What is the Best Format to Publish Your Book? Digital or Print?
Monday, November 1, 2010 at 1:30PM
Today there are so many ways to promote your business. Since business owners in a niche market tend to compete for the same customers, they are always looking for a way to really differentiate themselves in their promotions. One way to showcase yourself is by writing a book. Writing a book not only can be a great way to promote your area of expertise but also develop your expert status as well. But once you get your book written, what is the best way to publish it? Should you publish your book in print or is it best to publish it as a digital book?
I love print books. I like the way they feel in my hand. I love the smell of the pages and the crackle the spine makes when you open it. It is comforting for me to look at the books on my bookshelf, knowing they have helped guide my life’s journey. Even with my love of print books I don’t think we can ignore the changes in the publishing industry.
Amazon recently reported more kindle book sales than print books. With the digital age, people love information to be at their fingertips so there are pros and cons of either format. When you are deciding how to physically publish your book, and especially if you plan to use your book as a promotional tool for your business, consider these facts prior to making any publishing decision.
Pros: Digital e-books
- There were more e-books sold than print books.
- You don’t have to have lots of books in stock, either sitting in a warehouse, in your garage or on your kitchen table.
- Digital e-books are easy to take anywhere. A business owner is likely to have his/her digital reader or computer with them if on a trip for easy accessibility.
- An e-book can be easily promoted, given away or sold on your website.
- No shipping costs.
Cons: Digital e-books
- People have so much information on their computers and e-readers already that the book can be overlooked or easily forgotten.
- If you prefer using a pencil to mark notes your pages, you can not take notes on an e-reader. There is no place to put all your sticky notes to mark your favorite pages.
- It is hard to sell an e-book at the back of the room. People like to buy a tangible item after hearing you speak.
- It is hard to do a book signing with an digital e-book.
- Your bookshelves will look empty and gather dust.
Pros: Print Book
- Books are forever. You don’t have to worry about your computer or e-reader crashing and losing your e-book.
- If the there is a power shortage you can still read a book by candlelight.
- Your book will be seen by others and may become a topic of conversation.
- Print books don’t get viruses.
- You can sell a book in the back of the room, allowing people to take something away with them after you speak.
- A book is a tangible reminder of your business and you as an expert.
- A book is a perfect business card. It will give the reader a view of your knowledge and expertise. It will not be thrown away like a brochure.
- Print books make your bookshelves beautiful.
Cons: Print Book
- It is difficult to determine how many copies of books to buy from the printer.
- There were more copies of e-books sold than print books.
- They take up more space.
- They are not always easy to carry.
As much as I love print books, I believe every author should maximize their book sales by offering their book in both formats. It just makes sense to cover all the bases and offer the form that your readers want.
What format do you prefer to read your books? Does it matter what kind of book you are reading? Are you more likely to read a non fiction or fiction book on an e-reader?
Reader Comments (22)
I love books - in print books I mean. But I buy so many and find them so hard to let go of that our house gets a little overwhelmed by books. I can see the good points in both moving forward especially as I travel more with my AuPair work these days and if I ever write a book I shall look at both avenues. Thanks Candace!
Louise Edington
http://louiseedington.com
Thanks Candace...as I'm getting ready to find a publisher for my first book, this post offered up great food for fodder! I think I will go for both...a hard back and a digital version. While my book is more like a coffee table book with many pictures, digital still can show good visual. I'll have to keep in mind as I move towards publishing.
I have not yet read an e book. I do agree that they are probably the way of the future though. Somehow cuddling up at night with my cup of tea and The Kindle does not seem right to me but not having tried it yet, I will hold judgment till I have
Very good points on both sides Candace. I never really thought about e-books. It's the new up and coming thing. It makes sense to offer both but I could see e-books being the way of the future.
I don't think there will ever be NO market for printed books, but it is definitely dwindling with the ease of use and convenience of products like Kindle. I was just in jury duty this morning and chatting with a woman about her Kindle. She talked about how easy it is to get any book she wants whenever she wants it. Although there will still be those who prefer to cuddle up in front of a fire with a printed novel, the market will become less and less as most people prefer convenience. In time, the market for printed books might cease to exist as new generations grow into adulthood relying more and more on digital products.
As an author I think you nailed it in your pros and cons post. I published a print book which has acted as my business card and established me as the credible expert. I used your exact analysis to determine which kind of book to publish. I like your suggestion to do both and may add a digital version of my book. Thanks for the suggestion.
For myself, I use both but it depends what kind of book I am looking for. Some books have to be read as a print. I experience the same as you do, you have to hold them in your hand, smell the pages, look at the book cover and then later keep them as a reminder or a good friend that helped you in a certain situation. I could NEVER throw a book away. If it wasn´t for me, I would always donate or sell it to someone else.
Some other books, especially learning books are fine as a e-books. I don´t need them on my shelves, they are good for a while until I´ve learned everything and then move on to the next one.
Everyone is different though and I´d also recommend to have them in both formats available
Very interesting info in this truly digital age! My father in law wrote a fiction book and self published. Still has "several" copies on hand. Should he try to convert the book into an ebook format to reach more consumers?
Yvonne
facebook.com/wildforwildtree
Louise,
Books do take up lots of space. Since I am downsizing I have become very aware of how many books I have. I share many of my books with friends. Having a book on a reader would certainly take less space.
Irene.
