Why You Should Offer an Ebook Edition

Publishing your book in digital format alongside print dramatically expands your potential readership. Ebooks have zero inventory cost, can be delivered instantly worldwide, and appeal to readers who prefer the convenience of reading on tablets, phones, and dedicated e-readers. For many authors, ebook sales complement print sales rather than cannibalizing them, as the two formats often reach different audience segments.

Key Formats and Platforms

The ebook landscape revolves around a few core formats and distribution channels:

EPUB — The open standard used by Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble Nook, Google Play Books, and most other retailers. EPUB 3 supports reflowable text, embedded fonts, audio, and video.
KPF/MOBI — Amazon Kindle’s preferred formats. Amazon provides free tools (Kindle Create, Kindle Previewer) to convert and test your files for their platform.
PDF — While technically readable on devices, PDF ebooks do not reflow to fit different screen sizes and are generally not recommended for consumer ebook distribution.

Each platform has its own submission requirements, pricing rules, and royalty structures. You will also need a separate ISBN for each ebook format if you plan to distribute through standard retail channels.

Conversion Considerations

Converting a print-formatted file into a clean ebook is not as simple as exporting to a different format. Print layouts use fixed page dimensions, while ebooks must reflow to accommodate screens of all sizes. Images may need to be resized and optimized for screen resolution. Tables, footnotes, and complex layouts often require restructuring. At Origin Books, our conversion team ensures your ebook maintains the professionalism and readability of your print edition across every device and platform.