When two powerhouse digital content companies that pride themselves on the accessibility of their services to customers form a first-ever partnership, the results are, well, exactly as amazing as one would expect. ClickBank, a leading online storefront for electronic content, announced on June 2nd that it has partnered with Easypress Technologies, a longtime source for print to web content and now, instant epub conversion through its EasyEPub imprint. ClickBank brings its vast experience working with over 50,000 digital products in over 200 countries to the union, while Easypress carries with it a full complement of products that include conversion to all currently required e-formats and cloud-based capability.
One of the issues that still holds independent writers back is the development of a platform for their works. Conversion software options, sites that will convert Word documents to epub, pdf, and mobi, and even individuals who are skilled to provide this service abound for writers; some of the programs, such as Calibre, are free downloads that let writers do the formatting themselves. Obviously, converting the manuscripts isn’t what prevents writers from making their content available online.
For many, though, it’s the process of establishing a point of sale online, as well as protecting their works from piracy and illegal downloads, that gives many authors pause. The partnership between ClickBank and Easypress, arguably two of the best in the fields at what they do, will streamline for authors what is already a daunting task.
“Everywhere we turn indie authors are being told, ‘This isn’t something you can do lightly,” comments James Grea, a U.S.-based self-published author who penned the Vickie Van Helsing YA novel as Solomon Inkwell. “The whole process of creating your book can take more time than actually writing it.” In other words, the self-published author isn’t just shouldering the burden for marketing the book and putting it in front of readers, he’s responsible for the necessary document conversion in order to be the publisher as well.
ClickBank is able to establish for the writer the way to actually make the transactions through its online account for digital downloadable content, while Easypress can create the actual digital file from the author’s original manuscript. This partnership will mean a streamlining of the publication process and one more item off the author’s to-do list, while still giving him the creative control and minimal investment that causes so many writers to turn to indie publishing in the first place.
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.
