Best Way to Create an E book

[Carlos]

Curious as to how most go about making their e books? I've seen software around the net for creating them. Is this the best route to go? Thanks.

[Yaro]

Not sure about the best way but I just use a PDF maker which gives me a print driver to convert almost anything into a PDF (primo pdf is good and free). Usually I'll write and format in MS Word and then print to PDF.

You can set up password protection too which is about all you really need to worry about.

[Blaine Moore]

I use Open Office to write my eBooks, and then use the export as PDF feature. It is better than most of the PDF print drivers I've tried. If you have an embedded link behind some text (i.e. the text doesn't look like a URL but clicking it gets you where your going) then it will correctly format and keep the functionality there. Most of the PDF print drivers other than adobe acrobat distiller itself tend to render it wrong. And of course, you'll be wanting to include your affiliate links in your eBook...

[Carlos]

I was doing a little reading up and it does look like PDF is the way to go, and not a software program that converts to an exe file.
Now I just have to get started on my ebook, "How to make a million dollars recycling aluminum cans" (j/k).

[Carlos]

Do you think password protection will protect the work? I see that a password can be set on the created PDF document, but if a person wants to give the ebook to their friend, couldn't they just give the password as well?
Or is there some system where the password is binded to that unique computer?

[Blaine Moore]

Originally posted by Carlos@Apr 13 2006, 01:37 PM
Do you think password protection will protect the work? I see that a password can be set on the created PDF document, but if a person wants to give the ebook to their friend, couldn't they just give the password as well?
Or is there some system where the password is binded to that unique computer?

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I don't worry about using passwords for the most part. Password protection won't stop somebody from giving a password as well as the file to a friend; it will however keep somebody from randomly finding your page or if it gets indexed by the search engines somehow from downloading the file and being able to read it.

In general, though, copy protections that do not add a lot of protections but do add a lot of aggravation aren't worth it, so unless I have a reason to password protect it I don't bother.

Just load the eBook full of affiliate links so that even if somebody does get a copy without paying for it you can still get some potential revenue.

[Chris H]

I'd say go pdf.

PDFCreator is a brilliant utility to create pdfs simply by printing them!

http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

One step forward from this is using a system like ViralPDF http://www.viralpdf.com/ to create ebooks that are brandable by your customers whilst retaining your url!

[Carlos]

Hmm, so if I want to "protect" my ebook the best thing to do is add a password. If someone gives it and the password to their friend then so be it. Anything more will cause too many technical issues.
Seems logical. Hopefully no one would try reselling my product...

[Yaro]

I figure in most cases as long as one person buys the product I don't mind if he shares it with a friend or too. Getting the extra exposure is worth it.

[Blaine Moore]

Originally posted by Carlos@Apr 13 2006, 06:25 PM
Seems logical. Hopefully no one would try reselling my product...

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If they did try reselling it, issue a cease and desist. If they don't, sue them for lost revenue.

Make sure that you include your copyright and any resale rights (or lack thereof) in your eBook.