How to choose a digital publishing platform

6 January 2022

When you’re ready to start digital publishing, it can be challenging to choose a platform. Because there are quite a few options out there, we’ve put together a five-point guide to help you choose the digital publishing platform that’s right for you.

First, answer a few simple questions about your basic publishing needs. Next, consider the features that are important to achieving your goals. Then review the audience access that your publications will require and other key platform elements like languages. Finally, look at plans and prices to see which digital publishing platform is the best fit for you.

Let’s dig in!

1. Basic needs

Begin with some simple facts about the content you will be publishing online.

How many documents will you want to publish?
Which types of files will you need to upload?
What size are your files?
Will your online publications be for internal or external use?
What kind of display do you need (flipbook, slide or scroll)?

Since you’ll want to try out any digital publishing platform you choose for free, here is what Calaméo has to offer on our BASIC plan:

2. Features

In addition to transforming files into HTML5 publications, you may also want to take advantage of some of the great features online platforms can provide. But remember, the specific features that will matter most depend on your objectives. For example:

Do you plan to embed publications on your own website or blog?
Will you need to include interactive links in your publications?
Is customizing the viewer with your own branding important to you?
Do you want readers to be able to download your publications?
What kinds of viewership statistics do you need?

In many cases, digital publishing platforms will ask you to sign up for a paid plan to access advanced features. Here’s what you can expect from Calaméo:

3. Audience access

Another major factor to evaluate when you choose a digital publishing platform is content access.

How many times can you share your publication?
Can you configure protected subscriber access for your publications?
Are multiple user profiles available for your account to make teamwork easy?

Often, subscription set-up in particular can be complex. We recommend you research privacy and subscriber options thoroughly to find the right fit for your needs.

4. Other aspects

Although publishing basics and features are essential, it’s worth keeping a few other aspects of working with the platform in mind. For instance:

Is the site available in your language?
Can you get fast, helpful support when you need it?
What kind of flexibility does the platform offer via API access?

Calaméo proposes the following:

5. Price

Last but not least, look at the pricing of different plans as you choose a digital publishing platform. In some cases, the free Basic plan may have everything you need to get started. However, the cost of paid plans can vary quite a bit—from as low as $14 per month with a PREMIUM account on Calaméo up to $269 per month on other platforms.

Below, you’ll find a chart comparing the monthly cost before taxes of Calaméo’s annual plans. (In other words, you’ll pay the total yearly amount at checkout to benefit from these prices.) Please note that all prices are listed in USD.

If Calaméo seems to match your needs, why not try out the advanced features of our professional PLATINUM plan? During your PLATINUM Demo, you’ll enjoy direct downloads, full viewership statistics and much more. Request your free trial today and experience exceptional digital publishing on Calaméo.

PUBLISHING

Publish in White-Label

18 February 2021

Choosing a white label publishing platform for your online documents can have many benefits for your business. Read on to learn more about digital publishing in white label and the solutions offered by Calaméo.

What is white label publishing?

White label, or private label, describes a product that does not have branding attached to it before use. This can include the company name, product name, logo and any other features that connect it to the maker. In most cases, users of white label products then add their own branding to make it their own.

A white label publishing platform lets users upload and share documents without outside branding and advertising. For example, Calaméo’s digital publishing platform offers a white label feature for professional users. When you publish in white label, Calaméo logos do not appear on the publication viewer. In addition, viewer menus don’t display third-party content.

The end result? No mention of Calaméo anywhere inside the viewer.

Why should I choose a publishing platform with white label?

There are many good reasons to select a white label publishing platform for your online documents.

Discretion

First, you remove any distractions from the publication viewer and keep all the focus on your documents. Rather than call attention to tools your business uses, white label provides a discreet solution.

Rebranding

Next, the best white label publishing platforms will allow you to rebrand the document viewer as your own. Why settle for a neutral reading experience when you can take your publications to the next level? Plus, adding your company’s own logo is simple with Calaméo. Thanks to our awesome Elements feature, it only takes a few clicks to upload and apply a logo to your digital publications.

Flexibility

In fact, the biggest advantage of a white label publishing platform is flexibility. Because the solution is meant to be adapted to your needs, look for tools that enable you to customize your publications. For instance, Calaméo’s custom theme feature lets you define practically every detail of the viewer, from color and design to languages and behaviors. Go ahead—make it your own!

How can I publish in white label?

If you’re ready to start publishing your online documents in white label, then it’s time to join Calaméo. Signing up is free and easy, and you can explore all of the ways that digital publishing on Calaméo is best in class right away with our BASIC plan.

Go pro

Publishing in white label is a feature of our platform’s PLATINUM plan. Created specially for professional users, the PLATINUM offer on Calaméo is packed with essential options like custom account URL and direct downloads. Once you upgrade to PLATINUM, you’ll automatically enjoy a white label publication viewer. In other words, there’s no box to check or submenu to navigate—just your documents, ready to go in white label.

Embed

However, to avoid referencing Calaméo in the publication URL, you should embed it in your website or blog. By opting for an embed in “Publication” view, you can share via your own URL. Check out our Complete Guide to Embeds for an illustrated tutorial and extra tips.

