The Value of Book Distribution Is Often Misunderstood by Authors | Jane Friedman

As of 2021, most readers cannot tell if the paperback they're holding in their hands is print-on-demand or from a traditional offset printer. Even hardcover print-on-demand is seeing an increase in sales and acceptance by consumers. Yes, print-on-demand carries carries a higher unit cost (and thus lower profits), and it has some design and production limitations. But for the average self-publishing author, this makes publishing more accessible and affordable than it has ever been. (The same is true for small presses, of course.)

As more and more books get purchased online, it doesn't matter if your books are available on a physical bookstore shelf or not. You don't need a bricks-and-mortar presence for your book to be discovered and purchased. All you need is a product page at the major online retailers. Readers won't know how the book is printed or that it's only printed when they order it, or they may prefer a digital edition.