A book that is downloaded in electronic form from the Internet to a computer or handheld device is

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A book that is downloaded in electronic form from the Internet to a computer or handheld device is

Try the new Google Books

Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features

A book that is downloaded in electronic form from the Internet to a computer or handheld device is

An e-book or electronic book is a non-editable text that is converted into a digital format and displayed and read on an electronic device, such as a tablet or smartphone. 

Unlike other text that can be read on a device, an e-book is not editable. This is for the safety and protection of the author. After all, with so many people having access to an e-book over multiple electronic devices, no one should be able to change the content without the author’s permission.

E-books are becoming more popular not only because they are convenient, but also because they’re less expensive to produce. Authors eliminate the overhead costs needed for printing hard copies of their work. And because they can be accessed on multiple devices at once, e-books also take up less space.

Reading an E-Book

You can read an e-book in one of two ways. The first and most common, is to use a portable e-book reading device. These are small hand-held computers that function as alternative books. Because of this, their screens are usually designed to emit less glare and reduce eye strains. The device displays the texts that have been downloaded from a computer.

The next way to read an e-book is by using special software downloaded from the internet. These tools are usually free, but you may want to opt for their annual packages for more features, especially if you intend to read a lot of e-books.   

Benefits of an E-Book

There are many benefits to using an e-book. Some of them include:

Portability. As mentioned earlier, an e-book can be read on multiple devices no matter where you are.

Accessibility. Unlike print books, an e-book is on the internet forever. You don’t have to worry about a title going out of print or not being readily available. 

Interactivity. A fascinating feature of e-books is that readers can take notes and click on anchor texts for extra information. This makes e-books suitable for students who need to learn additional information about a specific topic. E-books are also searchable, so you can look for keywords on your device, and you will immediately be taken to the pages of the book with that keyword. 

Suitability. Because e-books are read on electronic devices, you can adjust the back-lighting and font sizes to your preference, making this a great option for people with vision disabilities. 

Sustainability. E-books reduce the number of trees that can be cut down. Many experts believe that e-books are a wonderful alternative to educating and providing literature to the public. This way, everyone has the chance to read without damaging the environment.

Why Create an E-Book

Aside from the traditional reason of telling a story, an e-book can also be part of a company’s marketing strategy. Remember that quality content is the core of inbound marketing, which is how a company communicates with its customers and how it strengthens its brand reputation. A great e-book with quality content can significantly impact how a brand is perceived.

E-Books may be a good option when a company is trying to attract potential customers to try their services or purchase their products. E-books create brand awareness and extensively detail how their brand can help address a specific concern. 

If you’re planning on using an e-book as part of your communications plan, you first need to consider the needs and wants of your customer. What is it that your customers want? And how can your product or service help them? This helps you determine what to write in an e-book. 

For example, if you’re offering meditation services and complementary therapies, you may want to write an e-book on the importance of mindfulness or how either practice can improve a person’s health. These topics can captivate your potential audience and make them more willing to look at your website, or at the very least, be curious enough to listen to what you have to offer. 

A good e-book is one that assumes the customer’s position. It’s always a good rule of thumb to create an e-book with their perspective kept at the top of your mind. 

An eBook is an electronic version of a traditional print book that can be read by using a personal computer or by using an eBook reader. (An eBook reader can be a software application for use on a computer, such as Microsoft's free Reader application, or a book-sized computer that is used solely as a reading device, such as Nuvomedia's Rocket eBook.) Users can purchase an eBook on diskette or CD, but the most popular method of getting an eBook is to purchase a downloadable file of the eBook (or other reading material) from a Web site (such as Barnes and Noble) to be read from the user's computer or reading device. Generally, an eBook can be downloaded in five minutes or less.

Although it is not necessary to use a reader application or device in order to read an Ebook (most books can be read as PDF files), they are popular because they enable options similar to those of a paper book - readers can bookmark pages, make notes, highlight passages, and save selected text. In addition to these familiar possibilities, eBook readers also include built-in dictionaries, and alterable font sizes and styles. Typically, an eBook reader hand-held device weighs from about twenty-two ounces to three or four pounds and can store from four thousand to over half a million pages of text and graphics. A popular feature is its back-lit screen (which makes reading in the dark possible).