💡 TIP: Use the “shareurl” parameter in the embed code to specify your own URL for your readers to share.

What will my publications look like in white label?

Most important of all is how your documents actually look with a white label publishing platform. Here’s an example of a publication in our white labeled viewer on Calaméo:

And here are examples that show off company branding and custom viewer themes:

Interested in finding out how publishing in white label works for your documents? Request your 14-day free PLATINUM demo today and put our professional features to the test.

PUBLISHING

How to create your own virtual library

29 September 2020

Virtual libraries offer a great tool for showcasing content on your website and keeping it organized. In fact, the easy-to-use Library Widget is one of our favorite digital publishing features on Calaméo. You can create your own virtual library, customize it and share in only a few clicks.

Let’s dive in to all the essentials of curating your virtual library!

What is a virtual library?
How to set up your own virtual library
How to display a virtual library
Why make a virtual library

What is a virtual library?

A virtual library is a convenient, fun way to display a collection of digital publications. Just like a regular bookshelf, your virtual library allows you to bring together a group of materials in one place. It’s an inviting space where you can browse, read or simply show off your beautiful publications!

How to set up your own virtual library

You can make a virtual library in just a few minutes on Calaméo. In order to create a library widget stocked with your own Calaméo publications, go to the Publications tab of your account.

First, choose the Folder whose publications you wish to include in your virtual library. All of the public publications in that Folder will appear in your library shelves. (Your private publications are never displayed in the library widget.)

Three squares icon to create virtual library

Next, click on the three squares icon at the top of the page to create your virtual library.

Finally, fine-tune the look of your library widget by clicking on “customize options”. You can select:

A background texture or color
How many shelves to show
The thumbnail size of your publication covers
Publication information to show
How to order your publications
How to open publications when clicked
Thumbnail design features like the cover drop shadow

While you adjust the details, you’ll be able to see the changes in real time directly in the preview window. Once you’re happy with the appearance, just copy the embed code. And that’s it—everything you need to create your own virtual library!

Watch our video tutorial on how to create a virtual library below:

💡 TIP: Prefer to view the tutorial in a different language? Use the Settings icon in the video player to select your subtitles.

How to display a virtual library

Congratulations—your library widget is all set up and ready to go! Meanwhile, the next step is to consider how you would like to share your virtual library. For example, you might want to display your publications on your website or blog. Or perhaps you’d rather have a link to email to friends, contacts or customers.

Libraries on your own website

Sharing your virtual library on your own blog or website is a piece of cake. After you have finished customizing the design of your bookshelves, copy the HTML embed code.

If your site is built with WordPress or Joomla, you can install our plug-in and paste the code right into a blog post or page. For example, this code:

<iframe src="//v.calameo.com/library/?type=subscription&id=14952&rows=1&sortBy=latestPublished&theme=wood&bgColor=&thumbSize=normal&showTitle=false&showShadow=true&showGloss=true&showInfo=no&linkTo=embed" width="100%" height="185" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allowtransparency></iframe>

Gives this result on the page:

However, other websites may require you to specify a container for your virtual library. Consult your CMS’s specifications or check with your webmaster for more information.

Need to integrate a single publication on your site? Check out our full Embeds Tutorial to learn how.

Library collections on Calaméo

To display all of the publications in your virtual library on Calaméo, you can share a link to a Folder or Favorites list. Although the bookshelf interface is not available on Folder or Favorites pages, your audience will be able to view and explore the entire collection.

Linking to a Favorites list

To share a Favorites list, start by going to the Favorites tab of your account. Then select the list that you want to share from the left-hand menu. Finally, click the Share icon. In the window that opens, copy the URL and start sharing!

Linking to a Folder

To share a Folder, head to the Publications tab of your account. Choose the Folder whose publications you want to share from the left-hand menu, then click the Share icon. Grab the link to your Folder and you’re set to share.

Why make a virtual library

There are lots of great reasons to create your own virtual library. In fact, we reviewed 10 of the best for anyone who needs convincing! But to keep things simple, here are the top three benefits of a library widget.

Perfect presentation

The biggest advantage of a virtual library is the easy, interactive way it lets you showcase different publications. Whether the shelves are filled with every issue of your magazine or a variety of materials, a library widget can boost your publications’ visual impact.

Plus, browsing your publications in a virtual library is a breeze thanks to its intuitive navigation. Visitors can click any cover to open the publication in full screen or a new window, then return to your library when they’ve finished reading.

Painless updates

Another great feature solves a major headache for many publishers: the content in your virtual library updates automatically. Whenever you add a new publication to your library’s Folder on Calaméo, it also appears on your embedded bookshelf. As a result, you never need to worry about manually importing content to maintain your site.

Likewise, removing publications from your virtual library only takes a minute. Set them to private, move to a different Folder or deactivate out-of-date materials.

Extra insights

You’ll benefit from useful viewership analytics when you create your own virtual library on Calaméo, too. Because it’s important to know where your audience comes from and how they interact with your content, your account statistics show library details. You’ll see what percentage of your publications’ views happen in your virtual library, as well as other advanced statistics like link clicks and downloads.

In conclusion, setting up a digital bookshelf couldn’t be simpler. All you need to start is a free Calaméo account! Join today and create your own virtual library.