An eBook Gripe
I have a little eBook gripe. And it’s not a gripe about the fluff and foam that some writers use to pad out their product, or the books that are not much more than a collection of affiliate links. It’s not even a gripe about not taking the time to run the text through a spelling and grammar checker … heaven knows I’m not an English major.
It’s about linking and interactivity.
Firstly, I never read the introductions to anything. I’m one of those people who inexplicably browses through magazines and newspapers backwards. This means all the good work editors and designers do at the start of a story — witty intro, beautiful opening spread across a couple of pages, enchanting graphics — is completely wasted on me. I decide which story I’m going to read by having a look at the summing up and then reading a paragraph or two from the middle of the story.
When it comes to reading eBooks I’m all over the place because dodging the fluff can take quite some skill. I’d rather have a 17-page eBook filled with nitty-gritty than a 117-page eBook. But here is my main eBook gripe and every eBook producer who commits this crime gets a point deducted immediately – Unlinked Contents Pages.
I don’t know if it is laziness or a lack of knowledge but eBook creators, it is REALLY SIMPLE TO LINK YOUR CONTENTS PAGES to the appropriate place in the pdf document. Isn’t it ironic that most eBook authors have little difficulty linking to affiliate products but can’t link to their own chapter headings?
In the early eBook days it was most uncommon to find a book without a linked contents or index file but that’s not the case now. Does this bother anyone else, or am I being picky?
Hi Erin,
Good point. Something to remember when we create a product.
Cheers
Sue
Hi Sue,
It sounds like a bit of a moan but I think the little extras set us apart from the competition. A couple of ebooks just lately have had a linked index and it really does make a difference, especially after you’ve read it and you just want to find a couple of points.
~ Erin
Hi Erin, I think you’ve raised a very good point. I will keep it in mind when i start creating products.
Perhaps you could write a post on how to do it? It would be very helpful to many of us.
I like your style
Regards Barry Wells
Hi Barry
Good idea, I’ll do that. I can only show you in Adobe Acrobat but it is probably quite similar in any of the pdf programs. Thanks for the kind comments.
Cheers, Erin
Hi Erin,
I enjoyed reading your post and I just had to comment. I have only made one ebook to date and I desperately wanted to link my contents page but I didn’t find it simple at all. I even contacted a well known ebook publisher and asked her how she linked hers (I had bought her book so I knew that she had) and she replied stating that she couldn’t remember how she had done it. I researched and just couldn’t figure it out so I am guilty of having an ebook without the contents linked. I agree with you, I hate it too when I cant just click to the section I am interested in. If you do know how to do it, it would make a great post, I think we’d all be interested to know.
Cheers,
Tracey
Hello Tracey
Thank you for taking the time to comment. I am preparing a report on how to link your contents pages in a pdf … the only problem is that I use Adobe Acrobat to prepare my pdfs. I am hoping that all pdf software behaves in a similar manner with similar features. If you wish to sign up for my newsletter, I’ll announce when the report is ready. I’ll also announce it on this blog and on the forum for the Masterclass.
all the best, Erin
No Erin you’re not being picky but unless it’s linking to an HTML “off page”, I for one struggle to do it… so if you want to post a “how to”, I for one am listening!
Susan
PS If you do do this please email me as I can’t find where to subscribe to updates. Many thanks!
Hi Susan
No problem, I’m working on it now.
Cheers, Erin
Erin, Good post. This has been one of my gripes for a while, but I have to tell that I acquired Paula Brett’s book and there it is. All linked to the contents page. Not only that, there are Thumbnail Images down the left hand side and also Bookmarks marking the chapters. I think when we come to produces our books, we have to make sure this valuable tool is included.
Nice blog, really like the Header, Regards, Brian.
Erin, Good post. This has been one of my gripes for a while, but I have to tell you that I acquired Paula Brett’s book and there it is. All linked to the contents page. Not only that, there are Thumbnail Images down the left hand side and also Bookmarks marking the chapters. I think when we come to produce our books, we have to make sure this valuable tool is included.
Nice blog, really like the Header, Regards, Brian.
Hi Erin, I’m not into the product creation yet (week 6), but I will ensure that I will put a linked TOC into the source document when I create it. This is quite easy to do in word using the automated text tools. Like you, it annoys me when I have to scroll and scroll to get to the information I need. Also like you, I would much rather have a simple report type ebook with 15 to 20 pages full of good, applicable information, rather than a 100 page ebook full of affiliate links, filler and fluff.
Love the header by the way!
Warmest Regards
John Chadwick
Erin, you make a good point. I think that the lack of it in ebooks is because people don’t know how to do it (or don’t even know that they can). Hopefully your report will provide that information.
Next thing you know, it will become the norm!
Gwen