Some eBooks can be downloaded for free or at reduced cost, however, prices for many eBooks - especially bestsellers - are similar to those of hardcover books, and are sometimes higher. Most eBooks at Barnes and Noble, for example, are comparable in price to their traditional print versions.

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A book that is downloaded in electronic form from the Internet to a computer or handheld device is

We live in the age of electronic everything. eCommerce, eBanking, eTickets, eGift Cards, eCigarettes, and the list goes on.

Why? Because people love the idea of doing everything from virtually anywhere on any device. With that being said, it’s no surprise that we’ve started revolutionizing the way we do just about everything.

What started as a way to make everyday activities easier has made its way to our leisure activities: reading being one that comes to my mind right away. We’ve introduced eBooks as a way of making one of America’s favorite pastimes that much easier.

Surprised? I’m not. But, what exactly is an eBook and what can it do? You’d think it’s what it sounds like, an electronic book. However, it’s a little more complicated than that.

To clear things up, I’m going to tell you all about eBooks:

 When we’re through, you’ll know everything you need to know about eBooks, and then some.

So, let’s get to it.

If you look eBook up in the dictionary, you’d find the following:

Noun

  1. A book composed in or converted to digital format for display on a computer screen or handheld device.

Pretty straightforward. An electronic book; an eBook.

But here’s the thing: If an eBook is simply a book in a digital form that, technically, qualifies many things that aren’t actually eBooks. It also doesn’t truly define what makes an eBook an eBook. So what does?

To have a better understanding of what an eBook really is, let’s take a look at the characteristics of an eBook.

Characteristics of an eBook

For starters, eBooks are files that you can read on a digital device – a tablet, smartphone, computer, etc. But again, considering other files can be read on digital devices (i.e. word documents) eBooks have specific characteristics that differentiate them.

eBooks shouldn’t be editable

One distinct characteristic of an eBook: the text should not be editable. An eBook should always be converted into a format that ensures it’s uneditable. With thousands of people having access to it on digital devices, people could potentially change any content without the author’s permission. So, in order to qualify as an actual eBook, text should not be able to be changed in any way, just like a paperback book.

eBooks are reflowable (with an exception)

Another important characteristic is that true eBooks should be reflowable. This means that no matter what the size of the screen you’re viewing the eBook on, it will always fit your screen; text will remain formatted with line breaks and chapters and images will resize to fit the proportions of the device you’re reading on.

There is one exception though: PDFs. Considering PDFs can’t be edited, but they aren’t reflowable, they technically don’t qualify as eBooks according to the characteristics that differentiate eBooks. But with businesses taking advantage of the ease of PDF downloads and distribution, PDFs have become “unofficial” eBooks and are still widely used eBook formats.

eBook formats

If you were to search for eBook formats, you would come across quite a few options. Dozens actually. However, the likelihood of actually using many of these formats is pretty slim. To keep it simple for you, we are going to just take a look at the three that are known for their ease of use and ability to be used in a format that is widely distributed: EBUP, AZW, and PDF.

EPUB (.epub)

An EPUB, or electronic publication, is the most widely supported format and can be read on a variety of devices, including computers, smartphones, tablets, and most eReaders (except Kindles). EPUB files are reflowable, which make them true eBooks and easier to read on small devices.

AZW (.azw)

AZW files were developed by Amazon for its Kindle eReaders. These files can store complex content like bookmarks, annotations, and highlights. But use of AZW files are limited to Kindles or devices with Kindle apps. Additively, they can only be accessed from the Amazon online bookstore.

PDF (.pdf)

A PDF, also known as a portable document format, isn’t technically a true eBook according to our definition, but it’s the format most people are familiar with. Created by Adobe, PDFs are known for their ease of use and ability to hold custom layouts. Because they hold their format and aren’t reflowable, they can be difficult to read on a small screen. Despite this, they are still one of the most commonly used eBook formats, especially by marketers.

An eBook can be read on a variety of digital devices; any digital screen really. Below are a few of the most popular devices that eBooks are viewed on:

  • Computers
  • Tablets
  • Smartphones

In recent years though, a device called an eReader (electronic reader) was developed specifically for reading and storing eBooks. An eReader is simply a handheld device that eBooks can be read on. Some of the most popular eReader devices include:

  • Amazon’s Kindle
  • Rakuten’s Kobo
  • Barnes & Noble’s Nook

Some of these devices were made with built-in lighting so that readers can continue to read once they no longer have access to light.

