eBooks: It’s Easy Being Green

by Will Viharo

Earth Day is a time to raise awareness of our shared natural environment and champion its preservation. Which makes it a perfect opportunity to promote your eBook. What could be greener than choosing to publish in a format that’s eco-friendly? Only the green that winds up in your wallet. So what’s the downside? 

​Actually there isn’t one. Here are a few reasons why promoting your eBook on Earth Day (or Week, as it tends to be) can help boost your success:

It’s a holiday – of sorts – just begging for eBook promotion. While any day can be a holiday – meaning a day designated for collective celebration (Thanksgiving, Christmas), appreciation (Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day), competition (Election Day, Super Bowl Sunday), or silly speculation (Ground Hog Day) – Earth Day’s focus on being environmentally conscious makes it a perfect time to point out all the paper you aren’t using (thus all the trees you are saving) by publishing electronically.

Your story has environmental themes. If your eBook involves any sort of positive or proactive planet-consciousness, then Earth Day is the time to remind people of that. Likewise if you’ve written a science fiction novel that involves catastrophic natural disasters like droughts, floods, blizzards, earthquakes, or even zombies (particularly if they’re of man-made origin). Interest in these themes should be piqued during Earth Week – so it might be the time to offer some cash-saving discounts in an eco-friendly format. 

It’s immediate. Sure, there are books out there printed on recycled paper, for those who like it old-school, but nothing is quicker or easier than jumping onto Amazon or wherever and downloading an eBook. It saves gas, and time, which are both precious commodities.

So be sure to do a little extra work on social media this week, and get the word out (or remind people) about your eBook. Because no matter what your personal view of climate change, it’s always good to do our part to reduce, reuse and recycle – and reading eBooks can definitely be part of that equation.

What’s your favorite eBook? Favorite eReader? What will you read to celebrate Earth Day?

PHOTO: ANNIE MOLE