1. The core reason why you should always request proof copies from your publisher (or from your self-publishing platform) is to quality check your book before you ask everyone you know to buy it. Along those lines, here are five reasons why printing a few copies of your book before publishing is a good idea.
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1. You can make sure the cover is sized correctly. Even if you have a professional do it for you, some self-publishing platforms such as Amazon sometimes print with slight deviations from their guidelines. Ordering a proof copy helps you make any necessary adjustments before a thousand people buy the book.

2. You can check the font size and layout. The inside margin can be particularly tricky: make sure people can easily read the text without having to flatten the book.

3. You can proofread conveniently. If reading your book on a computer screen gets old (if you’re already at this point in the process, I bet it already has), you can read a physical copy and mark any textual or formatting adjustments you want to make with a highlighter. 

4. You can send endorsers/reviewers physical copies. Endorsements and reviews, especially from people respected by your target audience, are powerful marketing assets. Depending on the person, you might increase your chances of getting them to read the book by sending them a physical copy.

5. You can use the printed copy to create marketing material. Photos of you with the book, video announcements, and book photoshoots can each be created before the book gets released. This helps build hype for your message. 

So what are you waiting for? Grab a proof copy of your book. The week or two it adds to the process is more than worth it.