Is it "worth it"?

briegull · 03-23-2015, 10:16 AM

I work with a small non-profit land trust and have done their website. Last year we brought out a 118 page Nature Guide in paper, full color, and it sold very well for $15 in the local area. I formatted it in InDesign, had it commercially printed and it will continue to be offered locally. Since it is quite graphics intensive it is also quite bulky when the whole thing is turned into epub format (200+MB).

I have also broken it into three parts - hikes in the area, plant/bird identification, and history, to make it more managable. They look good on my iphone and ipad - but will they SELL from our website? (I'm thinking that at the moment I'm not going to turn them into Kindle format.) It's a fairly specific place that not a great many people visit in a summer..

But is it "worth it" ? Has anyone broken down a book like this? Will it SELL? Any advice to give?

Calenorn · 03-23-2015, 10:24 AM

I would never put a 200 MB epub on my reader!

What about using a PDF format?

fjtorres · 03-23-2015, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briegull

I work with a small non-profit land trust and have done their website. Last year we brought out a 118 page Nature Guide in paper, full color, and it sold very well for $15 in the local area. I formatted it in InDesign, had it commercially printed and it will continue to be offered locally. Since it is quite graphics intensive it is also quite bulky when the whole thing is turned into epub format (200+MB).

I have also broken it into three parts - hikes in the area, plant/bird identification, and history, to make it more managable. They look good on my iphone and ipad - but will they SELL from our website? (I'm thinking that at the moment I'm not going to turn them into Kindle format.) It's a fairly specific place that not a great many people visit in a summer..

But is it "worth it" ? Has anyone broken down a book like this? Will it SELL? Any advice to give?

1- Pdf or one of the ebookstore-specific fixed-layout formats might be more appropriate.
2- indesign may not be the best tool for creating compact ebooks since it is primarily a pbook tool and it may not compress/rescale images as efficiently as an ebook-focused tool.
3- skipping Kindle means skipping half to two-thirds of likely customers.
4- the primary reason for doing an ebook is to open up your book's market to a larger audience, potentially global in scope. If your book is solely of local interest, an ebook edition may not be worth the effort, but if it is a niche subject but of broadly distributed interest, it likely will be worth the effort to convert.

cromag · 03-23-2015, 04:01 PM

I "read" back issues of Waterolor Artist magazine -- also color graphics intensive. They're sold on CDs as PDF files and look good on a 7 inch tablet (and they look great on a 10 inch tablet). I cannot imagine being satisfied "reading" them as epubs on my monochrome devices like my Kobo reader, Nook Simple Touch, or JetBook Lite.

As far as epubs with color illustrations on the same tablets I'm currently using, that would be useful, but also a lot more work for the publisher. It would be easier for me to read the text that goes along with the article.

As a first step, I guess I'd suggest making a high quality PDF available for purchase on their website to test the waters. (But, I'm not a marketer or a professional in any related field.)

Good luck!

murg · 03-23-2015, 04:36 PM

You can de-res the photos, which will reduce the size.

Don't sell the ebooks from your own website, you probably don't have the infrastructure to deliver them. Sell them from Amazon or Kobo, or someone else (depending on where you live). Put an affiliate link on your website to said seller.

mitford13 · 03-23-2015, 05:04 PM

Maybe doing it as an app, like the Audobon field guides, would be worth it?
(Not a techie, so I have no idea how complex the process is.)

mr ploppy · 03-23-2015, 05:32 PM

Did you remember to resample the images for screen display instead of print? Even if all 118 pages were just an image it wouldn't be more than 30mb. For selling them on your own site you will need to register for VAT in every country in Europe due to new rules designed to stifle competition.

robko · 03-23-2015, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briegull

But is it "worth it" ? Has anyone broken down a book like this? Will it SELL? Any advice to give?

I would agree with the advice above to do it as pdf if you're going to do it. Most people are going to want a colour device (so a tablet or laptop) to read this and there would be a large portion of your possible audience who likely have no idea what an epub is nor have a reader on their device for it. PDF is pretty ubiquitous at this point, so that will save a lot of potential support issues.

As to the will it sell: I can't comment because it sounds like a very local project. I will say that I have a bookshelf of reference material for work (agriculture) and these days I am slowly replacing it with electronic references that I can carry with me all the time. So there is likely a market. You'll have to decide if it's worth the effort to make it into an e-format and the distribution "hassles" which might not be bad if you're only looking a small distribution and can do something as simple as e-mailing it (other than the size) and you're already set up to "sell" on your website.

patrickt · 03-24-2015, 11:25 AM

No. Ereaders are not generally made for graphic-intensive books. I buy all of my photography books on paper. "Guides" are not, in my opinion, suited for ereaders. When I use a guide there is a lot of flipping back and forth in the book and ereaders aren't very good for that, either.

fjtorres · 03-24-2015, 11:37 AM

EBooks aren't just for ereaders, but also for phones and tablets.
And current apps allow for flipping back and forth just fine, even if the book isn't coded with hyperlinks. Properly designed ebooks make *excellent* manuals and reference material.
Proper design is the key.