Unfortunately, some of the models don’t have this feature. For convenience, companies like Amazon and Kobo created apps that allow you to continue reading from any device that has the app downloaded. This means that you can start reading from your eReader and when it gets dark, you can finish on your computer, smartphone, or tablet if needed.

A book that is downloaded in electronic form from the Internet to a computer or handheld device is

You might be thinking, “Why purchase an eReader when I can easily use my smartphone or tablet?”

Well, there are a few perks eReaders have that those devices don’t.

1. They have great battery life. In fact, their battery life can last for weeks depending on usage.

2. eReaders can hold thousands of books! I don’t know about you, but my iPhone storage fills up pretty fast. There’s no way I could store all of the books I want to read and then some. This isn’t a problem if you have an eReader.

3. They’re easy to read outside. Ever been soaking up the sun while trying to read an article on your computer or smartphone, but you can’t because the LED is basically unreadable? Yeah, eReaders don’t have that problem.

Purchasing eBooks

There are thousands of retailers that you can buy eBooks from. Some of the most common, eReader-compatible retailers include Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google Play. You can also go directly to a company or author’s website – many times, authors will promote their eBook on their own site.

Benefits of eBooks

With eBooks introduced to the world of reading, have you ever wondered what could possibly make them better than traditional paperback books? I have, and here are just a few of the benefits of eBooks:

eBooks save space

Some people are fortunate enough to have big libraries to store their books. But for the bookworms who don’t have that extra room, eBooks save a tremendous amount of space by allowing readers to store thousands of books on one device. No more searching for space to store your new books.

eBooks save money

I know this one caught your eye, because who doesn’t want to save money? With no manufacturing or shipping costs, eBooks are cheaper than paperback books. The average price of an eBook rings in at less than $5, whereas paperback books are generally more than $10. Might not seem like much, but it adds up if you’re an avid reader.

eBooks save the environment

Quite possibly my favorite benefit of eBooks. The book-printing industry consumes 16 million tons of paper each year; that’s 32 million trees. And don’t get me started on the amount of pollution that factories release into the air. Talk about an enormous carbon footprint.

With eBooks making up around 30 percent of book sales, they not only save energy and reduce pollution, but they also save approximately 9.6 million of those 32 million trees annually! A win for everyone.

eBooks are portable and convenient

Anything that makes life easier for people is attractive, and convenience is a real crowd pleaser. eBooks are portable AND convenient. With a supported eBook device, you can have a library at your fingertips. Carrying around your favorite books on your iPad, eReader, smartphone, or table (all lightweight devices!) sounds a lot easier than lugging around a thousand paperback books if you ask me.

Instantly download eBooks

Nowadays, when people want something, they want it now. You can buy an eBook from virtually anywhere on any eBook supported device with the touch of a button and download it instantly. No more driving to the store and wandering around for hours shuffling through the dozens of bookshelves or waiting for your order to arrive. You can easily access eBooks anytime and anywhere, and start reading right away.

You can change the font size of an eBook

Depending on the format (excludes PDF), you can change the font size of an eBook. This is especially appealing to those who have a hard time seeing. No more squinting or reaching for your glasses. It’s nice and easy to customize your font size with an eBook.

Although you can’t change the font size of a PDF eBook, you still can zoom in on your device. Not as convenient, but still something you can’t do with a paperback book.

eBooks are searchable

Unlike paperback books, eBooks are easily searchable. Instead of flipping through the pages trying to find a favorite quote or part of the story, you can go back by searching keywords to find the section of your book you were looking for. This is especially helpful when you’re reading long books that would take hours to flip through looking for a specific page. 

A book that is downloaded in electronic form from the Internet to a computer or handheld device is

Why create an eBook?

If you’re considering making an eBook, it’s most likely for one of two reasons:

  1. Self-publication purposes
  2. As part of your marketing strategy

Whatever the case may be, let’s look at why you should move forward with making an eBook.

Self-Publication

Whether it’s a research paper or simply a book you’ve been working on, self-publishing an eBook is a great idea for anyone looking to share their ideas with the world. Not sure how to publish an eBook? Don't let that stand in your way; it's pretty easy and worth the effort. Given the fact that eBooks are shareable and easily accessible to readers, new writers can expand their audience by sharing their eBooks online.

