What is ebook formatting, and how does your manuscript get from your computer to someone’s Kindle or tablet?
A common question many new authors have when they first start going down the road of self-publishing is, ‘What is eBook formatting?’ So, what is eBook formatting, and why does it matter?
When someone goes to Amazon KDP and is interested in buying your book, they have four main options: Paperback, eBook, Hardcover, and Audio. In the following article, we’ll take a look at what eBooks are, how eBooks work, what is eBook formatting, and why it’s so important!
At Indie Publishing Group, we’ve been helping Canadian authors looking for ebook formatting near me for almost a decade, along with a variety of affordable self-publishing services, including ebook formatting, print formatting, editing, cover design, and much more.
If you are writing a book and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, or Amazon KDP keyword and category research, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and formatting services.
For Canadian authors still considering whether or not Amazon KDP is the best self-publishing platform for them, check out The Complete Guide to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover everything you’ll need to know about getting started on Amazon KDP for the first time.
What Is An eBook?
Merriam-Webster defines an e-book as a book composed in or converted to digital format for display on a computer screen or handheld device. 
If they choose the eBook option, they then receive a copy of your manuscript. This could be electronically or downloaded directly to their Kindle or tablet. That copy of your manuscript is called an eBook. Readers have various ways to enjoy an eBook. However, Amazon has created a massive industry around the eBooks it sells, including Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.
Ebooks are not limited to Amazon KDP. Many other platforms, including IngramSpark Publishing, Draft2Digital, and Apple Books, offer ebooks or digital downloads of books directly to customers. Both Draft2Digital and IngramSpark Publishing are book wholesalers or distributors. They don’t sell directly to customers, but instead distribute your ebook to a variety of popular online platforms, including Barnes & Noble, allowing you to sell on multiple platforms, but manage all your titles and sales in one location.
Check out the Complete Guide to IngramSpark Publishing for Canadian Authors to learn everything there is to know about setting up your IngramSpark account, uploading print and ebooks, and managing titles.
How Do eBooks Work?
As mentioned above, when you purchase an eBook, it’s sent electronically to your desired device, or devices, or if you like, you can download it manually. Once downloaded, that entire ebook is stored on your device for as long as you want. You can choose to read it straight away or read it at your own leisure. It’s like having an entire library stored on a device you can take anywhere in the world. Ebooks are ideal for individuals who enjoy reading on the go, whether in bed at night or while on vacation.
An eReader, Kindle, or tablet allows you to carry hundreds of books with you wherever you go, and makes traveling much easier if you’re an avid book lover. However, as an author, you can’t just upload any manuscript onto a platform such as Amazon KDP. Otherwise, if a customer downloads the ebook to their device without proper display, it could lead to them requesting a refund and potentially leaving a negative review.
Your manuscript must be formatted in a specific way that meets all of the platform’s requirements. However, there are always things that professional ebook formatting can do for you that you won’t get when you format a book yourself. Just because it’s an eBook, it doesn’t mean that you can throw anything up for your readers. This is especially true if you want to avoid getting a negative book review about eBook formatting.
What Is eBook Formatting and Why Is It So Important?
How people see your eBook when they download it depends on a few different factors. These include how your eBook is formatted and what device they’re viewing it on. One of the great things about reading an eBook is that you can read it on a bunch of different devices, all of which are different sizes. However, not all people enjoy reading eBooks the same way.
Perhaps you like having the text larger or smaller? Or do you want to read in landscape mode? Alignment, boldness, margins, line spacing, and background color are just some of the things you can customize with a Kindle eBook. However, if it’s not formatted correctly, then readers won’t have these options.
Readers get very particular about how they like to read books, and if a book they download has a font too small, then that’s a big problem. eBooks may be simple in nature, but even simplicity requires professional formatting that gives your story a chance to shine!
If you’re considering uploading and selling ebooks on Apple Books, check out The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing on Apple Books for Authors, where we cover everything you need to know about uploading, selling, and managing your ebooks on Apple Books.
What Is eBook Formatting? | Conclusion
Hopefully, now your question ‘What is eBook formatting’ has been clearly answered! When you first start writing a book and self-publishing, it’s natural to have many questions. eBook and paperback formatting can be quite intimidating. However, the professional formatting of your book’s interior is one of the things that sets you apart from other authors.
If you have been waiting to hit that publish button on an eBook, why wait? What’s holding you back, and what do you need help with?
If you are writing a book, including an ebook, and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, or Amazon KDP keyword and category research, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and formatting services.
Our experienced and professional self-publishing team is standing by to assist you with your self-publishing dreams by providing affordable and professional self-publishing services
Do you have any additional eBook formatting questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us directly! One of our friendly and professional team members will get back to you ASAP!
