One of the best aspects that the Publishing Industry has witnessed in recent times is the digitization with tools like eBook publishing platforms as a witness to the digital transformation to Publishers.

With the increasing familiarity with the concept of online learning, eBooks have become an essential part of modern classrooms due to their flexibility and interactivity. In order to make eBooks accessible, eBook publishing platforms are required and are on the rise with the challenge that is optimal and provides the best output.

A digital publishing platform comes with the following benefits:

a) eBooks can reach a wider global audience as digital publishing is cost-effective

b) eBook creation is simpler and effective to use

c) Cost of publishing and maintaining eBooks is efficient

d) eBooks eliminates the risks of warehousing and logistics

e) eBooks facilitate eStores to promote, market, and sell – via exploring more using Social Media

Here are a few selective features for an ideal eBook Publishing Platform:

1) Compatibility:

Published content must be accessible on most operating systems and also web browsers which can be made available using smart devices.

Hence, published content needs to be available on multiple devices and operating systems.

2) Interface:

The chosen eBook publishing platform must be easy to work with – with simple drag & drop widgets, buttons, icons, and various design elements that would be the ideal digital publishing solution for educational publishers.

3) ePub Support:

Most of eBook readers accept files in ePub format  (which is the standard format for eBooks). Converting the existing books in ePUB format in a reflowable layout format must be facilitated by the publishing platform.

4) White-labelled platform:

A prospective eBook publishing platform that allows customization of content by including your publisher logo and implementing a standard design template in place, which further lets you to amplify your brand aspects as a white-labeled platform must be preferred.

5) Enrichments:

An ideal eBook publishing platform must facilitate the scope for all the various available enrichments like high-quality images, audio and video files, interactive multimedia elements that can be added to the eBook.

Other features such as annotation of content, text highlight, polls, interactive quizzes, gamification aspects, and so on keep the eBook engaging for learners.

The prospective publishing platform must make these features available to the publishers for proving the best platform.

6) Analytics:

eBook publishing platform must facilitate advanced analytics features that provide in-depth data and insights to publishers on the no of books distributed, no of books downloaded, average viewing time, and other content consumption patterns, providing all the details relating to eBook sales.

Therefore, an in-built analytics tool is highly recommended.

7) DRM Protection:

The security of online content has always been the biggest concern for the publishing industry. A prospective eBook publishing platform enabled with DRM protection protects content against unintentional/intentional thefts, piracy, and unauthorized use.

DRM Protection facilitates encryption of content that can only be made accessible to the users with valid access codes. Hence, an eBook publishing platform offering content security in the form of DRM Protection must be chosen.

8) eStores:

Prospective digital publishing platforms which let publishers create their own eStore to sell eBooks at a global scale are recommended.

Publishers can host their eBooks on the eStore further enabling them to manage costs, categories and various promotions attached. Further integration with the API of payment gateway enabling users to directly purchase eBooks from your branded web store enhances the scope.

9) Learning Platform/Solution integration:

Quite a lot of publishers have their own LMS/learning platform/learning solution integration systems. An eBook publishing platform that integrates with your existing learning platform/solution/systems that enables hosting all the eLearning products thus facilitating a single and unified framework for your publishing needs to sync with for seamless integration to your publishing needs making the content delivery process easier to manage is to be preferred.

10) Cost:

Cost is to be arrived based on all/few of the above-mentioned features with offered plans of subscription. A yearly-based solution/license tool is usually the popular choice so that if unhappy, platforms can be changed after exploring the options.

Conclusion:

Selecting an ideal eBook publishing platform must be a one-time investment to meet your publishing needs as it’s a tedious process and time-consuming if needed to revisit.

Opting for a limited licensed subscription time will provide the option and freedom to change the tool/platform depending on your publishing needs and budgets at a later date.

Choose wisely by weighing the pros and cons and the above-mentioned factors along with your requirements.

mPowerO provides continuous support and is an end-to-end offering to Digital Publishing Solutions.

Talk to our expert team members for a deeper understanding and more related information.

Reach out via email at info@mpowero.com or visit us at https://www.mpowero.com/ for more information.

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