How to Make an Interactive PDF for Free

What it lacks in fun and creativity, it makes up for in security and reliability. This is what PDF has been known for since its introduction in 1993.
What is PDF?
For nearly three decades, PDF, short for portable document format, has become a format of choice for anyone who is looking to create and send secure files that would be displayed having the same content and layout regardless of where it is viewed on. With their compact file size, PDF files are easily shared and printed.
Today, almost everyone has a version of programs that can read a PDF file or has been using free PDF editors online for both business and personal uses. However, a familiar sentiment with PDFs is that they can be boring. They add an unnecessarily layer of friction for users and they are far from being mobile-friendly.
But, what many people do not know is that there are many ways to make a PDF file interactive. For businesses who are constantly looking for new and creative ways to present information and engage with their audience, PDFs are some marketing materials that should not be overlooked. In this article, we will further discuss why and answer your question of how.
Why PDFs Should Be Part of Your Marketing Strategy
PDF files do not always have to be boring. With many services that let you open and edit PDF files free, the sky’s the limit when you are looking to add a layer of engaging elements to the document: videos, hyperlinks, form boxes, audios, photos, and so much more.
Hyperlinks: Add hyperlinks to your PDF to direct readers to your website. This lets readers jump to other locations in the same document or to your website. You can also use it to give users immediate access to related information or initiate actions such as driving traffic and/or sales to your site.
Videos: A picture paints a thousand words, what more if it is a video? As attention span grows shorter, rich media such as videos are quite an attention-grabber that moves users to stay longer. Another benefit of adding videos to your PDF is that they let you personalize your presentation, thus creating an interactive document.
Call-to-Action Buttons: CTA buttons drive users to take an action towards the end of a site. They work just the same in PDF files and it is a great way to guide readers towards your goal conversion—whether that be sales, newsletter subscriptions, social media follows, etc.
Form Fields: If you have written a free ebook, sewing pattern, or tutorial, adding a form field is mandatory to know where to send the free copy. It is how you will grow your email newsletter list. This element is easy to add using a free PDF editor where you can give users an access to edit.
Photo Galleries: Adding images to your PDF file is common knowledge. But, you can go the extra mile by adding multiple images on the same page to create a gallery. You can also add navigational buttons to the gallery, so it is easier to flip through the images.
Audio Files: Other than that, you can also insert an audio file in your PDF. This will transform your document into a multidimensional communication tool that is interesting and engaging.
In addition to these, you can also merge different files in a PDF file including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and web pages. PDF readers let you preview and arrange the documents and pages as well as delete unwanted elements in the file.
You may be wondering where you can use these elements—so, think digital catalogs, magazines, presentations, reports, invoices, or even booklets. There are many ways PDF files can be part of your digital marketing strategy, all you have to do is focus on your goal of going beyond traditional.
We hope this article has provided you with some beneficial tips on how you can level up your static PDF into an interactive one using these elements. You should consider using free PDF editors to help promote your business in the most creative way imaginable.
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