iPublish?

As we all know, Apple is one of the most successful companies of the past decade. After talking to a member of Apple's PR team, the reason why has become clear: they are very good at keeping their future plans secret. However, we managed to get some answers for everyone out there that's curious about publishing eBooks with the iBookstore.

 

 

The iBookstore is not a default setting on the iPad. As such Apple offers readers a choice of which eReading application they would like to use. Many have questioned why Apple would take this step and offer iPad users the opportunity to download competitors' applications, like the Kindle app.
 

So we asked: What percentage of people who purchased the iPad have downloaded the iBookstore application? Is the iBookstore app the most commonly downloaded e-reading app?
 

The answer we got was "We don't have a unit download figure for iBooks but at this moment it is the #1 free download in the books apps category."
 

So, it seems that Apple's decision is working out for them in terms of downloads.
 

In past newsletters, we have talked about the integration of eBooks with audio and visual enhancements such as moving characters that talk, especially in children's books. But currently these are only available to view with book specific apps. We were curious about incorporating these enhanced eBooks into Apple's iBookstore, and asked: Are any of the iBooks enhanced with audio or video content? If not, would it be possible for these books to have multimedia features in the future? 

 

"Books in iBookstore do not currently have enhanced content.... we don't discuss future plans" answered Apple.

 

This could be a point of contention with Amazon, who announced on June 28th that the Kindle will now have Kindle Editions of books that feature audio and video content. Specific examples of these special features include how-to videos with recipe books and audio clips of birds with bird-watching guides.

 

We interviewed a representative for the Kindle when it first became available in 2008. Steve Jobs had recently been quoted in the New York Times as saying "It doesn't matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don't read anymore. Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year." When asked to respond to that quote during our interview, the Senior PR manager for the Kindle told us: "We think that reading is very much alive and well and that there's good evidence of that in the early success of our Kindle business. The first audience for Kindle is obviously readers and we have a great set of customers right in front of us on our website."

 

We wanted to get Apple's stance on this quote (especially given the source), so we asked:Is Steve's Job quote the reason why Apple avoided a dedicated eReader device in favor of the iPad, a 'multi-purpose' device?

 

We didn't get a response, however, we believe the fact that Apple chose to market a multi-purpose device instead of a specific eReader answers that question as well as a confirmation could have. Readers and non-readers alike can make use of the iPad and therefore Apple has an advantage over Amazon by simply having a larger target market.

 

Many individual authors still do not know how to get their book on the iPad, so we also queried Apple on this topic asking:How does an author go about having their book available for purchase in the iBookstore?

 

Apple replied that "interested publishers may send an email to ebookquery@apple.com.  They'll receive...all [the] necessary info." 
 

So we sent a query to the aforementioned e-mail address. We learned that there are two ways of getting an eBook published in the iBookstore. One way is by selling them directly through the iBookstore. The books must have an ISBN and be in ePub format in order to do this. There are financial and technical requirements to be met as well that can be confusing. This is why Apple provides a second way of publishing in the iBookstore: through an Apple-approved aggregator. Aggregators provide a variety of services, such as helping you meet the iBookstore's requirements, delivering your content, and marketing your product. Apple's list of eight aggregators includes aptly named companies such as BiblioCore, Book Baby, and Smashwords. These companies then explain how they will help authors convert files, market their product, and (most importantly) make money.

 

So what are you waiting for? With eBook sales up 167% in May, it's time to get your work out there. Whether you choose to use an aggregator for help or go it on your own, publishing on the iBookstore can help your product reach out to a whole new market of eReaders.