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Publishers typically use one of three strategies for creating ebooks: hire an offshore conversion service, buy software solutions, or partner with a digital service provider.
Conversion - This method is attractive to most users because labor costs are much lower, but there are often limitations on what conversion from PDF can produce.
Proprietary solutions - invest in XML development tools that allow authors to create their manuscripts in an XML editor, or in a new CMS that can combine related content to create new editions.
Partnering with a provider - Usually a service provider is hired when a publisher wants to create something more complex than a standard e-book with the ability to reconfigure.
E-books, often based on a standard specification such as EPUB, allow a great deal of automation of production and increased device compatibility.
Book apps are different in that they have almost unlimited possibilities for interactive and individual interaction: diagrams, animations, audio and video recording and playback, and gaming features are much more typical of apps.
Apps can also be developed with real-time functionality updates upon release.
E-books are also in the reading app, where they usually represent a separate icon on the user's device.
Ways to create an e-book
Publishers typically use one of three strategies to create ebooks: hire an offshore conversion service, buy software solutions, or partner with a digital service provider.
1. Conversion
Based on the vast amount of data, the main approach to creating e-books is to upload PDF files to a conversion system and create EPUB files from them.
This method is attractive to most users because labor costs are much lower, but there are often limitations to what conversion from PDF can produce.
For more effective results, such as eBooks with links or charts, publishers may need to purchase a solution to implement them or collaborate with a vendor.
2. Proprietary solutions
Methods for creating ebooks in-house vary in their level of sophistication. The easiest approach may be to purchase a single, comprehensive e-book creation solution, such as Apple's proprietary iBooks platform.
Other retail platforms such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo provide similar services.
While these services require little investment to create apps, publishers cannot create books on them that are compatible with other platforms.
The hardest part about e-books is creating their own digital-focused publishing system that can push their content to multiple platforms.
This benefits publishers who have a lot of data in each publication.
This data, whether it's an interactive chart or a picture, can't be so easily converted from the page to EPUB files. Instead, an XML-centric approach is useful for displaying this content optimally in digital formats.
XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a foundational language that can be used to determine how different parts of an eBook will be structured for different formats.
The purpose of using XML is to create digital content first, not to manipulate print-ready files for digital devices.
Other benefits of XML include the ability to link similar content across and between ebooks, and the flexibility to adapt to new device formats.
XML and digital creation is a major investment in tools that requires a significant workflow overhaul.
This could mean investing in XML development tools that allow authors to create their manuscripts in an XML editor, or in a new CMS that can combine linked content to create new editions.
3. Partnering with a provider
The owner of e-book creation solutions can help publishers create them in several ways, from scratch based on a manuscript to enhancing a basic EPUB file with additional features such as advanced search or sophisticated navigation.
Typically, a service provider is hired when a publisher wants to create something more complex than a standard ebook with the ability to reconfigure.
The advantage of working with a provider is that it saves publishers from having to invest heavily in additional services or software, redo the production process, or rethink their organizational skills.
Providers have the expertise to do this, and it can be a huge help for publishers still experimenting with new digital products.
For any of these e-book solutions, publishers should always have a plan in hand.
Technology solutions are not a strategy, but rather the tools needed to implement it.
