Ebook Design

You know that you want your eBook to stand out among the crowd, looking better than other similar books online. It's got to look professional, you think, so it can command the best possible price in the marketplace. After all, this is your baby and you want it to make a good reflection on you. So What?

Things To Do for eBook Design

Well, here are some of the things you need to do at this point:

Have your book proofread for minor editorial miscues and grammar errors. Have it checked for its flow of ideas. Next, choose a typestyle that is helpful to read both online and offline. Looking good in print is helpful if you want your readers to read your wonderful content. This is a tough call. Online the use of a Sans Serif (without an ending stroke on the letter) is easier to read. While on paper, some think a Serif (with a finishing stroke on the letter) is more reasonable. Arial, Helvetica or Verdana are examples of a Sans Serif typeface. While Times or Times New Roman are examples of a Sans Serif typeface.

Two other type matters come into play: the size of the font you choose, usually designated in points (pts) like 10 pt, 12 pt, 14 pt and the space between the lines of text which is called leading (pronounced ledd-ing). Leading gets its name from the practice of using metal strips, which were usually made from lead, of varying widths to separate lines of text when each letter of type had to be set. More than likely today you will find it called "line spacing." It is usually typical to add a "2" to the point size, like 10pt type and 12pt line space.

Remember to keep the layout of your eBook simple. Folks get all crazy and often overdesign the pages of their books. An overdesigned page can distract from the content that you want your customer to focus on.

This is and "electronic" book so you should have some hyperlinks in the text. Make sure your use of them is not an over use. There is nothing more confusing to the eye than to see a small paragraph with almost every work hooked up as a link to go somewhere else. That implicitly teaching that where the reader is in your text is not as important as where you are tempting them to go.

Then there is navigation through your eBook. An eBook is created just like a website. Most, if not all, of the eBook creator programs give you a navigation bar that you can customize. There is nothing more frustrating that to get into an eBook and not know where your are, or worse yet not know how to get back to the beginning. A great navigation system will allow your reader to feel comfortable while reading your great material. Your reader should have a link on each page to return to the previous page or continue to the next page.

If your eBook is short and you expect folks to read it online, then keep the paragraphs short. If it is long and you expect them to print it out, kept the paragraphs short.

When thinking about color remember that your personal taste may not be the personal taste of the buyer. Again, keep it simple, black on white, or black on light yellow makes for an easy read. White on black or any other set of more harsh colors are difficult to read and may dissuade your reader from the content that you have worked so hard to put before her or him.

Should you use flashing images? Different readers have different tastes, but it's difficult to imagine that any reader would want something flashing somewhere on the page while they are trying to read text. Besides, it will just make the file bigger and slower.

So include small images that compliment your subject. Use bullets, page header and footers, but try to avoid animation or special plug-ins like Flash.

eBook Design Parts

Here are the parts that will make a successful eBook design.

Introduction. You should write your introduction after you have finished your eBook. Then for sure you will know what the contents that you are introducing really are. Next, you might want to include a Forward which you write or better yet someone in your field writes for you. Then, a Table of Contents. Some will tell you that if your eBook is short there is no reason for a Table of Contents. It's my opinion that you should have one regardless of the size of your book, unless of course your book is only one chapter. Readers like to know what is coming. You might want to include an About section. This is somewhat like the back jacket of most hardbound books which could include a picture of you and a short bio. Remember, your eBook should have a "look and feel" of a paper book (pBook).

Credibility is the name of the game!

Credibility is important. Without it, folks might be diverted from buying the content you are offering. So you might want to budget some funds to have a professional design your book for you. A professional design will more than likely make more sells. However, what is in the books will, its content, will make the buyer happy in the final analysis. Some evidence has been forwarded that people will buy your eBook product by judging your credibility by the quality of you overall design, more than the testimonials you have, or the price you suggest, or the guarantee you provide. How can you boost your web site's credibility?

Stanford University has compiled 10 guidelines for building the credibility of a web site. These guidelines are based on three years of research that included over 4,500 people.

Here are the findings of Stanford University

• Design Look – 46.1%
• Information Design/Structure – 28.5%
• Information Focus –25.1%
• Company Motive – 15.5%
• Information Usefulness – 14.8%
• Information Accuracy – 14.3%
• Name Recognition and Reputation – 14.1%
• Advertising – 13.8%
• Information Bias – 11.6%
• Writing Tone – 9.0%
• Identity of Site Operator – 8.8%
• Site Functionality – 8.6%
• Customer Service – 6.4%
• Past Experience with Site – 4.6%
• Information Clarity – 3.7%
• Performance on Test by User – 3.6%
• Readability – 3.6%
• Affiliations – 3.4%

A well designed eBook will put money in your pocket. How? You might ask.

• A well designed eBook will: Increase the perceived value of your eBook. It's a smart investment.
• Reduce the amount of refunds that will be requested. Eye strain, headaches, and overall fatigue is not what you want your reader to confuse with your content.
• Save your valuable time. Your time is valuable so if you don't have the time to tinker or the talents to do so….
• Enhance your professional status. You will stand out from the crowd. Remember, you don't get a second opportunity to have a first impression.
• Cause paying customers to want to buy from you again when you write your next eBook.
• Help you not sabotage your own writing success

So make a check list of the things you need to get done and continue your journey to publishing your eBook by taking a direction at the crossroads.