Reasons to Outsource Professional eBook Formatting Services
When authors choose to publish their books digitally, they often seek assistance from different service providers like publishers and eBook aggregators. These providers offer a range of helpful services such as cover page design, editing, and proofreading.
Among these services, eBook formatting is a crucial aspect that requires special attention. While service providers have options like using their in-house eBook production team or hiring part-time freelancers, outsourcing the eBook formatting task to a professional service provider consistently proves to be an effective solution in terms of quality, time, cost, and technology.
In this post, we will explore why eBook formatting is so significant when it comes to eBooks and discuss the benefits of acquiring professional eBook formatting services for authors.
The Importance of Professional E-Book Formatting Services
Having effective eBook formatting is a clear sign of professionalism. It shows that you pay attention to the smallest details and care about providing your readers with a great reading experience. The quality of your formatting can directly impact the reviews you receive for your book, which, in turn, can affect your earnings.
Think about it this way: if a reader struggles to navigate between chapters or find specific information without frustration, they are unlikely to leave a positive review. The same goes for readers who access your eBook on their iPhones. If they encounter difficulties reading your book on a small screen, it hampers their ability to fully enjoy your work.
This is where professional formatters come into play. They have the expertise to ensure that your eBook is formatted in a way that makes it easy to navigate and read. Their attention to detail ensures that readers can smoothly move between chapters and quickly find the information they are looking for, ultimately enhancing their reading experience.
How Poor E-Book Formatting Affects Sales
In the digital age, the demand for eBooks and the expectations for a superior reading experience have surged. As an eBook aggregator or distributor, enhancing your authors’ sales hinges on providing exceptional eBook formatting services.
Key Reasons Poor Formatting Hurts Sales
Importance of Surveys
Data Conversion Laboratory (DC Lab) and Bowker conducted a survey revealing that 68% of respondents believe poor eBook formatting significantly lowers sales. This highlights the critical role of quality formatting in eBook publishing.
Impact on Referrals and Reviews
A well-formatted eBook can lead to positive reviews and word-of-mouth referrals, boosting sales through natural popularity. Conversely, poor formatting can result in a frustrating reading experience, damaging the author’s reputation and discouraging recommendations.
Visual Appeal
Professional eBook formatting services ensure that fonts, margins, colors, and images are visually appealing. A captivating cover design is essential to attract readers and encourage purchases.
In contrast, a poorly formatted, blurry eBook cannot compete with professionally produced ones. Investing in high-quality eBook conversion service can produce superior eBooks that stand out in the market, leading to better sales and reader satisfaction.
Ways to Provide Professional eBook Formatting Services to Authors
To achieve professional eBook formatting, you have three main options:
Hiring a Freelancer
Employing a freelance eBook formatting expert can be a viable solution. Top-notch freelancers in the ePublishing industry can produce high-quality eBooks, but they often come at a premium cost. While skilled freelancers can deliver excellent results, the challenges include potential communication gaps, lack of cooperation, and longer turnaround times.
Freelancer platforms like PeoplePerHour, Freelancer, and Upwork allow you to find qualified eBook formatting professionals. However, be cautious when selecting freelancers, as lower-cost options might not deliver the quality needed.
In-House Team or DIY Approach
Creating an in-house team or handling eBook formatting can ensure close control over the process. This approach requires significant time and effort to hire and train eBook conversion experts. Your production team must work closely with a quality control team to guarantee high standards.
This method suits small publishers with fewer titles to manage. This approach can be challenging for larger publishers with numerous authors due to higher costs and the need for an extensive workforce. While you can achieve excellent quality in-house, outsourcing often becomes more practical for handling larger volumes efficiently.
Outsourcing to Offshore Companies
Outsourcing to a professional offshore eBook formatting service provider is often the most cost-effective and efficient option. Offshore companies can employ industry experts at lower wages and offer high-quality services at a fraction of the cost.
These companies have well-structured teams, including production, quality control, and delivery, ensuring that your eBooks are formatted to the highest standards. Outsourcing allows you to scale up production and meet deadlines without compromising quality.
The Benefits of Outsourcing eBook Formatting Services
E-book aggregators, distributors, and developers gain significant advantages by outsourcing eBook formatting services to offshore companies. Here’s how:
Low Pricing
The primary benefit of outsourcing is the reduction in operational costs without compromising on quality. Offshore companies offer affordable pricing for formatting and conversion services, making it a cost-effective solution for your eBook publishing needs.
Skilled Teams
Offshore companies employ highly skilled eBook production specialists and quality control experts. Each project undergoes meticulous inspection before delivery to ensure the highest quality.
Advanced Technology and Customization
Offshore teams enhance eBooks’ readability and user experience using the latest software and tools. They adhere strictly to your style guides and directives, providing customized outputs in the desired formats.
Superior Quality
The eBook production team ensures that the final file meets your expectations. The QC team’s rigorous quality checks eliminate errors, and a final review guarantees a flawless product ready for delivery.
Data Security
Data security is a top priority. Offshore companies protect your author’s input documents and ensure all transmissions occur through secure FTP channels, never revealing data to third parties.
Quick Turnaround
With a large, efficient eBook conversion team, offshore companies strive to deliver high-quality eBooks within your specified time frame.
Excellent Client Support
You can contact the support team anytime via email, message, or phone to inquire about your file’s status or any other related queries.
These seven aspects make offshore eBook formatting services ideal for providing flawless eBooks to aggregators, distributors, and retailers.
Unlocking Success with Offshore eBook Formatting Services
Offshore eBook formatting services offer publishers a cost-effective solution with superior quality and efficient processes. By partnering with professional offshore companies, publishers and eBook aggregators can streamline operations and ensure the timely delivery of flawless eBooks. Embracing offshore eBook formatting is not just a strategic move; it’s a pathway to sustained success in the digital landscape, empowering publishers to maximize their reach and profitability in the competitive market.
