Font, Size & Number of pages.

15 years ago

I use 14 point type to make it easier for people to read, especially older people. Even though you can magnify on-screen, it just makes it easier if the type is larger to begin with and also avoids side-to-side scrolling for users that do need to enlarge it. Plus, if they end up printing it out, it'll be a good readable size too.

Length probably depends upon whether it's your primary product or a bonus eBook or even a giveaway. And even that will vary with the quality of content; as some here have said, a one-page report could sell for $97 if the info on that page is that valuable! But, as a general rule, I think you'd want a minimum of around 36 pages for a primary product and 10-12 pages for a bonus eBook or free report. But, if you use a larger typeface, like the 14 pt. I use, you'll need to increase the number of pages as well.

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Robertas

15 years ago

Sweet. Thanks Dan ;-) I was using font size 12 and it felt like it was a bit too small, changed it to 14 and it looks fantastic.

Do you think font size 15 is bad? Because the amount of pages goes up significantly...

You know it kinda boosts the perceived value: "Oh sh*t look it has 100+ pages!" you know what i mean?

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Dan C. Rinnert 15 years ago

You want it large enough for an easy read, but not so large that it looks like you made it large to make it longer to trick them into thinking they were getting more than what they really were.
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- Dan C. Rinnert 15 years ago
  
  Of course, that being said, I have used 16 point type too.
  
  But, that was not to increase page count, but to increase readability.
  
  Ultimately, people will judge the eBook on the content. If they're looking at the page count, you didn't provide them the value they were looking for.
  
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write-stuff

15 years ago

Providing a dissenting voice, I'll say that I prefer 12-point. I don't think a larger font makes a report/ebook any more readable. But it definately makes me spend a lot more time scrolling.

So many ebooks use overly large fonts with lots of wasted space. This does make more pages and possibly gives the perception that there is more content. I can think of one in particular I purchased recently. It was a really good product about public domain resources. But page after page were wasted with one-liners and big graphics and I had to constantly scroll to read it. Personally, I find this user-unfriendly to the max. Instead of a 200-page ebook full of filler, I would have greatly appreciated a 40-page book that required less interaction (i.e. scrolling) from me, the reader.

Considering how many times I see page counts touted in offerings, I'm not convinced that most ebooks don't use enlarged type mainly to increase page count.

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Raydal

15 years ago

Originally Posted by write-stuff

Providing a dissenting voice, I'll say that I prefer 12-point. I don't think a larger font makes a report/ebook any more readable. But it definately makes me spend a lot more time scrolling.

So many ebooks use overly large fonts with lots of wasted space. This does make more pages and possibly gives the perception that there is more content. I can think of one in particular I purchased recently. It was a really good product about public domain resources. But page after page were wasted with one-liners and big graphics and I had to constantly scroll to read it. Personally, I find this user-unfriendly to the max. Instead of a 200-page ebook full of filler, I would have greatly appreciated a 40-page book that required less interaction (i.e. scrolling) from me, the reader.

Considering how many times I see page counts touted in offerings, I'm not convinced that most ebooks don't use enlarged type mainly to increase page count.

I agree!

Those big fonts used in ebooks that should really be called "Reports" are
simply used to artificially inflate the number of pages.

My ebooks are usually at least 10,000 (usually closer to 30,000 words) and
published in 12 pt. font.

I immediately get turned off by those large fonts -- tells me that if you
are fluffing up the fonts you are also fluffing the information.

-Ray Edwards

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Dan C. Rinnert

15 years ago

Originally Posted by write-stuff

Providing a dissenting voice, I'll say that I prefer 12-point. I don't think a larger font makes a report/ebook any more readable. But it definately makes me spend a lot more time scrolling.

You've just pointed out one of the factors you cannot fully prepare for, and that is HOW people will read the book. (Unless, of course, you create multiple editions.)

I prefer not to do any scrolling at all. Where possible, I display the full page on my monitor and "flip" through pages as you would a real book.

Or, I might print out the eBook and read the hard copy.

If I do have to scroll, the amount of scrolling doesn't really bother me. I just enlarge to a comfortable reading size and read. Scrolling is almost a non-issue for me, as I have a trackpad that makes it real easy to scroll--much easier than using a mouse is.

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write-stuff

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

You've just pointed out one of the factors you cannot fully prepare for, and that is HOW people will read the book. (Unless, of course, you create multiple editions.)

I prefer not to do any scrolling at all. Where possible, I display the full page on my monitor and "flip" through pages as you would a real book.

Or, I might print out the eBook and read the hard copy.

Well said, Dan. And if I like what I see when I skim a new ebook, I'll generally print it out. And that's all the more reason to use a "normal" sized font and not generate extra pages.

- Russ

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Dan C. Rinnert

15 years ago

Originally Posted by write-stuff

Well said, Dan. And if I like what I see when I skim a new ebook, I'll generally print it out. And that's all the more reason to use a "normal" sized font and not generate extra pages.

- Russ

Well, hopefully the plastic logic reader will catch on and eliminate the desire to print it out.

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write-stuff 15 years ago

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

Well, hopefully the plastic logic reader will catch on and eliminate the desire to print it out.

No winks needed there. I'd love to move to digital ink. I'm ready to produce all my stuff in Kindle or other e-reader format once the market is big enough to support it. And thanks for the plastic logic link! I've been trying to keep up with this type of technology and I hadn't seen that one yet. It looks really promising!
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BrianMcLeod

15 years ago

Wow, Dan. That thing looks cool!

Nice share...

Brian

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Robertas

15 years ago

Now I am confuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuused! I've just tried 13 and it looks good. By the way that plastic logic thing looks very cool

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Aaron Moser

15 years ago

Try this sneaky little trick...

YouTube - How to make an essay look longer on...

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Robertas 15 years ago

This is some serious s*** Damn, this is what I call magic. I had 1000k+ periods, done the trick, the result = Extra 13 pages.

Thank you Aaron!
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Dan C. Rinnert 15 years ago

Originally Posted by Aaron Moser

Try this sneaky little trick...

Essentially, all that's doing is adjusting your line spacing, and that may be noticeable if you don't have a period on each line.

It would be a lot simpler and more consistent to just increase your line spacing.
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Font, Size & Number of pages.

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