Right now Kobo is offering $5 off your first ebook and your first audiobook for free.

Amazon.com, with their Kindle ereader in tow, is the current heavyweight champion of ebooks. While I like my Kindle quite a lot, I know that there are other ebook retailers out there, and recently I decided to explore more of them. I believe it’s good to be aware of what’s out there in the market because, who knows, there’s a good chance of finding something new that makes life better.

Today I wanted to share my findings with you and introduce you to another ebook retailer called Kobo. In this practical article I’ll walk you through how you can get started with reading their ebooks.

Register with Kobo

The first step is to register with Kobo. Since you’re reading this blog article I have to assume that you’re already online. Click this link here or type https://www.kobo.com into your Internet browser’s address bar.

Now you should see the options to “Sign in with Facebook,” “Sign in with Google” and “Register with Email.” To register with email, you’ll be asked to provide your email address, to choose a password with eight or more characters and then to re-enter your chosen password.

Technology Tip! We all collect a lot of passwords these days. If like most people you have trouble remembering all of those passwords, then you might try using a password manager like LastPass to keep them safe and organized.

If you successfully registered, you should now be inside the Kobo site. If you’re using a laptop or a desktop computer, then on the top right-hand corner you should be able to see the words “My Account.”

Get an Ereader

You can immediately start browsing the ebooks that Kobo stocks, but before you spend too much time there, I recommend getting yourself set up to read them. To do that, you’ll need a Kobo reading app and/or a Kobo ereader.

The advantage of a Kobo reading app is that it’s free and you can use the devices that you already own, such as a tablet, computer or smartphone.

To get the Kobo reading app, click on this link: https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/p/apps. Then on the page it opens up, you’ll need to click on the link that corresponds to the app type you’d prefer. Choose from: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows or Desktop, depending on which device of your own you want to use for reading.

You’ll be brought to a new page. Click on the message such as “Download Now” (for Windows) or “Install” (for Android). Depending on the app type you selected, you may be asked to follow set up instructions.

Once the app is successfully installed, you should then sign in to your account.

You can also try an ereader, although I must admit that I don’t have one from Kobo yet. Nevertheless, many people report that they are comfortable to use and easier on the eyes than a computer. Kobo has several types of ereaders, which are currently available in 20 countries. In the United States you can buy them from the Kobo website or at Walmart. Their ereaders have different specifications, depending on what you’re looking for. The Kobo Aura One, for example, is waterproof for up to 60 minutes.

If you buy an ereader, you’ll need to follow the setup instructions that come with it, and then you should be ready to choose an ebook.

Get an Ebook

You should be able to purchase ebooks right inside your reading app and ereader, but what would you like to read? Kobo has lots of ebooks to choose from. Their categories include: Biography & Memoir, Business & Finance, Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction & Literature, Fiction – YA, Kids, Mystery & Suspense, Nonfiction, Periodicals, Romance, and Science Fiction & Fantasy.

Many of our Dudley Court Press titles are available as Kobo ebooks as well.

I hope you have some fun exploring Kobo and their selection of ebooks!

Dudley Court Press

Dudley Court Press works with writers like you every day. As a full-service, hybrid publishing house, we help thoughtful people write their books and become successful published authors.

Are you interested in Self-Publishing your book? Let Dudley Court Press help you through our Assisted Self-Publishing Program.

For more information, including about DCP’s latest programs including Writer’s Sprint and Memoir Writing Made Easy to Published Pro, please get in touch at Info@DudleyCourtPress.com.