How do I Get my Text into Ebook Format and Distribute/Sell it Online?
Hi. The question below is one that I get asked quite a lot so I figured it was time to turn it into an Ebook Times Q and A.
Here we go…
Q. I’ve just finished writing a book on a text editor. What do I need to do to make it an ebook and add it to my website?
A. What you need to do now is convert your text document to PDF format. Once in PDF format, you can distribute your ebook on the internet — and it will be compatible with just about every type of computer (Mac, PC, Hand-held etc.).
There ARE other ebook formats/types that you can make but none are as universally compatible as PDF.
To make a PDF ebook, you need a PDF-compiler.
There are lots of options available (including the original Adobe Acrobat which sells for $450+ here).
Here are a few alternative options that won’t go quite so hard on your pocket…
- You could download the free office suite here because its text editor includes an option to convert your files to PDF:
http://www.openoffice.org/
- You could try the free software available here (it forces you to look at some ads during the process of making the PDF — you can disable these ads for a one-off $9.95):
http://www.pdf995.com/
- This is a nice little PDF compiler that I sell myself. You can even get the resale rights to this one:
http://www.create-pdf-files.com/
- You can try the Adobe online PDF creator here (US and Canada only):
http://createpdf.adobe.com/
This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There are LOTS of other PDF compilers available out there — with varying features and ease-of-use. If you search Google for PDF compiler (or converter), you’ll find plenty of other options.Once you’ve created your PDF, you need to add it to your website so that others can download it.
You’ll find the information you need for this at these links (select as appropriate)…
- I just want to make my PDF available for public download on my site
- I want to sell my PDF and make it automatically available for download via a private ‘thank you’ page
One last point…
Even if you don’t want to write an ebook of your own, this same procedure is all you need in order to convert some of your PLR (private label rights) articles or PLR ebooks into brand new products that you can call your own.
While you may not be too comfortable with selling an ebook created using PLR content — you could certainly use it as a free promotional vehicle for your other products or affiliate products that you promote. Just find the right content, add YOUR links, compile it into a PDF and then make it available for download.
Okay, that’s it for now. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. (At the very least, you’ll get a nice backlink to your website.)
UPDATE: I’ve just added a video that shows how to make PDF ebooks using MS Office 2007. You’ll find that video here.
All the best,
Michael
May 29th, 2009 at 3:34 am
Hi Michael
. I have tried various things and spent hours trying to fix this so I hope you don’t mind my asking.
I have a couple of ebooks and always enjoy your stuff so I was wondering if you could help me with a question. I have a couple of PDF programs but continually have problems with the links being clickable. Please could you tell me which program you would recommend that would always make the links work. (I’ve built the books either in Word or Publisher). Not much point in trying to make a ‘viral’ book and then people can’t click the links
Many thanks and regards
Dii
May 29th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Hi Dii,
Both the Open Office PDF Converter and eWriter Pro PDF Compiler handle links well. They’ll faithfully re-produce any links you place in your document.
On the other hand, PDF995, despite being a good compiler overall, is a bit wobbly when it comes to links. If you want it to show automatically, you need to put a full http:… URL. Even then, links with hyphens, for example, are broken (last time I tried anyway). Adding links to words, involves a slow process (via the pdf995 interface) of adding each linked word/phrase — exactly as it appears in the document — and entering the URL that the word/phrase should point to. A bit cumbersome.
Although, I’ve tried other PDF compilers in the past, I honestly can’t remember how individual compilers performed, but I DO remember that links were sometimes an issue.
At the end of the day, if you want a quick/painless way to get your text to PDF — and you don’t require every feature in the book — then the text editor (with inbuilt PDF converter) from openoffice.org is just fine.
By the way, if you’re using MS Office 2007+, the there’s a PDF converter add-in you can get. I haven’t tried it, so I won’t comment on it. At any rate, you can download it here.
I hope that Helps.
Michael
July 31st, 2009 at 12:46 am
Michael – as you mentioned, a PDF is incredibly easy to make via Open Office (the File menu option, then ‘Export as PDF’). And it’s very portable – you can read it on Macs, Win computers, even handeheld computers. It manages links great, and even lets you password protect your files. the only catch is you have to format the report yourself (shameless plug – I offer a report on doing just that at http://top10tricks.com/report/first-info-product/ – including two templates ready to ‘pour’ in the text). PDF is well worth investigating as a way to publish cheaply!
August 29th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Do I need to get my ebook copyrighted? If so how?
Thanks,
Ryan
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Hi Ryan,
I’ve written a short article on the subject of ebook copyright that should answer your question.
You can read it here:
http://www.bizzydays.com/reprint_rights/ebook-copyright.htm
I hope that helps.
Michael
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:34 am
Michael
I’ve tried almost any free PDF converter I could find online – but cannot find one which would solve the problem of making affiliate links clickable like Acrobat does.
What I mean is that if you create your ebook in Word you can simply make some word hyperlinked = ergo f.e the words “This is Fabulous Book” will be clickable without showing your long affiliate url like: http://cbid.ihop.clickbank.net
When you convert the Word document like this in Acrobat, the “Fabulous Book” will be Also hyperlinked with your ‘hidden’ affiliate link.
However, as I say, I cannot find another PDF creator which Will do this. They Do create hyperlinks but only if you Do put your full ugly http://www.myafiliatelink.com/?yeahitsmylink/285 link there.
How about Your PDF Converter? Does it have this function or not?
Does it keep the Word “words hyperlinked” function intact?
I’ve checked your sales page, it does not say anything about this issue. I don’t want to buy a software only to have it return almost instantly if it won’t do what I want/need.
Thanks for your reply
Dagmar
October 7th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Hi Dagmar,
You can highlight text and add an active link to it inside eWriter Pro’s text editor. Here’s a partial screenshot:
http://www.create-pdf-files.com/ewriter-link-screenshot.gif
Just one point…
Any links you’ve added to your document in Word etc., will not be carried over when you copy/paste the text into eWriter Pro. In order to make the links work, you need to do them inside the software itself.
That’s a pretty minor inconvenience — unless you’ve already added a LOT of links before pasting. Additionally, eWriter Pro’s text editor is pretty user-friendly so, if you want, you can easily write your text from scratch in there rather than copy/pasting over from other text editors.
Here’s the URL for eWriter Pro:
http://www.create-pdf-files.com
I hope that helps.
Michael
October 9th, 2009 at 3:31 am
Hi Michael
Awesome! I’ve bought the software, and from what I have seen when I created a quick sample – Yes, the eWriter Pro Does everything I ever wanted in pdf compiler, even more…
Thank you very much!
I definitely recommend this software to anybody who wants to create PDF files the quick and easy way
Dagmar
April 19th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Thanks for the information. You are great.
December 7th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
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January 8th, 2011 at 3:49 am
When I do documents to PDF, I do my work using google documents. When finished you can download it as a pdf.
January 15th, 2011 at 5:37 am
Great software..Thanks for the information.I hope that helps.
THANX
September 23rd, 2011 at 3:00 am
I use open office … free software and ezebook templates, I like the google documents idea too!