Nancy Fulda · 03-25-2015, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murg

Don't sell the ebooks from your own website, you probably don't have the infrastructure to deliver them. Sell them from Amazon or Kobo, or someone else (depending on where you live). Put an affiliate link on your website to said seller.

You could also add links to your web site in the back of books distributed via Amazon or Kobo. You never know - it might help drive visitors to the land trust.

Matth79 · 03-27-2015, 05:34 PM

As a tablet app, it could also have sound - some birdsong for identification etc.

There are app builders that can create what is basically a website rolled into an app.

03-23-2015, 10:16 AM	#1
briegull Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 500010 Join Date: Dec 2014 Device: ipad	Is it "worth it"? I work with a small non-profit land trust and have done their website. Last year we brought out a 118 page Nature Guide in paper, full color, and it sold very well for $15 in the local area. I formatted it in InDesign, had it commercially printed and it will continue to be offered locally. Since it is quite graphics intensive it is also quite bulky when the whole thing is turned into epub format (200+MB). I have also broken it into three parts - hikes in the area, plant/bird identification, and history, to make it more managable. They look good on my iphone and ipad - but will they SELL from our website? (I'm thinking that at the moment I'm not going to turn them into Kindle format.) It's a fairly specific place that not a great many people visit in a summer.. But is it "worth it" ? Has anyone broken down a book like this? Will it SELL? Any advice to give?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
iPad "iBooks is worth the price alone for iPad as ebook reader" Sun-Times	Donnageddon	Apple Devices	20	09-14-2011 02:52 AM
"The Pouch" - worth a look!	stoogeswoman	Sony Reader	2	03-04-2009 05:10 PM

03-23-2015, 10:24 AM	#2
Calenorn Brash Fumbler Posts: 1,202 Karma: 9224939 Join Date: May 2013 Device: NST, Kobo Mini	I would never put a 200 MB epub on my reader! What about using a PDF format?

03-23-2015, 04:01 PM	#4
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,011 Karma: 459735575 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	I "read" back issues of Waterolor Artist magazine -- also color graphics intensive. They're sold on CDs as PDF files and look good on a 7 inch tablet (and they look great on a 10 inch tablet). I cannot imagine being satisfied "reading" them as epubs on my monochrome devices like my Kobo reader, Nook Simple Touch, or JetBook Lite. As far as epubs with color illustrations on the same tablets I'm currently using, that would be useful, but also a lot more work for the publisher. It would be easier for me to read the text that goes along with the article. As a first step, I guess I'd suggest making a high quality PDF available for purchase on their website to test the waters. (But, I'm not a marketer or a professional in any related field.) Good luck!

03-23-2015, 04:36 PM	#5
murg No Comment Posts: 3,240 Karma: 23878043 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Device: Kobo: Not just an eReader, it's an adventure!	You can de-res the photos, which will reduce the size. Don't sell the ebooks from your own website, you probably don't have the infrastructure to deliver them. Sell them from Amazon or Kobo, or someone else (depending on where you live). Put an affiliate link on your website to said seller.

03-23-2015, 05:04 PM	#6
mitford13 Guru Posts: 684 Karma: 6495650 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Arlington, VA Device: iPad Air2, Fire HD10, Paperwhite, Kobo App	Maybe doing it as an app, like the Audobon field guides, would be worth it? (Not a techie, so I have no idea how complex the process is.)

03-23-2015, 05:32 PM	#7
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	Did you remember to resample the images for screen display instead of print? Even if all 118 pages were just an image it wouldn't be more than 30mb. For selling them on your own site you will need to register for VAT in every country in Europe due to new rules designed to stifle competition.

03-24-2015, 11:25 AM	#9
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	No. Ereaders are not generally made for graphic-intensive books. I buy all of my photography books on paper. "Guides" are not, in my opinion, suited for ereaders. When I use a guide there is a lot of flipping back and forth in the book and ereaders aren't very good for that, either.

03-24-2015, 11:37 AM	#10
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	EBooks aren't just for ereaders, but also for phones and tablets. And current apps allow for flipping back and forth just fine, even if the book isn't coded with hyperlinks. Properly designed ebooks make excellent manuals and reference material. Proper design is the key.

03-27-2015, 05:34 PM	#12
Matth79 Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 502620 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	As a tablet app, it could also have sound - some birdsong for identification etc. There are app builders that can create what is basically a website rolled into an app.

Advert

Advert