice of a revolution. In fact, I would argue this revolution has been slowly approaching a tipping point for some years now.

For publishers and businesses, that tipping point is about the bottom line. When does using POD fulfillment cost less or earn more than offset and warehousing?

But for individual creators, authors, and small presses, it’s more a question of versatility. Doing large offset runs was never a sustainable model due to the sheer volume of sales necessary to match costs. Short-run printing works for a new release, but neglects the backlist. They need the versatility that POD brings, not just for controlling costs but also for offering the variety of designs readers crave.

Custom Books Are Having a Moment

If Bookcon 2026 is any indicator, readers are loving the modern fantasy and romance trends. This dedicated following creates a desire for collectibles. Unique versions, custom art, and bonus content are all popular ways to drive your fans to support you.

Special editions are wildly popular right now. Custom covers, bonus content, and reader involvement are among the most popular ways to offer your readers something collectible that they’ll be eager to buy.

Because print-on-demand makes it possible to print one, ten, or a hundred copies, you can limit the print run for special editions to create scarcity. Readers love this—they want to have the version of their favorite book with a limited edition cover or special foreword.

Creating Custom Books for Your Readers

Because you don’t need to print thousands of copies of your book ahead of time (offset printing), creating unique versions is as simple as editing your files.

Okay, it’s maybe not that simple. But it’s much easier than it has been in years past. Each version of your book needs a unique PDF, either for the cover or interior (or both), depending on what you’re customizing. Add the extra content, make a new cover, or make any other adjustments you want.

Then, create a new project and upload those files for your special edition.

How to Design & Print Unique Books

Print-on-demand makes it easier than ever before to create custom versions of your books. Once you’ve got your book published, you can create a custom version in three steps:

Create a new project. You should probably give it a descriptive name in Lulu, so you know which version is which. Something like My Book Title - 2026 Event version or My Book Title - Hardcover, alt art cover.
Create a revised interior or cover (based on what you’re customizing). Upload the amended files and verify they’re accepted by our system.
Publish the new version and order a proof copy!

It’s important to note that you can’t duplicate projects with Lulu. This is actually a good thing—the risk of duplicating metadata is not worth the convenience. To make a unique version of your book, you’ll need to make a new project and ensure you add all the correct metadata when creating that new version.

1 Minute Lulu Tutorial

Leveraging Your Custom Books for Audience Growth

The first step to making the most of your ability to offer custom books is figuring out what kinds of custom books your audience wants. Two great ways to do this are:

Social listening: Paying attention to the conversations happening online, even outside your own community (but still in your niche or genre).
Surveying your followers: A simple email survey can do a lot of work. Ask your readers what they liked, what they didn’t like, and what they want from you.

Seriously, it’s that easy. Ask what people want, then customize your product offering to match it.

Creating In-Person Demand

Once you’ve learned what your readers want, you need to assess how best to bring those custom books to them. Local signings, readings, or any kind of event are the perfect opportunity to put your custom books to work.

If you’ve got a local signing opportunity, perhaps at your favorite bookstore, you could add a page to your interior that calls it out. Or add a page specifically for your signature. Maybe you create a little badge and add it to the cover that says ‘signed edition’ or ‘signed at [Bookstore name].’

Building Your Book Club

We’ve all seen those flowery paperbacks in the bookstore with an ‘Oprah’s Book Club’ stamp on the front. It might seem like a small thing, but adding that to the cover is technically a special edition.

You can use this same tactic.

First, get your most excited fans together to form the book club or reading group. Then offer them a unique edition of your book. Only available to the club members, maybe with a reading guide, bonus chapter, or personal introduction.

Crowdfunding & Stretch Goals

Using crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter to fund your next project is nothing new. Putting your customization options to work here is one of the best ways to drive more backers and to convince your existing backers to upgrade.

Making Your Book a Multipurpose Marketing Tool

One of the core lessons for content marketers is the old recycling slogan: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

The yellow + green 'recycle' emblem with the words Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle!

Once you’ve created a piece of content, be it a blog post, video, podcast, LinkedIn article, or whatever, you should look for ways to reuse that content. Take that long-form post and chop it up into short statements for social media. Or make a YouTube short that highlights your broader point.

The same is true for your book.

The initial version you publish is your base. A special edition hardcover might feature alternate art with your main characters. You might do an additional foreword for the audience at an event you're attending. Or a unique dedication for books you’re selling at bookstore signings.

Putting Your Books to Work

Make your book a versatile part of your brand-building. You’ll earn more money this way, have numerous opportunities to delight your readers, and potentially broaden your reach.

Print-on-demand makes it easier than it’s ever been to create a unique edition of your book for specific purposes.