eBook Design and Layout
You’ve made the decision to create a eBook, and you’ve decided on which format you want to use, what is your next step? The design or layout of your book. Whether you have selected the PDF or HTML format is of no consequence in designing your books layout. There are some basic elements for you to consider as you construct your masterpiece. The structure and presentation of your end product will have great influence on your overall success.
Your eBook should look professional, pleasing to the eye, organized with the reader in mind for being able to navigate through the book with ease. Any images, graphics or other enhancements should provide value and be a compliment to your book’s subject matter. Keep the basic look of your book from being overly garish. Simple goes a long way in pleasing readers expectation. They are seeking information . . . not excessive glitz.
Each page you create should be considered in the same manner as you’d expect to see in a “hard bound book.” The actual design or structure of your book may vary based on the subject and the material being presented, but here are some suggested basic guidelines to consider:
- Opening Page
- Forward
- Instructions
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Chapters
- Page Numbers
- Headers and Footnotes
- Borders
- Images/Graphics
Here is some expanded information on each of the above elements to help give you ideas and clearer understanding of what might be expected from that page or factor:
Opening Page
In an eBook the opening page is your “landing or first” page. This page should be designed with any graphics, logo or images you feel is appropriate which identify your book’s subject matter and that compliments your presentation objective. This page may include a “title” you’ve chosen for your book, and may contain an opening statement to entice readers to look further into your work.
Foreword
The foreword of your book is where you would provide any copyright, disclaimer or other information consider to be of import to your reader, and for your intellectual protection.
Instructions
This page is where you would provide readers of your eBook with any enlightenment, information or instructions you feel would be of benefit to them. Directions or instructions on navigating your book could be helpful, and presented on this page.
Table of Contents
The Table of Contents, while very important, should be the last item you construct for insertion in your eBook. Hand written tables can assist you as you organize and construct your book, however.
The primary purpose of a table of contents is to provide an overview of your subject matter by category or page, and provide readers with a means of locating where specific information is located in your eBook. There are programs in text editors that can help you, or even produce, a table of contents for you. Page numbering would be a benefit when constructing your book for use with your table. Care and consideration must be given when organizing your book for continuity and clarity, and a table of contents will assist in both the structure and guidance for your readers.
You can use “style functions” with your text editor to assist you in creating chapter headings and your content table to distinguish them from other aspects of your book.
Selecting a “text editor” or “compiler” that allows you to create a table of contents that is interactive with the segments of your book would be a plus. Providing a means of readers being able to click on a segment or chapter in your table and “jump” to that section would be profitable.
Introduction
The introduction page is where a synopsis or overview of your book’s subject or topic would appear. This gives the reader some expectation of what they can gain from reading your eBook. The introduction page usually follows the Table of Content page.
Chapters
This is the heart or meat of your publication’s efforts. Readers will be informed and instructed on the subject you are presenting in the chapters provided. Break down your subject into segments that provide the necessary information, but are laid out in a fashion to provide continuity and flow of the subject. Chapters should be well defined–you can use different and larger fonts, colors or graphics to assist in this process. The chapter title should be located at the top of each chapter’s beginning page.
Chapter content should provide relevant information and instructions concerning your book’s subject. Be concise and direct in presenting your information–don’t “ramble.” Add embellishments such as graphics and images that help clarify or add function to your topic, but don’t make it a picture book. Start with the simple and end with the complex in a succinct manner. Give your readers valuable information, such that when they are finished reading your page, chapter and book they have been informed and educated.
To help you present your eBook in a professional looking way, here are a few additional items you can consider to help you create the look and feel you want your book to have.
Page Numbers
You should definitely consider the use of page numbers to assist the reader in navigating your book. Most “text editors” have page number insertion capabilities.
Headers and Footnotes
The benefit of using headers and/or footnotes with your eBook is being able to provide helpful information on pages for the use of readers to clarify, add or direct them to specific aspects of your page or chapter.
Borders
Using borders can add a pleasing and profession look to your pages. This element is purely optional. Like most other issues related to your publishing your book, “a little goes a long ways,” don’t over do the borders.
Images and Graphics
The utilization of images and graphics can be a further plus in adding value to your eBook. These enhancements can add clarity and increase the viability of the information you’re providing readers. One mistake eBook creators make when using graphics and images is having too many of them–making your pages or book appear to be too busy. Use them judiciously.
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