Kindle formatting services: 7 things you need to know before hiring

Amazon is the biggest book platform there for ebooks and hard or softcover editions. This means that if you want to get your book out there, especially as a self-published author, you need to take advantage of everything it offers. Kindle is the Amazon ebook service that will allow you to reach an audience worldwide and has become a publishing standard. To take advantage of everything Kindle has to offer, however, you might need to convert your book to its format with everything this means. Some services can do this for you, but here are seven important things to consider before hiring any kindle formatting company: 

1. Strictly no automated tools

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Automated tools seem convenient at first glance. However, they lead to a lot of problems and a lack of high-quality content. It can complicate the design and change the author’s intent, lead to mistakes and lack of formatting. It can create a huge issue, even making the book unusable on the platform or unreadable. Automated tools don’t have the finesse to adapt to the platform. Even if they are used to speed up the process, a human needs to go over the book and make sure it works.

2. Experience matters

Some companies specialize in Kindle formatting and know the ins and outs of the business. Experience is important to ensure that your book fits the format and can be distributed on the platform. Finding a company like EbookEnhancers Kindle formatting services or another specializing in the Amazon platform can make an enormous difference in presentation, quality, readability, and more. A less experienced company might struggle with your stylistic elements or provide a result that Kindle will reject.

3. Accepted Input Formats 

The company must work with the input sources that work for you. For example, you might present your book as a Microsoft Word file or a PDF or in some other format, so you need to make sure that the company works with the right options you need.

4. Kindle Formatting layout: Fixed and Reflowable

There are two types of layouts. A reflowable one means that the ebook will adjust itself to the format of the device. It works best for text. A fixed layout, on the other hand, keeps the formatting in place. You need to check the layout you will receive at the end of the process and make sure it suits your book. If you have a lot of graphics formatting, you might need a fixed layout. 

5. Check Portfolio or Samples

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Make sure you check the portfolio the company offers to ensure that their quality standards meet whatever you want to receive. Consider the samples that the company offers and see whether their books fit what you want. A good company should showcase its work and what you can expect at the end of the process.

6. Retaining ebook elements

There are important elements that can enhance your reader’s experience. An ebook can have a clickable table of contents, for example, or other clickable elements. It can contain images and other stylistic choices that improve the reading experience for someone who has the ebook. While reading a book without these elements is possible, it reduces readability and can make it appear unprofessional. So, the company should follow the Kindle Publishing Guidelines.

7. Turnaround time and Free Revisions

You need to know when the book will come back to you and what additional services you can receive. Different companies will have different times, so check that the timelines fit your particular needs. Another thing to consider is whether the company offers any revisions with the service in case you need them. You might need to fix formatting mistakes or other errors, and your best bet is to find a company that will not charge you extra for additional revisions.

Considering all these aspects will help you make your book shine. You need to select a company that provides you with flexible support and covers all the needs that you might have as an author, but whatever company you choose, make sure that they provide what you require to make your book shine. 

Kindle is among the most used ebook platforms globally and, for many, the main or even only way of accessing the text you want to present. A lot of online tools can help with the ebook conversion services. Whether it’s a comic, a novel, or a textbook, you need it to be readable, professional, and look good across various devices. By checking the seven points we mentioned above, you should be able to find the right company for your book.