Based in the U.S., Managed Outsource Solutions (MOS) provides top quality document management solutions including document scanning services for libraries, law firms, litigation service companies, insurance firms, and corporate, government, and educational institutions.
In today’s podcast, Julie Clements, one of our Chief Solutions Officers, discusses why eBook conversion has increased during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Hi, my name is Julie Clements. I am a Chief Solutions Officer here at Managed Outsource Solutions (MOS). I want to talk a little bit about eBook conversion and how it increased with the outbreak of COVID-19.
00:11 – Advantages of eBooks
So, eBooks have revolutionized the way people read books. Compared to physical books, eBooks are much easier to carry around, as you can store any number of books in a single digital device. They are cheaper, portable, easily accessible and compact. Another advantage of eBooks is that they are environmentally friendly. With eBook conversion services, you can convert any book into an eBook, give it a more attractive and stylish new look, and make it accessible to a larger audience worldwide.
When eBooks were first introduced, it was predicted that they will bring an end to paper books. Although some readers preferred downloading eBooks over purchasing hard copies, some readers were still in favor of the physical book because they enjoyed the feel of the book, with the texture, thickness, weight and the characteristic aroma. I can go either way on that one. I like them both.
00:56 – Use of eBooks During Covid-19
However, with the outbreak of COVID-19, libraries and many other organizations were forced to shut down. This has accelerated the use of eBooks as these are available online and can be accessed from anywhere. This crisis has also changed our readers’ behavior.
01:11 – Shift to eBooks
So, there is been a shift to eBooks
Michael Tamblyn, he is the CEO of Rakuten Kobo, told Publishers Weekly that eBook and audio book retailers are seeing a rapid increase in new account sign-ups and purchases. Kevin Tumlinson, he is the Director of Marketing and PR at Draft2Digital, which is an eBook distributor for self-published authors, reported increased eBook purchases across all platforms. Similarly, many authors and publishers say that they are seeing a sharp rise in eBook sales, as at BookBub, due to the stay-at-home orders in the US. This rising trend was seen across all platforms like Amazon, Apple, Google, Kobo etc and in regions like USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and India.
01:53 – Popular Types of eBooks
The Types of Books That Are Gaining Popularity Is Changing a Little Bit
The pandemic has not just persuaded readers to switch to eBooks, it has also changed the kind of books that people read. During this time, the sales of books for kids have risen significantly, especially non-fiction and learning books. I know, I have gotten quite a few of them for my children.
This is probably due to the shutdown of the schools for sure. BookBub is reorganizing their schedule to include more children’s and parenting books to keep the children entertained and also educate them during this time. We all know we could use the help. So, the adult group’s reading behavior is more or less the same but some genres are standing out. One of Barnes & Noble’s favored categories at present is “40 Books You Always Meant to Read” now that we have a little time on our hands. Also, Chirp’s Classics experienced one of the largest percentage increases in sales.
02:44 – Key Challenges of Print Industry
So, with this the Print Industry Is Facing Challenges
Due to the worldwide closure of libraries and book stores, the sales in the print industry have declined for over the past few weeks. NPD Book scan reported a 10 percent drop week after week in print sales the week of March 8, and another decrease of 9.2% the week of March 22. So, this trend is most likely to continue as long as the book stores and libraries remain closed. The manager of Barnes and Noble’s e-commerce division said that they saw a rise in online orders for eBooks and books for curbside pickup. Bookshop.org, a new online retailer that provides some portion of sales to local book shops, reported a significant increase in sales, in large part due to independent bookstores and others in the industry directing the customers to the new platform as a way to continue driving sales despite closures.
eBooks provide the ease of portability and accessibility. They are extensively used by many internet users. Many books are now converted into eBooks, and authors and publishers can easily convert their paperbacks into eBooks through ePub conversion. A practical alternative is to choose the services offered by eBook conversion companies, which can convert your book into ePub that can be marketed all over the world with fewer hassles, and is much cheaper than publishing printed books. Moreover, a large number of people now prefer eBooks to printed books, and authors no longer have to rely entirely on publishing companies to get their books published.
To learn more about eBook Conversion, you can go to our website – www.managedoutsource.com.
Thank you.
