So much of our lives are at least partially digital these days. You're probably reading this on a digital device, in fact. The literary world is no different, as the last decade has seen a digital publishing evolution. Exploring digital book formats will show us that there are plenty of positives to this, but at the same time, print books are here to stay.

Ebook and audiobook trends suggest that the digitization of books is not going to slow down anytime soon. Let's discuss what you need to know to make digital books work for you.

Exploring Digital Book Formats

When we talk about digital books, we are talking about:

• Ebooks
• Audiobooks

Ebooks are like print books that exist as computer files. They are typed, but rather than printed, they are produced for a digital reader. So, there is no actual physical book.

Audiobooks are different in that they aren't typed; they are narrated. People don't actually read them; they listen to them.

For digital books, they need to be hosted online and accessed through a digital device. So rather than going to a bookstore, people will go online and download them.

Let's explore digital book formats in terms of pros and cons.

Digital Books: The Pros and Cons

One major positive of the evolution of digital publishing is that books are produced more sustainably. There is no need for paper or any physical manufacturing. There are no waste products, as the book is essentially virtual.

However, a drawback of ebooks and audiobooks is that they require a level of tech literacy to access them. Ebook and audiobook trends have shown that more people are using digital books, implying that more people are becoming well-versed digitally. At the same time, there are people who don't have access to the necessary digital devices or the ability to use them. So, if a book is only available digitally, there are people who won't be able to access it.

At the same time, there are people who find digital books more accessible. People who are visually impaired or who struggle with reading will benefit from audiobooks. Offering an audiobook version of your masterpiece helps you maximize your reach, as you are reaching people who cannot or struggle to read. On top of that, there are some people who just prefer to listen to an audiobook rather than read, as they are free to do other things while listening than they would if they were sitting down reading a book.

Ebooks have the benefit of hyperlinks. Authors can place links within the book that take the reader to another part of the book. This is helpful for cross-referencing, and it can be used to direct readers to explanations of words.

One thing to consider in terms of the price of ebooks and audiobooks is that, while individual books tend to be cheaper, the devices that are needed to read them are expensive.

Something that digital books give authors and publishers that print books don't is easy access to more data. This means that the author and publisher can easily analyze data that wouldn't be available when selling print books. The digital device the reader is accessing the book on will collect the information that the reader provides.

Finally, for people with access to the internet, ebooks and audiobooks can be more convenient than physical books. For one thing, readers don't have to carry around a book (or books), as they can have multiple books on one device. As well as this, it can be easier to access books that may not be available in print form at the reader's location. Reports show that digital books became more popular during the pandemic and look to continue their growth in popularity.

Digital Publishing Evolution

When we explore digital book formats, we see that ebooks and audiobooks have plenty of benefits. However, the evolution of digital publishing does not mean it is the end of print books. While ebooks and audiobooks are showing us that digital books are becoming more popular, there certainly is still a place for print books.

The best way for authors to go about publishing their work appears to be a multi-format approach. Publishing your book in print, ebook, or audiobook means you can avail yourself of all the benefits of each format and reach a wider audience.

There are different considerations needed for digital books compared to print books, and it's important that you follow the best practices to ensure your ebooks and audiobooks are up to industry standard.

Considerations for Ebooks and Audiobooks

• The formatting is different for print books, so make sure you consult someone who knows what they are doing. For audiobooks, different platforms have regulations, such as the amount of silence to leave at the start and end of each track. For ebooks, spacing is something that often causes issues for authors. Look into the rules for any online outlet you are planning to use for your digital books to ensure you are following their procedures.
• Make sure the hyperlinks work correctly. It will be really frustrating for readers if they are trying to click a link and it either doesn't go anywhere or goes to the wrong place entirely. It's easy to slip up on this one, so always double-check your links!
• Audiobooks need high-quality narration. It's worth paying a professional voiceover artist to do proper narration for your book. It may seem like a simple task, but there's more to narrating than just reading something aloud. You have to consider pacing, know when to add emphasis, and have excellent pronunciation. At Dibbly | The Urban Writers, we have an array of talented narrators who can make sure your book sounds great.
• The metadata for your digital books needs to be accurate so that people can find them. Metadata includes things like the book title, your penname, and the publisher. This is key information that needs to be consistent so that people can find your book.
• For whatever service you are using to provide your ebooks and audiobooks, always check their terms of use. For audiobooks, Spotify recently updated their terms of use, as many other platforms tend to do. It's best practice not to sign away any ownership rights to your intellectual property.

Final Thoughts

When we start exploring digital book formats, we can see they are here to stay, but at the same time, so are print books. It appears the best thing an author can do is make an effort to produce their works in multiple formats, which will appeal to a wider variety of readers. Embracing the evolution of digital publishing doesn't mean abandoning print books; rather, it has become necessary for the literary world, as with so many other areas, to adapt to the digital way of life.