If you’re an indie author who wants to be taken seriously, then having a professionally formatted book should be at the top of your list. In this article, we’ll consider the importance of quality eBook formatting services, how to find the best one for your book, and what to look for in a professional formatter.
Since the growing popularity of self-publishing over the last two decades, book competition has become fierce. Gone are the days when you could self-publish a book with “passable” design. Today’s indie book top sellers are indistinguishable from traditionally published books. Audience expectation is clear: If you want them to buy your book, it has to look the part.
Let’s consider:
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What are eBook formatting services?
Okay, so it’s pretty clear that eBook formatting services format eBooks, but do you know all that goes into formatting an eBook to improve a reader’s experience?
The best eBook formatting services provide the following:
- Convert manuscripts into EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and other formats: EBook publishers require specific formats. Having your manuscript formatted into different file types ensures compatibility with third-party platforms.
- Ensure compatibility across Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo, Nook, etc: Similar to third-party platforms, eBook readers require specific formats to ensure readability.
- Embed metadata, hyperlinks, images, and interactive elements: Interactive elements increase reader enjoyment. Ensuring that these elements are activated is critical.
- Apply consistent styles (headings, fonts, spacing, chapter breaks): When formatting an eBook, consistency is the key to a professionally rendered manuscript. Ideally, the digital experience will be similar to the physical book experience or better.
- Fix layout issues and validate files for upload: Double and triple-inspecting a formatted eBook helps mitigate upload errors and formatting issues before they are passed on to the reader.
What are the biggest benefits of professional eBook formatting services?
Is investing in professional eBook formatting services worth it? If you don’t know how to format an eBook yourself and want to give your book the best chance of success, yes, it’s worth it. Having a professional formatter format your book ensures that the layout is clean and easy to read, which saves time and reduces the stress of getting everything right yourself.
One of the biggest benefits of professional eBook formatting is customer satisfaction. A well-formatted eBook reduces complaints and leads to a better reading experience.
Proper eBook formatting can be tricky, so you want to use a service that has the experience to handle unique formatting challenges like tables, footnotes, images, and a table of contents.
How to find the right eBook formatting services
Freelancers
These days, it’s easier than ever to self-publish a professional book because of the increasing number of freelancers in the industry. This includes eBook formatting. Several sites like Upwork, Reedsy, and Fiverr have a database of freelancers that you can hire for individual services. You can also find independent freelancers on social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook.
Specialized companies
Specialized companies are those that provide specific services within the book publishing space. Companies like ebooklaunch.com focus specifically on formatting.
Hybrid publishing platforms
These are companies that provide full-service options that include book formatting. Publishing platforms like selfpublishing.com fall into this category.
Recommendations
Recommendations from trusted sources are a great way to find a formatter you can trust. There are a lot of service providers, so getting a recommendation can cut through a lot of the time it takes to research and narrow down the list of options.
Follow these tips before selecting a service provider
Trying to select the right provider for eBook formatting services can be overwhelming because there are so many to choose from. The best way to narrow down the list is to start with a plan.
Ask for recommendations
Your friends, writing partners, social media group members, and publishing professionals will give it to you straight when it comes to where to get the best services. The self-publishing space is broad but surprisingly intimate. The best providers tend to float to the top, so ask someone that you trust who they’d recommend.
Review portfolios
Provider portfolios provide a snapshot of what you can expect your final project to look like. Review their work carefully. Even if the end product is professional, it may not be what you had in mind, and that’s okay. Keep searching until you find the right match.
Check testimonials
Look for detailed testimonials that talk about specific services, turnaround, and communication. Extra points if the company went above and beyond what was expected.
Look for genre alignment
Book covers and interiors should reflect the genre. Formatting, typefaces, and other details should match reader expectations.
Consider the communication style
Service providers have different communication styles. Some offer email or online forms only, while others offer phone numbers or real-time chats. When you want your questions answered, what style of communication do you prefer? Look for that in a service provider.
Ask about their revision policy
Know how many revisions are included in the price before you begin the work. Preferably, there should be something in writing that indicates what you will receive and what is expected of you.
Inquire about additional services
This is not a deal breaker, but additional services might come in handy if you need something else down the line.
How much do eBook formatting services cost?
For basic text-only eBooks, expect to pay between $50-$150. Complex formatting can run between $1590-$400. Image-heavy books or interactive ones can run between $300-$800.
Word count, turnaround time, and formatting complexity can affect the turnaround time, as well as whether you are charged a flat rate or hourly.
If you need additional services, ask if there are bundling discounts.
Red flags to avoid
Keep a safe distance from the following types of providers:
- No posted pricing (or a price range) anywhere on their site. It’s okay if they offer a quote form, but you want to make sure that there is something on their site that holds them accountable to their pricing.
- Unprofessional or inexperienced eBook formatters. You want a professional product, so look for a formatter who can demonstrate that they have what it takes to produce a high-quality product (e.g., portfolio or other samples).
- No written contract or terms are specifically listed on their website. This can open you up to scope creep, unexpected fees, or questionable turnaround times.
- Inadequate device testing. Formatted eBooks should be tested on all the major devices (e.g., Kindle, Apple Books, Nook, and others) to ensure that the eBook looks the way it’s supposed to on multiple devices.
- Poor communication and support. Stay far, far away!
- No revisions or very limited ones. At least two revisions or more are reasonable.
- Prices are well below industry standards. It might sound like a good deal, but you get what you pay for, so be cautious.
When is getting your book professionally formatted not recommended?
If you have the tech skills to format your eBook yourself AND do a great job, don’t waste your money on having it professionally done. Save that money for other important things like editing, cover design, or marketing.
If your budget is low, there are other ways to format your book, so again, save your money for the things that will have a greater impact. There are excellent alternatives for eBook formatting like Vellum or Atticus that are user- and budget-friendly.
If you want to control every detail of the formatting process, hiring a professional may not be the best fit for you. Professional designers need the flexibility to do what they do best, so there may be a bit of a tug of war if you’re not willing to give up some of the control. In this case, the user-friendly formatting software I just mentioned might be a better choice.
Put your best foot forward
In other words, whether you select an eBook formatting service or do it yourself, give your reader the best book possible. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, reader expectations are high and rightly so. Because of technology and the flood of service providers within the self-publishing space over the last two decades, there’s really no excuse for publishing anything less than professional, even on a limited budget.
Your book, no matter the format, represents you and your author reputation. It’s worth taking the time to do your research and become a savvy self-publisher who can compete with the best, not because you have the biggest budget but because you are strategic. You know what to invest in and what to save for another day (or book).
If eBook formatting is the next step, use the tips in this article to make an informed decision, and don’t be afraid to look for other options if a service provider is not a good fit.
Book Outline Generator
Choose your Fiction or Nonfiction book type below to get your free chapter by chapter outline!
Book Outline Generator
Enter your details below and get your pre-formatted outline in your inbox and start writing today!
CONGRATULATIONS
Thanks for submitting! Check your email for your book outline template.
In the meantime, check out our Book Outline Challenge.
