To zip or not to zip...pdf

15 years ago

Products for sale: Zip it. I put a notice on the sales page that the file is a PDF and is zipped, so they will need a utility to unzip it.

Freebies: Depends. If it's small, I just leave it as a PDF. Plus, PDFs get indexed, so that'll be extra SE juice.

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Brian Cook 15 years ago

This is what I do. Most of the time it goes off without
a hitch, but on occasion I'll get customers that don't
know how to un-zip. (I'm afraid to imagine the reactions
to .rar files!)

Brian

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

Products for sale: Zip it. I put a notice on the sales page that the file is a PDF and is zipped, so they will need a utility to unzip it.
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- Jack Chua 15 years ago
  
  If it is free then better unzip it but if it is for sale it should be zipped.
  
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  Jack Chua
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TLTheLiberator

15 years ago

For non IMer prospects - do not zip it if you don't have to.

Perhaps a image or two regarding how to right click and save to the desktop will do.

TL

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Jesus Perez

15 years ago

PDF files are crawled and indexed by Google...this can be good or bad.

Good for free reports...bad for paid ones.

So for me, leave the freebies in PDF, zip the paid products.

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NowIstheTime

15 years ago

I guess the best way for you and all involved is to FORCE the browser to open a "Save As" box for PDFs. There are many ways to do this via ASP, PHP, etc.

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Steven Wagenheim

15 years ago

Zip it.

PDFs get indexed by SEs.

Zip files don't.

First thing anybody is going to look for is to see if your PDF is out there.

Zip it.

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Dan C. Rinnert

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

First thing anybody is going to look for is to see if your PDF is out there.

Use that to your advantage.

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JayXtreme 15 years ago

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

Use that to your advantage.

x 2

They're looking for your .pdf... so give them one
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thecableguy

15 years ago

I'd give the person both options with directions on how to download and open to both, and links to the programs needed to open them even if it's already on their computer. And as for searchengines being able to index the files I'd give them unusual file names (gw37n_267csr.pdf). Oh and for multiple files place them in a folder first and zip up the folder.

Alan

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Collette

15 years ago

If it's one pdf, I leave it as is.

If it's more than one (as in product and bonuses) I give them the option to download individually or as "a convenient zip file". That way, if someone doesn't know what a zip is, they have another option.

Seems to work well for me, as I've never had someone email me to say they can't download/open their stuff.

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Moneyland

15 years ago

I am having a site where they will download my product and 5 bonuses so I will prob offer both like Collette said.

Can I ask how you would one go about doing this?? I am having a web designer do the website so would he be the one to put my pdf's into zip files ready for download?

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Lance K

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Moneyland

I am having a site where they will download my product and 5 bonuses so I will prob offer both like Collette said.

Can I ask how you would one go about doing this?? I am having a web designer do the website so would he be the one to put my pdf's into zip files ready for download?

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All you have to do is upload the files to your server and link to their location on the download page. You'll have an individual download link for each of the files as well as one for the zip file that contains everything. If they want the zipped version, they simply download that file. If they don't, they download the PDF (or whatever) files one at a time.

Your web designer can probably take care of it.

EDIT: Not sure if I understood the question just right. If you were asking how to zip files, you'll need a utility such as WinZip, etc. Then, you simply right click on the file and select "WinZip" --> "Add To Zip File". Then once you've added all the files you simply do a "File" --> "Save As" in WinZip.

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IdeaLady

15 years ago

PDFs are already compressed, so I find that zipping doesn't make them much smaller. If you want to zip tjo avoid having the files indexed (as others suggested) that might be a reason to do so, but it won't save much disk space/download time.

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JayXtreme

15 years ago

Zip it....

I even zip the free ones (most of the time)... [Joke] that way, people don't stumble across an indexed version of the .pdf and avoid the opt-in bait and switchery... (insert evil laughter)

[/joke]

Peace

Jay

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zapseo

15 years ago

Uh -- maybe offer both?

Personally, while I don't generally like the extra step -- I say, "zip it."

On current Windows OSs -- once the zip file is downloaded, it's not a lot different than a folder (for the general user.)

Not sure about mac.

Live JoyFully!

Judy Kettenhofen

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MikeLantz

15 years ago

A lot of interesting thoughts in here...

For me, the purpose of zipping a file is two-fold:

1) To make it smaller (duh!)
2) To turn multiple files into one file for downloading

Zipping a single pdf does not fit into those categories at all. If you are selling a file you don't want Google to index, how about not making it accessible to them to find? There are many ways to do this - just google it!

Also, as mentioned by "NowIsTheTime", it is quite trivial to force a browser to "save" a pdf instead of opening it.

Even for free PDFs that you may not want indexed, just use "robot" directives for your site.

So, the short answer is, no, there is no need to zip a single pdf.

Mike

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OpenBookSupport

15 years ago

I will simply add the file zipped and unzipped
they choose what they want

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NowIstheTime

15 years ago

Regarding the changing of the PDF filename: I don't believe changing the name of the file, would prevent any search engine from first scanning the contents of the pdf and listing the pdf whenever any keywords match the contents. But hopefully, since this is a PDF product for sale, it is likely not linked to from any external pages, so there will be no danger of a search engine finding the PDF.

And regarding having a PDF and a ZIP version of the files for sale: This may be a good idea for you if you have a limited and infrequently changing inventory of products, so you would only need to do this once. But if you are going to be regularly offering new or updated PDF-based products... you will best be served by making a decision on a single format.

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KristiDaniels

15 years ago

Zipping used to be done to help dial up users.

There aren't many dial up users left.

On the other hand, modern operating systems know how to deal with zip files without forcing the user to learn anything or download unzipping software.

I personally don't zip pdf files. I don't want the extra questions and nobody complains about the download time anymore.

With the OS handling zip files though I don't think it matters very much. I don't think you would get many questions. Most questions will be about where and how to get the pdf reader.

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vagabondette

15 years ago

if you go the pdf route make sure you note it's a pdf. I've had my system lock up a few times when pdfs have started opening rather than downloading and it's a big PITA.

oh, and I would never email a link to a pdf. Only a link to a zip because then they have no option to right click and save.

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Melodican 15 years ago

I zip everything... it's so much easier to have a nice archived store of .zips compared to loose floundering .pdf .doc .mp3 files etc....

Plus you can also add something extra into a zip... maybe a short page or 2 about whatever your product is and maybe even chuck in a sneaky affiliate link ;-)
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Mohammad Afaq

15 years ago

I like the PDF version more than the zip.

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Gary Huynh

15 years ago

If you don't want PDF files to open up in a browser window then adjust the settings before uploading it.

Open up the PDF and go to edit > preferences.

Under "internet" just uncheck the box next to "Display PDF in browser".

Then click on OK. That box is checked by default.

No special tools needed.