Books are the best source of learning as well as entertainment for children and grownups alike. In today’s world of the Internet, people want their books also to be available online. eBooks have come as the solution here. Today eBooks can be accessed via the Internet over different media like cellphones, laptops, tablets, etc. This global trend has impacted Indian markets in a big way. Publishers are looking to convert not just their new books but even their old works into eBooks for continued sales and reach.
1. Pricing
Publishers looking towards Indian markets for eBook sales should keep the prices low. Globally eBook pricing is comparable to those of print versions. But the same cannot be applied to Indian markets. There are no additional manufacturing costs with eBooks and lower prices will drive volumes and hence total revenue.
2. File Formats
The most popular file formats of eBook the world over are PDF, epub and mobi. However, most Indian publishers use PDF format for eBook, which will impact the Indian eBooks industry in a negative way. Indian readers are as discerning as any global citizen, so publishers need to gear up for the global markets and publish in more formats.
3. Popular Reading Devices
eBooks can be accessed on many devices like smartphones, computers, tablet PCs, mobiles and special eBook readers. In India, Internet penetration is still low, but mobile penetration is very high. Due to economic reasons, people use normal mobile phones rather than smartphones. So publishers need to keep this in mind while producing eBooks for the Indian markets.
4. Existing Online Markets
Online bookstores like Indiaplaza and Flipkart are best placed to tap into their online customer base. However, new players, especially software companies like Apple are entering the fray in a big way. The existing marketplaces have customer base while the software companies have the technology to attract the readers. This war between the old and new will be interesting as many global online stores like Amazon are opening Indian offshoots as well.
5. Self-Publishing
Self-publishing is a trend gaining popularity among new as well as old writers, globally. Technology and easy accessibility to resources on the Internet has made traditional publishers redundant to a great extent. Anyone willing to take some pains can easily self-publish their own books, without having to go through the grind of submitting manuscripts, editing, designing, etc.
eBooks are the future of books. India is a huge buyers’ and readers’ market. There is a huge pool of upcoming writing talent available, too. So, publishers don’t need to go far away to source new books too. With both client and service providers available in abundance in Indian markets, the Indian eBooks industry is bound to boom in the coming years.
As a writer, you should be prepared to take advantage of this boom in the eBooks industry. You should acquire and hone the skills required to write good eBooks and get set to become the next great writer!!
Image credit: zeevveez on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Shweta-Pic.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Shweta Mishra is a freelance writer with over 13 years experience. You can visit her website https://aainfotech.in to get to know more about her writing.[/author_info] [/author]