If you’re the author of a book that’s used and consulted heavily, it’s a tribute to the value of your work. Perhaps you planned it as you were writing, or maybe it was a surprise. Whichever way it was, spiral-bound book printing was the way to go. Spiral bindings make it easy to keep a book open to the right page and keep heavily used books in better shape longer. Casebound (hardcover) and perfect bound (paperback) continue as the most popular binding choices, but they aren’t suitable for every book. It’s important to consider how yours will be used when you choose the binding, whether spiral or not.
Spiral bindings today are customarily durable plastics that come in various colors to complement your book and its cover. They resist bending and hold their shape well over time. For traditionalists, metal wire bindings, called wire-o in the publishing industry, are also available. The choice has to do with appearance and durability. Plastic’s ability to hold its shape and resist bending has become increasingly popular in recent years. If shipping weight is a consideration, you can ask your printer for a weight comparison and see if it would make a difference in cost for the book you’ll send.
Binding says a lot about your book; sometimes, bucking the trend and going with something unusual for your gene can e interesting. On the other hand, you don’t want to confuse potential buyers, so ensure your choice isn’t hard to understand. If you’re self-publishing your book, don’t cut corners on cover design, editing, and formatting. All are crucial to maintaining your book’s quality. Regardless of how it’s published, you’ll go against all other books for buyers and readers. Given the competition today, it’s vital to have a professional appearance. It gives your work a better chance of success.
Cookbooks and manuals are the books most often published with spiral bindings. The coil bindings also work well for some children’s titles. They stay open easily if people need to refer to them, walk away, and then return. Offering readers an added level of convenience is good customer relations and, in a small way, might help sales over time. Buyers respond to many things, and if the binding is perceived to be an advantage, it will spark a buying decision. Inquire about their capabilities if you’re shopping around for printers for your book. You want value pricing, but not when it seriously limits your options.
