ePub Format or PDF (for an eBook)?

by splitTest

Posted: 10 years ago 9 replies

COPY WRITING

This isn't specifically a "copywriting" question, but since I'm not very familiar with the other boards on the Warrior Forum, I trust the advice here a bit more.

I'm thinking of trying my hand at writing and selling an e-book. I want to test my marketing mettle and flex my copywriting muscle on a product of my own creation.

Anyway, should I go with ePub format (ie. formats that require an e-Book reader, like Kindle) or PDF?

Will the format affect sales either way? What are people expecting when they buy e-books from landing pages these days? (... I'm thinking PDF.)

Anyone here with experience creating and selling an eBook? Any and all insights appreciated. Thanks!

#epub #format #pdf

Andrew Gould 10 years ago

Why not both?
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Andrew Gould
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Tim R 10 years ago

Why not create both and give them the option to download either format?
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RogozRazvan 10 years ago

PDF is a combination between a visual snapshot and text. It is great on computers but it doesn't automatically resize on most devices.

ePub is great for eBook readers and phones since it automatically reflows texts plus it works on Kindle. PDF works on Kindle too but it is not the ideal way to watch it.

So yes, go with both.
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splitTest 10 years ago

Well, actually I was hoping to avoid having to learn to format for ePub. Also, I believe you have to get an ISBN to publish on kindle and other ePub platforms. Then there's the fact that you have no control over reviews on sites like Amazon, etc., if you go with ePub. Plus you have to give a cut to the middle man.

PDF avoids all that, but you have little protection from piracy. Not sure if that's a major problem, however... So I'm considering just going with PDF.

I guess what I really want to know is does PDF format hurt sales? Will you get more sales if customers order from Amazon rather than paying via paypal?

Will customers regard PDF books as less valuable than those in ePub format?

I've purchased ebooks, but I'm not sure I'd purchase an ebook in PDF format simply because it seems cheap and cheasy. Yes I know that's irrational, since both pdf and ePub are both just electronic formats...

Has anyone here actually published and sold copies of an ebook? (PDF or ePub...)
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Tim R 10 years ago

You could spend weeks weighing up the pros and cons of both... or you could just write the damn book.

I'm not trying to be a smartass by saying that, just pointing out that you're never going to have the perfect solution. If you're on Amazon you potentially get a lot of exposure, but you have no control over the reviews. So what? You haven't even started the book yet and you're worried about potentially negative reviews. Forget all that stuff. Write the book to the best of your ability.

Start with PDF and go from there. No idea why you think they're cheesy or people wouldn't want to buy one. Millions of them are sold on Clickbank without any problem.

When people buy info products they care about the value of the information. Focus on that and don't get bogged down by minutiae.
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- splitTest 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Tim R
  
  No idea why you think they're cheesy or people wouldn't want to buy one. Millions of them are sold on Clickbank without any problem.
  
  Okay, that's what I'm looking for.
  
  And yeah, the writing part is already underway. Sorry for the miscue in the OP...
  
  Thanks
  
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  DJ Gelner 10 years ago
  
  Wow, you're under a LOT of mistaken beliefs w/r/t publishing on Amazon. Thankfully, I think I can set you straight.
  
  Publishing on Amazon: Amazon pays out 70% of the list price on ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99. Amazon pays out 35% of the list price on everything outside of that range, either higher or lower. You're right--especially on higher-priced products, that can be a bit rough, but it's no different than giving people a huge affiliate incentive (albeit a 65% one) to sell your products on Clickbank.
  
  Amazon doesn't use EPUB files on Kindle--they use .MOBI files. Apple, Nook, Kobo, Smashwords, etc. all use .EPUB files. I think Amazon might convert EPUB files to MOBI format, but I've heard horror stories about how it messes up the formatting after submission.
  
  Also, no ISBN required to put an ebook up on Kindle. Instead, they assign you a free identifier for the Kindle store called an ASIN. This is important for creating easy affiliate links for your own product, but that's a bit further down the road.
  
  In fact, if you want to do a paperback version through Createspace (Amazon's print-on-demand service), you don't even need an ISBN anymore. Createspace will assign you one FOR FREE. Now, granted, Createspace will be identified as the publisher, but that's not going to matter to 95% of your customers who are buying on Amazon. Plus having a paperback version can allow you to jack up the ebook price even further.
  
  Personally, I use a program called Scrivener to write and output all of my ebooks for Kindle. Scrivener handles large documents a lot better than Word or Google Docs, and can output in almost any format you can think of: PDF, DOCX, RTF, EPUB, and yes, MOBI, though to compile MOBI files, you need to install a plug-in from Amazon called KindleGen. Once you do, though, the MOBI files it outputs are essentially flawless, since KindleGen does all of the hard work of file conversion for you and is an Amazon-native..."Amazonian," if you will...
  
  So long story short, yeah, the rev share can suck. No, you don't need an ISBN, even for paperbacks anymore. EPUB vs. PDF isn't really the issue here--just get Scrivener, learn how to use it, and get your products out there in as many places as possible.
  
  Hope this helps--happy to respond if you have more questions--as you can tell, I've done this ebook publishing thing a time or two.
  
  -D.J.
  
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  D.J. Gelner
  Copywriter/Storyteller
  www.djswriting.com
  
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splitTest 10 years ago

Thanks DJ - nice overview!
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- DJ Gelner 10 years ago
  
  No problem, splitTest--let me know if you have any more questions
  
  -D.J.
  
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  D.J. Gelner
  Copywriter/Storyteller
  www.djswriting.com
  
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