Before we delve into the exciting world of Interactive eBooks, let’s first appreciate the power of a standard eBook, especially in B2B Inbound Marketing. Considered a high-value asset, eBooks are more than just content; they’re tools that enrich your customers’ knowledge and expertise.
Think of an eBook as a go-to-source for guidance, crafted to enhance the skills and methodologies of your users. It’s not just about information; it’s about transformation – enabling your audience to excel in their roles. Creating an eBook, be it standard or interactive, cements your position as an industry thought leader and elevates your brand’s image. But perhaps the most strategic outcome is building a robust email list of qualified, engaged leads.
Now, imagine taking all these benefits and amplifying them. That’s where Interactive eBooks come into play, adding an extra layer of engagement and innovation. In this article, we’ll explore how Interactive eBooks maintain the core advantages of their standard counterparts, yet bring a unique set of benefits that transform them into even more powerful marketing tools.
Dive in as we uncover the magic of Interactive eBooks and how they can redefine your content strategy:
- What is an Interactive eBook?
- Why is it essential to create an Interactive eBook instead of a standard one?
- How to create an Interactive eBook?
- Interactive eBook examples.
Read on to get inspired to create your stunning educational Interactive eBook!
What is an Interactive eBook?
| An Interactive eBook is an engaging digital eBook that contains interactive elements such as gated sections, polls, quizzes, surveys, videos, animations, hotspots, and many more. |
Having these touchpoints keeps the readers focused on the content they consume and interact with. Besides, customers give out their information to access the digital book or parts of it. Therefore, Interactive eBooks are a perfect way to collect leads.
Creating an Interactive eBook can position you as a leader in your industry. As this type of content has educational purposes, you can use the chapters to teach your audience. The more engaging and valuable the eBook, the more people will refer to it. In your readers’ minds, you would be a credible source of information.
Interactive eBooks are available online in any format: mobile phones, tablets, and computers.
Why is it important to create an Interactive eBook instead of a regular one?
There are lots of added benefits to creating an Interactive eBook rather than a traditional eBook. Let’s discuss some of the most important of them.
Increase retention by adding interactive elements and experiences
The main benefit of creating an Interactive eBook is the possibility of adding Interactive Experiences and elements directly to your eBook. The idea is that most eBooks contain lots of valuable information, guides, and processes, but they can be a lot to take on because they are often too heavy. To help your readers process as much information as possible, you need to adapt your eBook to maximize their retention. You can achieve that by adding Interactive Experiences and elements. For example, after reading a difficult chapter on SEO Marketing, you could add a quiz to help readers test themselves and know if they understood the most important takeaways.
Increase engagement and impact your completion rate
Of course, by adding Interactive Experiences, you also succeed in increasing engagement. Readers will want to test their skills in a quiz, answer a poll to compare themselves with others from the same industry, watch an Interactive Video, or even play small branded Marketing Games. By adding these experiences, you make sure you engage with the readers throughout the whole eBook. Plus, you’ll see users reading the entire eBook rather than just the resumé or specific sections. This means you’ll increase your completion rate as well.
Collect better audience insights & zero-party data
The fact that they are available online and not only as downloadable PDFs also brings a lot of value to marketers. We can get much more data out of them. So, instead of merely knowing how many people download our eBook, we can also find out which sections they interact the most with, where they clicked, how many times they opened it, etc. Besides, we can also add questionnaires to the experience such as polls, surveys, quizzes, etc. to collect zero-party data.
Succeed in growing your email list
Finally, one of the best benefits of creating an Interactive eBook is the possibility to gate some of the sections or engaging experiences rather than the entire eBook. That’s the solution to an unsolved marketing mystery: should I gate my eBook or not. Basically, you spend a lot of time and resources to create a free eBook. So, you want to get the most out of it, which means you want to get leads. But, you also want to make sure that everyone chooses to engage with it. You can lose loads of readers simply because they don’t want to share their contact details before seeing any value. The solution: gate a section or an Interactive Experience instead.
For example, you could add an assessment to your eBook, where readers can assess their skills regarding a specific subject. Upon completion, readers will receive feedback and other learning materials, depending on their score. You can gate the assessment to collect leads, and also send the feedback by email. If you are struggling with the gated vs. ungated content dilemma, we advise you to keep your business goals in mind. Gating your content is perfect for growing your email list, while keeping your materials ungated is suitable for increasing organic traffic.
Related: Pros and cons of eBooks
How to create an Interactive eBook?
Transforming your boring downloadable PDF into an Interactive eBook is straightforward. Follow these steps to generate the most effective and engaging educational content for your audience. Pick an Interactive eBook software that offers customizable templates to save you time and enable you to get creative without writing a single line of code.
Prepare the content
Unless you have a finished PDF-style document in mind, you should write all the text and prepare the visual content. Generating the content in advance will allow you to enjoy the process of designing your Interactive eBook.
