| Writing your own ebook is an excellent way to | | | | and interactive scripts. |
| promote any on line business. Not only does it set | | | | Compiling your ebook is an excellent way to present |
| you apart from you competition by making you an | | | | your information if you need to present a multimedia |
| "expert" in the field, but it is an excellent way to | | | | experience for your audience. Software to compile |
| attract new customers, generate affiliate income, and | | | | your program can be expensive, running as much as |
| grow your mailing list. | | | | a few hundred dollars. Also, you must have a |
| However, one of the biggest decisions you will make | | | | knowledge of HTML and possibly other languages |
| is what format to use for your ebook. There are | | | | such as Javascript. If you are a web designer already |
| two common types of ebooks, a compiled ebook | | | | then these are already available to you. |
| that runs like a computer program, or a PDF that | | | | You may simply need to present your information in |
| opens using products like Adobe Acrobat Reader. | | | | a simple to read format that is available to the |
| Each of the two format has pros and cons. Which | | | | broadest possible audience. In this case choosing the |
| one is right for you will depend what you need to | | | | PDF format is your best bet. PDFs are widely |
| achieve with your book. Let's look at each format | | | | accepted as a standardized format on all computer |
| and the benefits and drawbacks it presents. | | | | platforms and the software to read them is freely |
| The first format to consider is a compiled ebook. | | | | available to all. |
| Compiled books result in EXE software programs. | | | | Creating a PDF from your manuscript requires no |
| These are programs that run on Windows-based | | | | special programming knowledge, just the ability to |
| computer systems only. The very nature of this | | | | type into any word processing program. You can |
| format excludes users that don't run Windows | | | | simply take an existing document and turn it into a |
| operating systems. This means that Macintosh and | | | | finished PDF-based ebook in a matter of minutes. |
| the growing number of Linux users won't be able to | | | | Furthermore, the software to create a PDF is |
| read your book. These users make up a minority of | | | | becoming easier to obtain. It used to be that Adobe's |
| the computer systems, but they may include | | | | Acrobat product (which costs upwards of $200) was |
| potential clients that you don't want to avoid. | | | | the only way to create a PDF document. Now you |
| Assuming that you can live without reaching this | | | | can find several low cost and even free alternatives. |
| handful of users, then a compiled book offers you | | | | Finally, PDF documents are platform independent, |
| some tremendous benefits. Since a compiled ebook | | | | meaning that they can be read by Macintosh and |
| runs as a program it can offer your readers a rich | | | | Linux users as well. PDFs are an excellent choice as a |
| interactive, even multimedia experience. | | | | way to present your information quickly and with the |
| Most compiling programs require that you design your | | | | least amount of effort on your part. |
| manuscript in HTML, the same language that | | | | Choosing a format for your ebook depends not only |
| websites use. This means, however, that you can | | | | on your own technical abilities and budget, but your |
| include many of the same features that make | | | | target audience as well. Each format offers attractive |
| websites interactive such as audio, video, animations, | | | | benefits but comes with its own limitations as well. |