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Pamela Leavey's avatar

Jayshree, how would you weigh this up against uploading the PDF to your own domain, if you have one, and monitoring traffic that way?

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Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

Hi Pamela, this strategy works well for activities like creating ebooks, giveaways, and sharing bundled poems. It provides insights into how readers interact with the content. Uploading it to the website only shows if it was downloaded, not how users engaged with the document. Tracking the actual content, similar to how readers highlight Kindle books, offers more detailed metrics. You also have the option to restrict downloading and provide access only.

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Pamela Leavey's avatar

Got it. I am so grateful for this because I have an ebook project I need to put together for giveaways and paid subscribers. I'm still moving slowly but this is so helpful to know. Have you any experience with or heard any feedback on creating ebooks on Adobe Express?

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Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

I'm currently experimenting with new tools for my ebook, post-publication including one I am evaluating - https://flippingbook.com/

I was considering writing a post on creating ebooks with analytics, focusing on tools like this.

While I generally find the user experience in Adobe lacking, I prefer Canva for design over Adobe. Is there a specific reason you are using Express?

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Pamela Leavey's avatar

Currently I use Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for my photography. Prior I used Illustrator for logo and label designs, InDesign for catalogs, magazine layouts, flyers, and other marketing material. I prefer it to Canva. I tried Canva when I was setting up my Substack because it seems every one here uses it, but I ended up back on Adobe.

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Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

Ah, you need custom tools - InDesign is nice! Yes, Canva is less effort-intensive when there is no custom requirement. But for textual ebooks, with just a need for a cover design and photos, a standard design tool works.

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Pamela Leavey's avatar

When I had started my 2nd business in the mi-late 90's I was a single mom on a very tight budget. I taught myself to do everything, web design, all the market stuff, product design, all of it. I got spoiled on Adobe once I learned it. These days I don't really do any of that work any more, but Lightroom can't be beat for photography.

I'm just looking at making text and photograph ebooks now. Something simple and easy.

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Barbara at Projectkin's avatar

There now, ya see, this is genius on so many levels. Well done. Whether about family or customers, engagement and connection is what it's all about. 🥹

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Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

lol, thanks it was fun.

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Dave Karpowicz's avatar

Jayshree, Thanks for the info. I am saving this one. D

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Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

You are welcome.

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Sweet Serenity's avatar

Jayshree this is so helpful! You have Gone an Extra Mile and that makes you a GEM!

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Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

Thanks you very much. Appreciate it.

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Charlotte Pendragon's avatar

Well today I have been running into a lot of valuable information. I shared another posters article on podcasting which I shared. And this one is equal valuable. I don’t quite understand it but I am going to save it because I would love to upload a PDF with a book or a poem to give to my readers. Thank you so much!

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Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

Hi Charlotte, if you don't care about how they use it, then just drop your document from your computer onto the post, and voila! The Substack download feature does its thing! It is quite nice. This post is more for when you want to track how readers use your content. Hope this helps. Thanks for the feedback!

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Matthew Long's avatar

Awesome! Love this. Thanks so much for this great information.

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Jayshree Gururaj's avatar

I had fun! I should probably have written a strategy tip as well - if you are open to it, let us know how you intend to use this as strategy for your newsletter please!

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