Interactivity has become an important buzzword in the world of digital content development. A survey revealed that 47% of marketers believed that interactive videos were most effective in reaching marketing goals, followed by 35%, 34%, and 27% of marketers who believed that polls/ quizzes, interactive infographics, and calculators, respectively, were effective.
Today, these interactive elements are also growing more relevant to the context of eBooks. Readers seek a complete digital experience from experience.
Hence, from merely being digital replicas of physical books, eBooks are becoming more interactive and developing a unique style of their own. Sophisticated publishing tools such as KITABOO are paving the way for publishers and authors to create high-quality interactive eBooks.
In this blog, we offer a stepwise guide on how to create interactive eBooks.
Content Table:
I. Why Create Interactive eBooks?
III. Steps to Create Interactive eBooks
- Step 1. Identify Theme And Build eBook Outline
- Step 2. Create The Content
- Step 3. Create The Design Elements
- Step 4. Select The Right File Format
- Step 5. Add All Text
- Step 6. Add The Interactive Elements
- Step 7: Preview The eBook & Publish
- Step 8. Distribute Your eBooks Securely
IV. Takeaway
Why Create Interactive eBooks?
As eBooks gain popularity, the trend is moving towards making them more interactive. Readers aspire to be more engaged and immersed in the subject of the book, whether it is an eTextbook for learning or a graphic novel featuring a reader’s favorite superhero.
Publishers and authors who capitalize on this trend early can capture a reader’s interest and, in turn, more market share. Cloud-based digital publishing tools such as KITABOO enable publishers and authors to create interactive eBooks in a user-friendly manner.
Key Interactive Elements
There are several ways to create an interactive eBook. Here’s a look at some key elements:
1. Embedded Multimedia
Adding relevant multimedia is an important step in building interactivity into eBooks. Multimedia adds a visual element and movement to the reading experience. Popular elements include infographics, graphs and charts, animation, slides, and videos.
Linking relevant podcasts creates connections, while quizzes help readers test their knowledge and learn more. GIFs, on the other hand, add humor. If you are looking to drive leads, then integrating an attractive “lead capture” form can attract readers to participate.
2. Interactive Features
Today, readers also seek certain standardized features in eBooks that make reading a collaborative, seamless experience.
For instance, an eBook must have superior search functionality. Being able to highlight certain chapters, leave comments, and navigate one chapter to the next with ease enhances the readability of the eBooks.
3. Interactive Widgets
A third way to infuse interactivity is to add relevant widgets.
For instance, an eBook on personal finance can feature interactive calculator widgets, which enable readers to plan better for retirement or a Systematic Installment Plan (SIP). Other types of widgets include carousels, 3D models, feedback, hotspot images, split whiteboards, and worksheets.
Steps to Create Interactive eBooks
Here’s a look at the systematic progression of eBook creation:
Step 1. Identify Theme and Build eBook Outline
The first step is to identify the eBook content theme based on the interests and needs of your target audience.
Break down the flow of your eBook into an introduction, sections, chapters, blurbs, and other elements. Once your outline is complete, start creating the content.
Step 2. Create the Content
Content for interactive eBooks comprises a mix of text, images, and multimedia elements.
Hence, keep these formats in mind while building the eBook’s content. Insert chapters and information according to the flow of your eBook outline.
Step 3. Create The Design Elements
Every ebook has some visual elements that spotlight the content.
Design elements can include book covers and layouts that frame the content and enhance the appeal. Once your design elements are ready, you can start the digital creation process.
Step 4. Select the Right File Format
Choosing the file format for your eBook is an important decision based on its purpose and audience. Here’s a snapshot of two popular formats:
- PDF: This format enables the use of text, images, and hyperlinks and is suitable for use on computers and tablets. However, readability can be a challenge on smaller devices, and the file is also heavier.
- ePUB: This file format is most suited for eBooks as it enables automatic reflowability across a wide range of smart devices. ePUB files are lighter and support interactive multimedia elements.
Platforms such as KITABOO enable you to choose the file format and proceed to create the eBook according to your diverse eBook usability needs.
Step 5. Add All Text
The next step is to systematically add all text, including the eBook title, blurb, author’s name and details, and chapter content.
Platforms such as KITABOO enable eBooks in European and Indian regional languages, as well as languages like Urdu with a right-to-left script. If the content is already present in the form of a PDF, the software automatically converts the files and extracts titles to generate a Table of Contents.
Step 6. Add the Interactive Elements
A superior publishing suite enables the easy embedding of various multimedia elements and widgets, from videos and audio representations to slides and calculator widgets.
For instance, eBooks can have a “read aloud” feature that enables readers to “listen” to the book. Such features also help make the book accessible to various disadvantaged groups of readers.
Step 7: Preview the eBook & Publish
When you have added all text and interactive elements and filled in all fields, it’s time to preview the eBook. Check all aspects properly, and refine the content based on your observations.
You can re-dit as many times as you desire and save the new editions. Once you’re satisfied with the preview, click on the button to publish your eBook.
Step 8. Distribute Your eBooks Securely
Secure and efficient distribution are important aspects of the publishing workflow. Leveraging a superior publishing suite enables you to ensure the use of a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system to protect eBooks from unauthorized access.
eBook licenses can be tailored to your needs such as personalized access, group access, or for learning purposes. You can also control the number of devices on which content can be accessed, as well as the validity period of access.
The Takeaway
Publishing interactive content must be done purposefully to build a superior experience for readers. Cloud-based digital publishing suites are intuitive in their design and offer support and guidance to creators in the eBook creation, publishing, and distribution experience, a valuable asset in the publishing domain.
Today, publishers and authors can create interactive eBooks for a global audience by leveraging the capabilities of digital publishing platforms like KITABOO. Our cloud-based digital publishing platform is available in both a licensed version (one-time purchase) and a flexible subscription model.
Contact us to know more!
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