Good ebook construction practices

[Scott Ames]

For a report or eBook I've seen styles that are all over the place. Some look professional, others are just straight text content, nothing more.

I've decided I need a standard for stuff I put out starting now. It needs to pretty much look the same and have the same elements. From what people have said they like I've created this short list. Any other ideas?

1. Page Numbers
2. PDF format, printable, no password
3. Table of Contents if its over 5 pages
4. Standard Disclaimer
5. Contact Information
6. Website URL's
7. Affiliate links if I mention something commisionable

I'm torn on an Index. I'm not sure if I need one or if people will use it.

Still to be decided:

1. Width ( I tend to use the standard default of OpenOffice )
2. Colors headers etc.
3. Signature ( I will probably just use a script font)
4. Font

Thoughts?

[Danton Morgan]

If you're working on branding your business, you may want a title page with some identifiable graphic that's consistent from ebook to ebook. You might also want to put a consistent header on every page, identifying you or your business name. As for fonts, I think most people find on-screen reading easier with sans-serif fonts like arial or verdana.

Just curious, are these ebooks your primary products or freebies you're giving away to build a list?

- Danton

[Loren Woirhaye]

Some ebook publishers go overboard with the headers on every page -
this makes the files quite bloated and people on slower connections
will likely be frustrated by such ebooks.

[John Bradford]

My opinion is that it should be straight forward. Not alot of extra graphics and logos, etc to get in the way of the content. Table of contents is good! Good headers to direct them through the content are also great.

[Scott Ames]

Originally Posted by Danton Morgan

Just curious, are these ebooks your primary products or freebies you're giving away to build a list?

- Danton

Good question. I was mainly thinking of freebies for now.

[IdeaLady]

I assume that customers will print some or all of the ebook, so I format it to look good on the page (as well as the screen) and print efficiently, without wasting a lot of paper or toner. That means no huge, full color headers on every page, and formatted for an 8-1/2" x 11" page.

I like to use MS Trebuchet as the font. It looks good and is easy to read on the screen, but also works well in print.

[jimmyab]

Thanks for good info Scott.
Must go back and put disclaimer in. Apart from that I think How To Make $1000 In 24Hours is good to go. Choc full of money making info plus the contents like you mentioned and ridiculously affordable if not free - I think those are also keys - what you think?

[George Wright]

It would be no big problem to include 2 PDFs. One to read on screen with all the pics and headers and backgrounds and one to print or as they say "a printable version." The printable version could be plain text in pdf format.

George Wright

[awaxler]

I like bookmarks...especially if I am paying for it.

[Scott Ames]

Originally Posted by awaxler

I like bookmarks...especially if I am paying for it.

By bookmark, do you mean a table of contents with reference to what page items exist on?

[awaxler]

By bookmark, do you mean a table of contents with reference to what page items exist on?

Yes, a clickable table of contents on the left side. I create my pdfs with Adobe so it is easy to do and I think it is much more professional. I like being able to click from chapter to chapter regradless of what page I am on.

[Bev Clement]

Originally Posted by David Halek

Is it possible to do that if you write pdf's in Word?

depends on the version of Word you use. 2003 not possible to do.