So Teresa’s comment the other day sparked the whole “what is an e-report” and “can I call my report an ebook?”
I’ll perhaps be a little controversial here and say: VERY LITTLE differentiates an e-report from an ebook.
First up, an e-report is typically short. 10 pages or less. But wait…you’ve seen an e-report that was 28 pages? And you saw an ebook the other day that was all of 6 pages long?
I know. It’s confusing!
Here’s my take…for what it’s worth…
1) “E-report” sounds so much more informative and official than an ebook…so sometimes, especially when the page count is on the small side…it sounds good to label it an e-report, rather than an ebook. Basically, it’s a marketing tactic. Or a personal quirk of the author. Or maybe a little of both.
2) An e-report is almost ALWAYS lower priced than ebooks. (I have to throw the “almost” in there because you know there are always exceptions to every stinking rule out there and some goofball will go and create an outrageously priced e-report just to prove me wrong). It’s not unusual to see e-reports priced at $4.99 or even lower. Sure, some might be a couple bucks more, but most are in the $5 and under range. And sometimes free.
So…here’s my personal rule on e-reports…(drum roll please):
Don’t call it an e-report unless it’s very specific, very focused, very short and very cheap.
Hey, does that make me an e-report? I think I fit all of your description, specific, focused, very short and a cheap date…lol.
I do have one question though, because this is the first time I have heard of an e-report. What type of business would want to generate and e-report? Ok, so maybe I have two questions, and who would their general audience be?
I am assuming it might go hand in hand with a press release detailing a little more info for reporters and journalists but that is only the first thing that comes to mind.