| The best form to deliver their Informational | | | | These are the big ticket items that show and tell |
| Product, i.e. PDF or EXE format, confronts every | | | | along with the written word. They are all |
| Internet Author who wants to write their ebook. | | | | interactive and all contained. Nothing has to be |
| What do your readers want? | | | | linked to a web site or use other resources online. |
| The trend currently is PDF and this is why. | | | | A simple click of the mouse and watch the video |
| Ebooks written and compiled in the EXE format | | | | and right back to the text. The reader doesn't |
| didn't work after Microsoft introduced Service | | | | have to wait for the connection to a web site or |
| Pack II. Many of the programs that deliver EXE | | | | wait for the file to load and run. It's done instantly. |
| format are based upon having Internet Explorer | | | | Most Internet authors do not have the means to |
| modules that no longer work correctly due to the | | | | produce CD's or DVD's. It requires a staff or the |
| Service Pack II. This requires a patch to open the | | | | expertise to develop these Informational Products |
| file for your customer. What a pain. It makes | | | | let alone the funds. Secondly they cannot be |
| your end products value perceived as less than | | | | digitally delivered, which is a requirement for those |
| adequate if you must include a patch along with | | | | people who want their information instantly. |
| your Informational Product. | | | | Your informational material then dictates the |
| Secondly, most of the EXE compilers are just so | | | | delivery means. Use PDF when you are writing |
| hard to use that writers simply resort to the PDF | | | | just words with a few pictures or graphics. Use |
| format to deliver their end product. Writers are | | | | EXE when you need to show and tell to get your |
| concerned with getting their message out, as fast | | | | message across to your customer. If and when it |
| as possible and with ease thus the PDF format | | | | is possible, give your customer the choice of |
| becomes the standard to deliver Informational | | | | either. |
| Products. | | | | In either case, writers want and need a program |
| Customers prefer PDF over EXE almost 75% of | | | | that is easy to use. This is why PDF has taken |
| the time and there is a reason for this. When | | | | off in the last few years. There are many low |
| given a choice, they trust the PDF format over | | | | cost programs that convert word processing files |
| EXE because of the SP2 issue. When the | | | | into PDF files. There are many programs or |
| information they paid for or obtained free didn't | | | | add-ons that help in putting video and audio into |
| open or could not be viewed that format just isn't | | | | PDF files as well. This means there is a two-step |
| something they will willingly download again. Would | | | | process to producing your Informational Product, |
| you if the format didn't work? You would look for | | | | you write it adding the features you deem |
| the Information Product that did work so you can | | | | necessary to get your message across, and you |
| have the information you wanted. | | | | convert it to a PDF format. |
| Which format works best depends upon what | | | | The EXE normally takes more steps to complete |
| material you are presenting. If you write and add | | | | the final product. You write it, you convert it to |
| a few graphics or photos PDF may work best. If | | | | HTML format, and you compile it with your |
| you are showing and telling your may choose the | | | | program of choice. The hardest part is the |
| EXE format. Offering both formats most likely is | | | | conversion from HTML to the compiled format. |
| the best way to satisfy your customers' needs. | | | | For many it is just too much work and the |
| In a poll of the Internet Warrior Forum | | | | learning process can take longer than the writing. |
| (warriorforum.com/forum | | | | It is easy to understand why the PDF becomes |
| topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=73412) this topic was very | | | | the favorite for the Informational Producer. |
| informative. It seems there is quite a difference | | | | Doing your writing in both formats to give your |
| of opinions between the kind of form favored, | | | | customer their choice isn't easy either. It is double |
| and both produce profits for the writers. Still the | | | | the work. Too bad there isn't a way to do both |
| reader is the determining factor. What do they | | | | at the same time, or is there? That was one of |
| want? When it is reported the 75% want their | | | | the comments on the thread in the Warrior's |
| information in the PDF format it tells you | | | | Forum that was repeated. Given the knowledge |
| something about how you will market your | | | | that PDF is chosen 75% of the time because of |
| Informational Product. | | | | the perceived value, mostly due to the SP2 issue, |
| Don't rule out the EXE format so quickly. There | | | | the buyer's choice is obvious. Or is it? Is it a |
| are many aspects of your delivery that are more | | | | choice of the producer? In most cases it is the |
| suited for this format than can be delivered with | | | | producer, author, writer that make the choice of |
| the PDF. Today most of the programs offering | | | | the format they use to offer their Informational |
| your Informational Product in the EXE format | | | | Product. Face it, when it is easy to use PDF over |
| have updated to get around the SP2 problem. It | | | | EXE, what choice would you make? |
| now is a perceived issue with your customer | | | | Can you give them both? Can you offer them |
| easily explained. Tell them it is in the EXE format | | | | your material in EXE form that will give them |
| and that they will be viewing the information | | | | more value than what you can give them in PDF |
| without the problems of the past. You can include | | | | form or the same value in either form? Yes you |
| the why you are delivering your message in this | | | | can deliver your Informational Products today in |
| format by simply telling them you will be showing | | | | either format and have both a multimedia |
| them and telling them in ways PDF can't. | | | | experience for your customers. |
| Ideally an Internet Author writes words just like | | | | Embedding files in audio and video can be done in |
| anyone who writes a book. Your words are all | | | | either format. This feature is soon to be taken |
| that is necessary to convey your message. Is | | | | away after Microsoft lost yet another court |
| this what people online are looking for? Or could | | | | battle. The embedding feature is part of the |
| they get the same information at their local | | | | browser in IE. That feature will no longer be |
| bookstore? In order to have your writing | | | | available to unlock your files to automatically run. |
| purchased you need to have a format that will | | | | Maybe you didn't know about this little problem |
| over-deliver to your customer in a way that will | | | | that can result in the failure of every ebook |
| not only satisfy them, but also WOW them. Recall | | | | produced prior to 2005, being disabled just like |
| that instant satisfaction is what people are looking | | | | what happened with the SP2 issue, only far |
| for online. Can you provide them with instant | | | | worse. Even Web pages will not function properly |
| satisfaction and still get your message across? | | | | unless they are changed from auto to having the |
| Delivering your message either as a free | | | | viewer actually click on the audio or video to have |
| download or to be purchased is of great | | | | it open. Do a search for |
| importance. Delivering it in the right format is also | | | | microsoft+lawsuit+flash+embedded in your |
| of great importance to your reader. If you were | | | | favorite search engine and see if this will affect |
| writing about golf and describing how to be a | | | | you. |
| better putter, would just words be enough? Not | | | | It all gets back to what format sells the best or |
| hardly. You would want to include photos showing | | | | what the Informational Producer believes will sell |
| your reader exactly how to putt. It would even | | | | the best even if it is a give away viral product. Is |
| be better if you could show them a video, so | | | | there is a way to give your readers both options |
| your delivery method can get your point across | | | | at the click of a button? You just might find out |
| even better. The old expression "A picture is | | | | you have the power to deliver your informational |
| worth a thousand words" comes to mind. Maybe | | | | products giving your readers a multimedia |
| a video is worth ten thousands. Deciding which | | | | experience or just a simple written book simply |
| format, PDF or EXE, would best produce your | | | | and easily as using your word processor. See the |
| message then becomes very important to show | | | | bio for the free no obligation information. It just |
| them. | | | | may give you the advantage of using both PDF |
| Perhaps this is why so many Informational | | | | and EXE in all your publications. |
| Products on CD's and DVD's are coming out. | | | | |