Wordmaps ebook FAQs

I’m writing a PDF e-book? Why do I need an index?
But isn’t “Find” feature on my computer just like an index?
Are there any reasons not to have an index in my PDF e-book?
I’m writing an e-reader book. Why should I hire an indexer?
People writing about e-books tell me to omit my index? Why?
Do I begin with a print version or an e-book version of my book?
What’s the advantage or disadvantage in starting with an e-book?
How can I make my ebook available on cellphones (mobiles)?
What if I want to consolidate several e-books into a book?
Where and how can I market my e-book?

(1) I’m writing a PDF ebook? Why do I need an index?

E-books are no different than print books. If a book has information in it, it needs to be indexed. Your reader needs to look up things they’ve read in your book. Your reader needs to find scattered discussions of a topic all in one place. Your reader needs an index to see if the scope of your e-book includes enough material for them to buy your e-book. [link to Marketing with your index page]

(2) But isn’t “Find” feature on my computer just like an index?

If your PDF e-book has a substantial amount of information in it, do not rely on an Adobe software’s “Find” function!

Find functions are tedious to scan. Also, they can return so many page numbers they try your readers’ patience. Many readers don’t yet know quotation marks must be used to find phrases. An indexer can easily create your e-book index for your PDF e-book.

(3) Are there any reasons not to have an index in my PDF e-book?

If your e-book is very brief or if it only makes a few points you may not need an index. Likewise, if your ebook is a collection of articles, you might do fine with a table of contents. If it’s by different authors, a names index along with your table of contents would be a good idea.

Similarly, if your e-book is part of a “membership club”that includes webinars and teleseminars you may decide your don’t want an index. That’s because these programs are designed for group study sessions rather than independent learning.

If your e-book is part of group learning program or high-end objectives based program, you’ll want to guide your followers through it in your own way. However, you might consider an expanded table of contents (chapter titles along with chapter section titles in page number order). This will make it easier for students to follow as they listen to you talk about what is in your e-book.

(4) I’m writing an e-reader book. Why should I hire an indexer?

Indexers are full-time professionals. Indexers use specialized software such as CINDEX, MACREX, SKY, InDesign, and HTML-Indexer. While most indexers work for traditional publishers, a few are rapidly moving into e-book and mobile (cellphone) books.

You will find the following benefits from using a professional indexer with Internet indexing experience.

A) Your index will look like indexes print book readers are used to.
B) The index will be done quicker than you could do it.
C) An index that pleases your readers will help sell your products.
D) If your competitors lack an index or have an inferior one, readers will be more likely to choose your book over theirs.

In addition, indexers who work with self-publishers accumulate information about self-publishing from their other clients that could be useful to you.

(5) People writing about e-books tell me to omit my index? Why?

You do not have to do without an index to your e-book. An index can be created for an e-book.

Formatting your index will require an extra step. That’s because e-book text does not really have pages. An e-book is a continuous digital file. Like a web site it only has screens. And screens come in many different sizes. So e-book pages will differ from each other depending on what device you are using to read the e-book.

Despite this difference from print books, page numbers can be inserted in e-books by use of a web design device called an “anchor.”

An invisible anchor is placed in your digital text to represent a page number. The index “page numbers” will refer back to the anchors embedded in your text.

(6) Do I begin with a print version or an e-book version of my book?

You can go either way. If you have created an e-book first, there are sites that will reformat it as a PDF e-book. You can create an index for both books if you have not already done so.

It may seem more comfortable to begin with a print book and then find a digital formatter to convert your book into an e-book. Or it may seem easier and faster to do an e-book first.

Be sure to think carefully about how you will market your book. Don’t expect either an e-book or a book to sell themselves. There are millions of books competing with yours.

(7) What’s the advantage or disadvantage in starting with an e-book?

Advantages
E-books are distribution-driven. As soon as you are done, your book has somewhere to sell it. 
E-books are instantly available. 
E-books, especially PDF e-books, are very low cost compared with print books.

Disadvantages
As a whole, far more readers buy print books. 
You’ll need to add an index and format pages if you do a print book. 
E-readers use several different formats for e-books.

The limitations of current e-book software can prevent your e-book from having the same features as your p-book. Current digital download speeds may limit the total size for your e-book file.

Whatever you decide, discuss the formats you plan to use for your book with your indexer before they begin work for you!

(8) How can I make my e-book available on cellphones (mobiles)?

Amazon’s free Mobipocket Creator software will convert your e-book into a form some cellphones can read. Mobipocket is Amazon’s protocol for mini-ebooks. The advantage of using it is to get your book into Amazon’s online Kindle Store.

IPhone apps are another way. Rasterbook and ebookapp format e-books for cellphones. Smashwords, which can convert your book to all kinds of e-book formats, offers downloadable e-books for the iPhone using Stanza, a free e-reading app.

(9) What if I want to consolidate several e-books into a book?

Indexers can easily conflate index entries from different e-books into one index for another e-book or even for a print book. p-book. The main challenge will be in handling e-book page numbers.

Likewise, it is possible to break up a book into separate parts, each its own e-book with an index. In this case the challenge will be to identify See and See also cross-references that belong in each separate part.

Whether conflating e-books or breaking down an e-book into parts, you’ll find it will be less expensive if your indexer knows your intentions right at the very beginning. So create at least a rough marketing plan for your book before you begin.

(10) Where and how can I market my e-book?

The first place is on your own web site or page for your book! Click here [Insert marketing with your index page] for reasons why.

If you have a PDF e-book you can sell it on your web site and distribute it via an online vendosr like 1shoppingcart or PayPal or E-junkie.com. If your e-book is designed for a particular e-reader, your e-reader company will have a site where you can sell and/or distribute your e-book.

But don’t stop there! Or with just Amazon or iTunes! The web is full of places to market e-books. Here are just a few examples.

BooksonBoard claims to be the largest e-bookstore for trade books.  eReader.com carries all kinds of books too. Booklocker, an e-book seller, carries e-books formatted for iPhones and iPads. And you can upload PDF documents as well as e-reader ebooks to Scribd.

You’ll find online sites geared for niche and genre e-markets too. For example, ebooks.com not only carries trade books, but also academic and scholarly e-books, while Overdrive carries e-books for libraries.