You should definitely consider a digital format for your book. You will want to investigate which readers support pictures. I know many of them do not show the picture and if they do the quality is poor. I am sure this will improve over time.
Julie
I think I could still cuddle next to the fire with a reader but it will not have the same feel as a book. I remember an episode of star trek when the talked about "remembering books"
Yvonne
I definitely think your father should get his book converted to digital. James Patterson is a best selling fiction author. He just sold 1 million copies of his latest book in digital format. Many authors are selling their books for as little as $.99 and making a bigger profit than they do with traditional bookstores. they don't have to worry about buybacks.
I tend to be like you Candace and prefer print books. First because I don't have a kindle, which means I can't take my ebook with me down to the beach or out on the deck without lugging a computer & having a wifi signal. And second because I'm still kind of old fashioned. But I do think, besides from the service you offer, getting an e-book published could be easier. I guess there's a place for both types. If I were selling for profit and would be marketing it more online, then an ebook for sure. But if I were a speaker or network event attendee and would be promoting there more, then hard copy.
Sharon Hiebing
Follow Your Dream Compass
http://www.wealthships.com
Such great information! I recently have self-published an e-book and loved to hear a bit more about both sides! Thanks for an insightful post!
I had reached the same conclusion by the time I got to the end of your post -- do both! I love print books, and have a ton of them at home to prove it; the problem is that we are running out of space to put them all, and so have boxes full out in the garage, too. Some I have been able to part with, but most I just don't want to let go. So in that, I believe that print books have something very special and enduring about them that ebooks will never have. Personally I don't really enjoy reading books online, but that may just be a sign of my age and my what I am used to! But to reach a wider audience, it makes sense to offer both formats and let people choose.
You are right, Julia. We need to prepare to offer both forms.
Personally, like most of us, there's nothing like a real book, but with space at a minimum, ebooks are a great alternative and certainly are making a statement in the publishing market.
Interesting, Julia. Thanks
I agree, if I were to write a book, I would want it offered in both formats. But, as a reader, I want a Print Book. If I'm ready non-fiction, if the book is any good, I'm writing in it. It becomes a reference book by the time I'm done.
When I read fiction, its to get away. I'm on my computer for school and homebased business, so I don't think I'd feel like I was getting away with an e-book. That being said, I've never used a Kindle or other e-reader and might feel differently if I was reading on something other than my laptop.
one of my favorite places to read is in a nice hot bubble bath, so my vote goes for print books over e-books. a kindle + water would not be a good thing, ha! that being said, our bookshelves are filled to the brim, + although i try to give away already-read books to family + friends, sometimes i have a hard time parting with them, so space has become a bit of an issue. i'm actually debating buying a kindle for that very reason. but my heart will always belong to real books!
I for one have adopted the e-book revolution completely. I have and love my iPad, so I buy books on Kindle all the time. I read books to my kids with it and I can even sync it to my smart phone. I'm not sure if I will a book in the future, but I think I would market it as an e-book.
Amy
I'm still a book reader, not an ebook reader. I will read an ebook if it is less than 20 pages, but any longer than that and I have to print it out and read it...defeating the purpose. I haven't started reading on my iPad yet but intend to download a bunch of books to it for an upcoming trip.
As a marketing tool I can see the value of both types of books...one other thing I might consider when choosing which format is best is to consider the average age of my target market.
I love physical books and still see "publishing" as related to physical books. But obviously the world has changed, and authors need to acknowledge ebooks, too. I bought an ebook once but never really read it--that's the problem. I don't care for reading anything lengthy on a computer.
Appreciate your informed perspective, as always. Sometimes our decisions are not about what we like personally but about what is logical and realistic for the current world. In that light, ebooks are here to stay!
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
Julia - definitely need to take advantage of both formats. I still prefer to read a book in physical form, I can take it in the bathtub or to the beach. I would never take an e-reader either place - maybe they'll be waterproof at some point! However, if you're an author you want to make sure your words are available in any and all formats so that you don't leave out any part of your audience.
A meaty blog post as always. I am planning on writing a book right now. It will be an e-book. And I can see the advantage of having both formats if back room sales or a tour is planned. Personally, although I can see the draw of a kindle, I love the feel of a real book.
I like the tactile sensation. I also like the idea of escaping my screen and doing something that people have been doing for hundreds of years. Fact or Fiction, I read it better in my hands. It is more fun reading a real book with a cup of tea or a glass of wine.
Jen Duchene
Your Home Makeover Mixtress blending cool & cozy style
When it comes to reading books... As much as I love printed books (our shelves are full and we have boxes of books in storage!) the truth is, I love ebooks more! I have not yet gotten a Kindle, but I love downloading ebooks to my laptop and sometimes printing them out (on recycled paper of course) so I can write notes on them. :)
In terms of authoring a book... I have written a book that went to bestseller on Amazon.com and it was in print. I am just now formatting the book so that it is available in digital form as well. I agree, that when an author writes a book, it is best to create both forms - digital and print to make sure that both formats are available.
For authors who want to print, but don't know how many copies of your book you will need, there are print on demand services that will print copies of your book as they are ordered on Amazon (or any other outlet). This makes it much more cost-effective than buying thousands of books and selling them out of the back of your trunk to cover your costs. ;)
Thanks for weighing the pros and cons of book publishing- great job!
Yes I agree that there are too many ways to promote your business and because of that too many ways we are still in need to think what other ways we can promote it.