Design your Interactive eBook
Once you’ve chosen an Interactive Content platform, it is time to customize your eBook. Upload your existing PDF file or use our layout templates and start designing. Add your company logo, colors, and fonts. Create a piece of content that fully aligns with your brand identity.
Add Interactive Experiences
This is the most exciting part! What makes your eBook interactive are the touchpoints you add to it. Put yourself in the shoes of your readers and think about the activities they would like to engage with. If your eBook has an educational purpose, you can add various elements to help your audiences test their knowledge.
Below, you’ll find 5 types of Interactive Experiences you could add to your next Interactive eBook.
1. Polls
Polls are fantastic because they are relatively easy to implement in an Interactive eBook, and they are extremely engaging. Ask readers about one or multiple questions that are interesting to them. Plus, show them what others have answered to educate them even further.
2. Quizzes
As I mentioned above, Quizzes are also an excellent addition to any eBook. You could add a small quiz after each chapter of your Interactive eBook to boost retention and even play on your readers’ competitiveness.
3. Assessments
Another really interesting addition to your eBook is Assessments. Assessments are like quizzes, but they are different in terms of length and extent. Plus, they give feedback upon completion. Choose a subject related to the content of your ebook, and use this opportunity to promote your other content pieces like your other Interactive eBooks, blog posts, etc.
4. Surveys
Surveys are also a great enhancement to any eBook. In a survey, you’ll ask readers about their opinions regarding a subject. For example, you could ask them to share their experience by answering different multiple-choice answers. You can ask participants upon completion if they would like to receive the report of the survey. This is an excellent way to grow your email list as well.
5. Interactive Videos
Finally, using other formats than just text and images can further enhance your Interactive eBook. And, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video must be worth at least 1 million words, and an Interactive Video 10 million, right?
Continue reading to discover three Interactive eBook examples from different industries.
Interactive eBook examples
Engaging your customers should be your top priority regardless of your industry. You should provide value constantly to achieve a competitive advantage. eBooks, however, are especially suitable for companies that want to educate their audience. If you want to distribute educational content, do it in an engaging way.
Below you’ll find 7 industries that would benefit from creating an Interactive eBook.
Real estate – add a new dimension to property showing
Envision bringing your property descriptions, detailed proposals, and comparisons to life. With interactive eBooks, real estate content transforms into an immersive journey. By embracing interactive real estate content , watch as customer engagement and loyalty reach new heights. Shift from static listings to interactive showcases and witness a significant boost in how clients connect with your properties.
Finance – simplify the complex
Financial information can be dense and challenging to understand. Why not make it interactive? Embed quizzes and surveys in your finance eBooks to help readers understand and retain complex financial concepts. It’s an innovative way to deliver valuable lessons and test knowledge in a format that’s both educational and engaging.
Technology – simplify complex concepts
The tech industry often challenges with making intricate information accessible. Interactive eBooks can be a game-changer, breaking down technical data into engaging, easy-to-understand segments. Consider adding Interactive Videos or clickable Interactive Infographics to explain complex tech concepts, keeping your audience engaged and focused.
Travel and tourism – bring destinations to life on the pages
Interactive eBooks in travel and tourism marketing turn ordinary itineraries into captivating adventures. They can feature interactive maps, Interactive Virtual Tours, and rich multimedia content, giving potential travelers a taste of destinations before they even pack their bags. Engage your audience with a vivid showcase of travel spots, cultural experiences, and hidden gems, enhancing their anticipation and travel planning.
Retail and E-commerce – create amazing product showcases
In retail and e-commerce, Interactive eBooks can transform how customers view and interact with products. Imagine Interactive Product Catalogs that not only display items but also offer virtual try-ons, detailed descriptions, and direct purchase links. This innovative approach to showcasing products can significantly enhance the online shopping experience and drive sales.
Marketing – engage clients like never before
For marketing professionals, Interactive eBooks are a powerful tool for presenting case studies, industry insights, and advertising portfolios. They provide a dynamic way to engage clients, showcasing services and successes in an interactive format that stands out from traditional presentations, making your pitches and proposals more compelling and memorable.
Healthcare and pharmaceuticals – educate with interactivity
In healthcare and pharmaceuticals, Interactive eBooks offer a novel way to educate patients and professionals alike. From explaining complex medical conditions and treatments to detailing pharmaceutical products, these eBooks can include interactive diagrams, 3D models, and Interactive Videos, making complex information more accessible and understandable.
| Is your industry or niche not listed above? No worries! As long as you want to educate your customers and provide value to them, an Interactive eBook is a wonderful choice. Get inspired with these Interactive Flipbook examples. |
Take your content to the next level with Interactive eBooks!
Creating an Interactive eBook is straightforward and highly effective with Dot.vu. Forget the misconception that adding a flip effect and incorporating Interactive Experiences is time-consuming.
Our platform simplifies the process, allowing you to easily upload a PDF file or use our engaging flipbook templates and then add polls, assessments, quizzes, and other experiences. Enhance your eBook’s appeal in no time. Ready to make your content captivating? Sign up for a free account on Dot.vu and start exploring our templates today.
