What do you think. . . print or PDF
In a previous post ( 4 easy steps to authorship) I explained how a tips booklet can be used as a highly effective marketing tool. A comment on that post asked about PDF (e-books) and how they fared. It is a valid question, especially with so many businesses expanding their web presence.
Creating and gifting a PDF tips booklet, report, ‘how to’ manual or book containing any valuable information is a proven method of attracting subscribers and enquiries via a web site. I have done that myself with free e-business reports and e-articles in the past.
I also know, as I’m sure you do too, many people who have successfully promoted their business purely through e-books.
The only caveat to a PDF is that it is relatively easy to create and is very inexpensive to produce and put out into the market place. Nothing wrong with that… except that in some circumstances the quality of content and presentation may not be as good as in a published document.
And for some reason people’s perception of someone who has actually written and published a book – is an author – is quite different to any other sort of writer (at least that seems to be the case here in the UK).
So although the PDF allows you to get good and useful information out to your prospects, I personally don’t think it gives you quite the same kudos as being a published author.
What I do recommend is that when you print-publish a booklet or book, consider creating a PDF version too and think about how it can be used creatively to improve your market strength.
And of course, once you have got a book (or books) published you can certainly just use PDF e-books to distribute further material or new books, as Steven King has done.
Now – this is my personal view of the reasons for publishing a book. What do you think? Do you have a very different experience you would like to share?
~ Carol Bentley
4th June 2011 at 3:32 am
Hi Carol,
Not everyone is able to survive long in front of a computer just to read. I think be great if the published version of the PDF to a format that can be in print.
If we are lazy to read on a computer, we can make the print version of that. But, I do not like to read through the PDF due to less effective. So, I’d rather read a book.
Maybe this could be considered the author to publish the book but also with its PDF version. Thanks…
28th January 2008 at 4:15 am
Thank you, Carol. I published my metaphysical novel, Sacred Vow, and and got a national distributor (US). Then I decided to give away the full ebook/PDF. My perspective is that the reader of the ebook and those inclined to hold a book in hand are not the same. The ebook is promotion for the paperback. http://sacredvow.dragonsbeard.com
Peace and wonder,
CG
26th January 2008 at 7:23 pm
Thanks for answering my question from the previous post, Carol… very insightful!
24th January 2008 at 7:36 am
PDF will increase the circulations as online readers increasing rapidly. I saw a website http://www.pressmart.net providing the similar services and most of the publishers using this website for their digitization work. By visiting this website I realized that PDF version is on full demand.
22nd January 2008 at 1:35 pm
I agree with your reasons to publish a proper book. I’d always do both, generally you’ll be creating a PDF for the pinter anyway.