The majority of book sales happen digitally. Readers buy from Amazon on their phones, download from Apple Books on their tablets, and borrow from Kobo and library platforms on their e-readers. If your book is not available in digital format, you are not available to those readers.
Publishing an eBook is not complicated in theory. In practice, the difference between a properly formatted, correctly submitted eBook and one that gets rejected, displays incorrectly, or ranks poorly on retail platforms comes down to technical decisions most authors have no reason to know about.
At Digi Book Studio, we handle eBook conversion, formatting, metadata, and distribution as a complete service. You do not receive a file and instructions. You receive a published eBook on every platform you select, ready for readers to buy.
An eBook is not a PDF of your print interior. It is a structured digital file, typically EPUB format, that responds to the reader’s device settings, adjusts text size and layout dynamically, and communicates with retail platform search and recommendation systems through metadata.
A poorly built EPUB file breaks on certain devices, displays inconsistent formatting, generates negative reviews from readers who blame the content for a formatting problem, and in some cases gets rejected by platforms at submission.
Here is what goes into a properly built eBook.
EPUB is the standard format for eBook distribution. It is accepted by Apple Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Kobo, Google Play Books, OverDrive, Scribd, and most other retail and library platforms. Amazon accepts EPUB for KDP submissions as of 2022, though it converts the file to its own internal format for Kindle delivery.
MOBI was the legacy Kindle format. Amazon no longer accepts MOBI uploads for new titles, but older titles may still use this format. If your book was previously published in MOBI and you are republishing or updating it, we handle the conversion to current Amazon specifications.
Fixed-Layout EPUB is used for books where the visual layout cannot reflow, children’s picture books, heavily illustrated nonfiction, cookbooks, and books with complex tables or diagrams. Fixed-layout files look exactly the same on every device but do not adjust to reader font size preferences. We advise on which format is appropriate for your book before conversion begins.
We review your manuscript file for formatting issues that will cause problems in conversion. Common issues include irregular paragraph spacing, manual line breaks used instead of paragraph styles, embedded images without proper resolution, and inconsistent heading structure. We flag and correct these before conversion begins.
Your manuscript is converted into a structured EPUB file with proper heading hierarchy, chapter navigation, linked table of contents, embedded fonts where appropriate, and metadata fields populated for retail submission.
For illustrated books, images are optimized for screen display and embedded at the correct resolution. Alt text is added for accessibility compliance, which is increasingly required by major retail platforms.
The finished EPUB is tested across multiple devices and e-reader applications, Kindle app, Apple Books, Kobo app, and Adobe Digital Editions, to confirm that formatting displays correctly in each environment. Chapter navigation is tested. Images are reviewed. The table of contents is confirmed functional.
Metadata is how retail platforms categorize, display, and recommend your book to readers. Weak metadata means your book is harder to find. Metadata includes your title, subtitle, author name, book description, BISAC category codes, keywords, language, publication date, and ISBN.
We write and optimize your retail book description as part of the eBook publishing service. Your description is not the same text as your back cover copy. It is written for the retail environment, where readers are scanning dozens of options and making purchase decisions in seconds.
Your eBook is submitted to every platform you select with the correct file format, metadata, and pricing information. We handle the submission process on each platform and monitor for acceptance confirmation.
We distribute eBooks to over 40 retail and library platforms. The primary platforms include:
For most authors, we recommend a combination of direct platform submissions, Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, alongside aggregator distribution through Draft2Digital or Smashwords for the remaining platforms. This approach maximizes your royalty rate on the highest-volume platforms while covering the full distribution network without requiring individual account management on 40+ platforms.
Your Publishing Specialist will recommend a distribution strategy based on your genre, your target readership, and your royalty goals before submission begins.
Amazon’s KDP Select program requires 90-day exclusivity in exchange for access to Kindle Unlimited, Kindle Countdown Deals, and Free Book Promotion tools. Authors enrolled in KDP Select cannot distribute their eBook to any other platform during the enrollment period.
Wide distribution means your eBook is available on Amazon and every other platform simultaneously with no exclusivity requirement.
The right choice depends on your situation. Authors with an existing audience outside Amazon, authors writing in genres with strong Kobo or Apple Books readership, and authors building a long-term platform across multiple channels generally benefit from wide distribution. Authors writing in genres where Kindle Unlimited readership is high, romance, thriller, science fiction, sometimes see higher total earnings through KDP Select.
We walk you through this decision before submission. We do not push one model over the other. We look at your genre data and your goals and give you a recommendation based on both.
Your eBook price affects your royalty rate, your visibility in retail algorithms, and your conversion rate from browser to buyer.
On Amazon KDP, the 70% royalty tier applies to books priced between $2.99 and $9.99. Books priced outside this range earn 35%. On most other platforms, royalty rates range from 60% to 70% of list price regardless of price point.
General pricing benchmarks by genre:
These are starting points, not rules. Your Publishing Specialist will review comparable titles in your category and recommend a price point before your book goes live.
Publishing an eBook is not a one-time submission. You may need to update your file to correct an error, revise content for a new edition, or adjust your metadata and pricing over time.
We handle post-publication updates as a standard service for authors we have published. File updates, metadata revisions, and price changes across all platforms are processed with a standard turnaround of 3 to 5 business days. Platform propagation times vary, Amazon typically reflects updates within 24 to 72 hours, while other platforms may take 1 to 2 weeks.
Audiobook production timelines depend on manuscript length and the availability of your selected narrator.
| Service | Standard Turnaround |
|---|---|
| eBook conversion (standard EPUB) | 3 to 5 business days |
| Fixed-layout EPUB | 5 to 7 business days |
| Metadata preparation and optimization | Included in conversion |
| Platform submission (all selected platforms) | 1 to 2 business days after file approval |
| Post-publication file update | 3 to 5 business days |
These timelines cover the full process from manuscript preparation through mastering. Distribution review times at ACX and Findaway add an additional 2 to 4 weeks after submission.
Rush production is available on a limited basis. Contact us before requesting rush turnaround to confirm narrator and studio availability.
A properly built eBook on the right platforms with the right metadata reaches readers who are already looking for your book. A poorly built one gets passed over or reviewed for the wrong reasons.
Request a Free eBook Consultation — Tell us your manuscript format, target platforms, and genre and we will send you a full quote within one business day.
See Full Publishing Packages — eBook publishing is available as a standalone service or as part of our Essential, Professional, and Global packages.
Call us: 443-247-5514 Email: kevin@digibookstudio.com
