E-books vs. Print Books: To E or not to E?

Insight from CEO client of CorporateHistory.net: "Our incredible story would have lost so much without the printed words and pictures." (Photo by Chris Benson on Unsplash.com)
4 reasons to do a print book as well as an eBook (or vice-versa):
- The investment is almost identical because the biggest chunk of the budget, the R&D cost, is baked in. Regardless of format, you still need to research, write, and design your material. Adding on a short run of digitally printed books (or, conversely, a simple e-book) can add minimal cost and maximal branding impact. A printed book is a gift to give. Creating a flowable eBook (versus a simple flip book) can cost as much or more than printing.
- Visuals pop in print. One of our clients, the CEO of a public company, said it best: “I’m someone who reads only e-newspapers (Wall Street Journal etc.) and minimizes paper. But our incredible story would lose so much without the printed words and pictures.”
- Print endures and symbolizes lasting value. Still have your high school yearbook? Most people do. Even I do, and I’m the kind of person who has never set foot at a class reunion. Having both formats creates an archive that covers all bases for future generations.
- “Where’s the real book?” That’s the question CorporateHistory.net gets from readers when a client decides to do an e-book only. In the case of corporate histories, employees and retirees have often gotten involved personally—they’ve been interviewed, donated their artifacts, posed for photos. They want a tangible result.