10 Things to Consider While Shortlisting ePUB Conversion Services

 Whether you are a publishing house or an author, you would know that your book can get a much wider readership when it is released on leading electronic platforms from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Sony. However, devices like Kindle, Nook, etc. can provide an enriched reading experience only when the book is converted into the ePUB format.

ePUB conversion is very easy through the varied ePUB conversion services available on the internet. While some are free tools, some other services charge to convert your book into ePUB. While most of the free services simply convert PDF or other formats into ePUB, a professional ePUB conversion service will offer you many more features.

Here are the 10 things to consider while shortlisting an ePUB conversion service.

1. Formats covered

Choose an ePUB conversion service that accepts a wide range of file formats. The service provider should be ok with PDF, Microsoft Word, InDesign, Quark, PageMaker image, Scanned Copies, HTML, XHTML, or even Text.

2. Platform support

To ensure the widest reach for your book, ensure that the output ePUB file is supported by leading platforms like iOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle.

3. Device support

Your chosen ePUB conversion service should be able to provide output files that are accessible across multiple handheld devices like Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, Mobile devices and Tablets.

4. Audio support

Add a further layer of convenience and accessibility to your book by adding a ‘Read out aloud’ feature. Prefer to go with a conversion service that allows you to add this increasingly popular feature.

5. Reading experience

A good conversion service should allow you to embed videos and audios to your eBooks. These features may actually set you apart from other publishers so don’t miss out on this.

6. Image and Illustration support

Always ask for complex ePUB conversion support from your service provider. This ensures the integrity of all the images, illustrations, graphs, and diagrams included in your original manuscript. You don’t want these visual elements to be distorted or misaligned in your final ePUB file.

7. Wide range of conversion technology

The ePUB conversion process uses a variety of conversion tools. A service provider adept in most if not all tools will help you get high-quality ePUB files on time. The major tools to check out are Calibre, Open Office, HTML Editor, OCR Tools, Epub Packer, Epub Reader, Sigil, MS Office, Adobe InDesign, etc.

8. High Accuracy

Ensure that the ePUB conversion service offers you a concrete accuracy rate of the output file. A high accuracy rate would mean maintaining the elements of the original file like format, layout, fonts, diagrams, other visual elements, audio elements as it is in the final ePUB format. 

9. Future Ready

Conversion technologies are fast proliferating with newer versions that offer better, more features in ePUB files. While choosing an ePUB conversion service check whether they are aware of the latest updates if any and adept at using the latest conversion tools.

10. Budget-friendly

ePUB conversion is very important but it is also just one of the steps in the process of getting a book out to the readers. Hence, it should constitute a part of the cost of book creation and distribution process. Choose a conversion service which fulfils several or all of the above criteria within your budget.

Choosing an ePUB conversion service depends largely on the complexity of the book. If it’s a simple text to ePUB conversion you can choose one of the few free services available on the internet.

However, if you aim to provide a truly enriching electronic readership experience to your readers then you should definitely consider paid service providers like Kitaboo. Kitaboo is one of the premier services in the market which offers a front-to-back cover-to-cover ePUB conversion with a full range of bells and whistles. So, if you are planning to make a splash with your ebook you should definitely take a look at this service.