Like the music industry, the world of publishing, in all its forms, is undergoing a major transformation due in large part to the digital revolution.

The change represents a major opportunity for bootstrap entrepreneurs, either those with their own content to bring to the marketplace or with an idea on how to market content for others.

This major shift goes far beyond blogging and other self publishing applications available on the Internet into the very way in which digital technology makes it possible for print outside of cyberspace to be produced and marketed.

Possibly the best example of this is the growing popularity and availability of print-on-demand services most notably offered by companies like Lulu.com and CaféPress.com.

Other similar services are offered by Xlibris and iUniverse but with some additional costs.

One publication in particular, The PODS Magazine (stands for Print-on-Demand Store), offers both information on the growing trend and an example of it--the magazine itself. It can be downloaded digitally or printed per individual order at Lulu.com.

Though publication has been indefinitely suspended according to an online memo by PODS founder Shane Collins, the magazine offers an intriguing glimpse into what the technology may mean for periodicals in the future.(See next post)

Another opportunity enabled by the digital revolution though certainly not wholly dependent upon it is the concept of guerrilla marketing, an unconventional means by which authors undertake the role of entrepreneurs in marketing their own books.

So together, print-on-demand and guerilla marketing recreate two of the major functions of a larger publisher but with considerably less overhead, fewer people involved and more control exerted by authors over their work.

"Guerrilla Marketing for Writers: 100 Weapons to Help You Sell Your Work" is one resource available to a new breed of author/entrepreneur determined not to let a major publisher mismanage launch of their book.

Another resource is the Guerilla Marketer's Café and its attendant blog "Guerilla Insights for Authors" created by Cary Lopez.

The site offers a resource page for authors and online publishers, a listing of member's books for sale , a media section to provide information on members' books, discussion forums for authors and readers, a blog section for authors and other membership benefits.

CONTINUED NEXT POST