Creative media: PDF? ePub? online or print? Which one is best?

So many choices, and they all have their place. Here are some tips.

There are so many choices when it comes to visual media. From the printed page to an on-screen digital media experience, if you want your content seen, used and shared—it makes a difference in not only how well you create the content, but which type of content you create. 

One thing to keep in mind however, you can mix and match— and many “digital” assets sort of share the entire realm. What I mean is that you can for instance create the same interactive document on a PDF, ePub AND Website— while having a static printed version for events or meetings. Nonetheless, there are pluses and negatives of each type of media, and the strategy you use makes a difference.

Ultimately, the strategy you use to create and deploy your content and media needs to keep the audience (reader) in mind. If they don’t engage, then the effort is wasted.  So your strategy often begins with what type of creative media you want to deploy on—PDF, ePub, online, or print. Let’s explore the pros and cons of each.

Be sure to also download my Creative Menu. It has great tips, ideas and samples for every deliverable.

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PDF

PDFs aren’t dead, in fact far from it. They continue to modernize, update, and develop more bells and whistles for one of the most popular and stable file types globally. The portable document format (PDF) has many more advantages than disadvantages. And in fact with the growing concern of security and intellectual property protection, it has a huge edge over anything online that grows more unstable every day. 

What you can create with PDFs

• Infographics

• Ebooks

• White papers

• Documents

• Interactive documents

• Forms

• eMagazines

• Digital version of everything you print

• Interactive documents

PDF advantages

• Stable file format

• Supported globally on all devices/machines

• Simple

• High security, hard to hack

• Easy to protect content, lock and secure

• Easy to edit, mark up, and correct

• Easy to share by email, online, or texting

• Easily add interactive forms

• Easily add hyperlinks and basic interactivity

• Can be very small in file size

• Easy to edit and re-create

PDF disadvantages

• Poor responsive nature on-screen

• You need some know-how to use features

• Advanced techniques (interactivity) require skill

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ePub

Much like PDF’s ePubs are still a “thing.” Still being supported and developed along with improvements and tech that improve their file format. The electronic publication (ePub) allows another stable and popular format that actually add a bit more responsiveness and modern functionality that sort of add to what might lack on pdfs in-between what can be done electronically on a device or screen.

What you can create with ePubs

• Interactive ebooks and publications

• Interactive documents

ePub advantages

• More interactive than pdfs

• More responsive in nature

• Great for ePub readers

• Works on all MODERN devices

ePub disadvantages

• Won’t work on all devices (older ones)

• Difficult to create

• Difficult to edit and work with

• Difficult to re-create simply

• A little unstable on certain devices

• Not a widely or commonly understood format

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Online (on-screen digital experience)

All websites and digital media are viewed on devices. Phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and then of course desktop computers. Viewing websites—watching Netflix, YouTube, or anything on a screen needs to be responsive, and thought of as an “on screen” experience. It’s vital. No longer is it “just a website.” Or “just digital content.” You need to think of the experience AS an on-screen digital media experience to ensure an engaging on-screen experience for your audience. 

Everything between planning and the actual user experience. I’d categorize this also as “online” because the content you create (website, video, movie, etc…) will no doubt be hosted, delivered, downloaded, or uploaded somewhere “online.” Here’s the reality: EVERYONE is online. And everyone watches something. Be it news, movies, websites, video, podcasts, TV shows, animation, etc… People want to be either entertained or educated. That’s the key.

What you can create with on-screen electronic media

• Websites

• Infographics

• Video

• Animation

• Podcast

• Vlogs

• Games

• Shows

• Movies

• Documentaries

• News formats

• Blogs

• Interactive experiences

• Interactive material

• Forms

Online advantages

• Modern and widely accepted and in-demand

• (Everyone wants it online)

• Everyone is online—always, on many devices

• Highly responsive

• Incorporates analytics and data

Online disadvantages

• Can be very complex to create

• Can be time consuming and expensive

• Often requires hosting, domain, and other technology

• More time consuming to edit and revise

• Requires certain skillset, not a “common” format

• Takes a lot of expertise, planning, and work to do well

• Continuous security threat

• Easy to steal content

• SEO can be very complex to do correctly

• HUGE amounts of traffic and competition

Website Examples

https://www.directdigitalholdings.com

https://www.angellicbeauty.com

https://www.corrtech-inc.com

Online Newsletter Examples

https://www.skincarephysiciansnewsletter.net

http://journalofhousing.org

Online Responsive Infographics

http://www.weblivenow.com/samples/infographics/online-basic

http://www.weblivenow.com/idc/infographics/responsive/DisasterRecoverySolution

http://www.weblivenow.com/samples/animation/data-dilemma-html/index.html

http://www.weblivenow.com/samples/minigraphics/2/index.html

http://www.weblivenow.com/samples/minigraphics/3/index.html

Animation Samples

https://youtu.be/brK7sKNhaog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOXLbHhzv04

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Print

Print—although on hiatus in a pandemic year with people afraid to touch things with germs, print has finally met a threshold where it meets technology and simply has changed a little, that’s about it. As long as humans with fingers and senses are here on earth, they’ll always appreciate a tactile experience.  So while print days of old have met their end (print, print, and print some more), print is still an excellent choice for very precise and strategic reasons though. And definitely secondary to anything digital. Everything from slick printed flyers and folders to business cards and books, they have their place.

What you can create with print

• Magazines

• Books

• Flyers

• Media kits

• Bookmarks

• Booklets

• Mailers

• Postcards

• Business cards

• Sell sheets

• Event material

Print advantages

• Tactile, hold in hand

• Stands out now as “different” against online

• Easy to see— in your face

• Secure, no online threat

• Timeless if saved

• Easy to grab and view

• Can be excellent version along with digital media

Print disadvantages

• Opposite of online

• Seems “old-school” to some

• Can be pricey

• Can be tricky to create good quality items (requires skill)

• Once printed, cannot be fixed

• Useless on devices— unless digital version created

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The Bottom Line

PDF, ePub, online and print all have their place. Simply start with (1) what you want, (2) what your clients will respond to, (3) what you can afford (time and money), and what will align with your campaign or project goals. PDF’s a safe bet, ePubs can do neat stuff (but so can pdfs)— and digital media is modern, hip, cool and sort of the “norm.” And print— well, it ain’t dead! So use them all wisely and often interplay with one another, and you’re sure to do well with the variety—otherwise, PLEASE do consult a creative professional. They (like myself) love providing help, solutions, samples and ideas!

Get Creative—Faster, better, cheaper. Don’t get lost in the realm of media. I provide free coaching, consulting, and guidance—always. And then, I can also provide all the creative services you need to get your media in hand and working for you—quickly and affordably.

So please contact me any time to discuss your media needs. todd@mitchellcreativegroup.com, https://www.mitchellcreativegroup.com, (508) 494-8182.