They’re also a great way to gain confidence on your specific subject matter and improve your writing skills. Creating an eBook to educate readers allows you to expand your knowledge on the topic, establish your expertise, and develop your writing and editing skills along the way.

Marketing Strategy 

eBooks are becoming increasingly popular as part of marketing strategies. This is because content is the backbone of inbound marketing, and the quality of that content can make or break an inbound marketing strategy. When it comes to mastering your strategy, understanding what type of content works best in each stage will help you successfully plan your inbound marketing strategy.

eBooks are particularly great assets in the attract stage of the inbound marketing strategy. They create brand marketing awareness and offer value to visitors (potential customers) by giving them something that is useful to them. If you manage to do it right, you can turn those visitors into leads by gathering their contact details and moving them to the convert stage.

As a marketer, writing an eBook is a great opportunity to be the one-stop shop that readers want. With informative, valuable content, you’ll attract strangers to your website and provide your company with potential leads. How do these visitors become leads, you ask? If you gather their contact information, such as their email addresses. A great example of how effective eBooks can be in your marketing efforts.

How to make an eBook

It can be overwhelming learning how to make an eBook, but they’re actually fairly easy to put together and promote with a little guidance.

The process begins with defining your objectives and audience. Why are you writing the eBook and who are you writing it for? Knowing these things will then allow you to choose a topic that will not only interest your audience, but also fulfill the reason you’re writing the eBook in the first place.

Once you’ve chosen a topic, choose a specific title to pulls in your readers. It should also give them a reason to want to read your eBook; a vague title won’t get you very far.

From there, begin outlining your eBook by planning an effective introduction, breaking your eBook into chapters, and planning appropriate calls-to-action placements throughout the eBook. Creating this outline will save you time once you start writing.

Writing your eBook should be fun. This is your chance to show readers that you’re an expert on the subject you’re writing about. Include details, be creative, and show them what you’re made of. Be sure to proofread once you’re done!

Next comes the design. From color to visuals to branding and font, the design of your eBook should complement the content it will include. Your title should pull the reader in, but the design should help with that too.

To make your eBook appear easy to read, consider the formatting too; break up large blocks of text with lists and visuals.

Finally, you’ll want to convert, publish, and promote your eBook! You’ve put a lot of thought into it, as well as invested a lot of time in it. So promoting it is an important step. You want to make sure your eBook is seen and read. Creating a landing page, using social media marketing, and incorporating your eBook in your blog strategy are all simple, yet effective, ways to start promoting your eBook right away.

Selling eBooks

Now that you’ve made an eBook, it’s time to sell it. One of the easiest ways to distribute your eBook is to sell it directly from your website. You can easily sell PDFs and EBUBs on your site, but be sure to give visitors instructions on how to download your eBook.

Another great place to start: Amazon. In 2017, Amazon led eBook sales in the indie self-published, small/medium publishers, and big five published categories. So if you’re looking to reach the largest market, get your eBook on Amazon.

Some other retailers dominating eBook sales include Apple, Kobo, and Nook.

If you get your eBook on these sites, you’ll be selling them like crazy in no time. 

A book that is downloaded in electronic form from the Internet to a computer or handheld device is

Distributing eBooks

From a marketing standpoint, you’ll want to spend a lot of time promoting and distributing your eBook in a variety of ways. Because you’re looking to reach a wide audience with your eBook, you’ll want to not only promote the eBook on your website’s homepage, but also plan to distribute it through other outlets as well.

A few simple ways to start promoting your eBook right away are:

  • Including your eBook in nurture or email drip campaigns
  • Scheduling regular social media posts with quotes and links to your eBook
  • Using influencer marketing to promote your eBook
  • Writing email and phone scripts about your eBook for cold outreach

The list goes on and on, but when it comes down to it, the more exposure you can get your eBook, the more readers you’ll attract. Consider the examples above to get you started, but don’t be afraid to spend some time brainstorming creative distribution and promotional tactics either.

All things eBooks

Well, what do you think? Feel like you know everything you need to know about eBooks? I hope so!

We’ve covered what makes an eBook an eBook, eBook formats, popular eBook devices, benefits of an eBook, why and how to make an eBook, and how to purchase, sell, and distribute an eBook.

If you’re interested in learning more about eBooks, be sure to check back for new updates and new articles!