Turn a Static PDF into a High-Performing Digital Brochure

Most organisations still rely on PDFs when producing brochures - they’re familiar, easy to lay out, and simple to export from design tools. But in a world where audiences expect mobile-friendly design, intuitive navigation, interactive content, and trackable behaviour, a PDF on its own no longer meets the mark.

With YUDU Publisher, you can transform a static, print-oriented PDF into a dynamic, interactive digital brochure - without recreating the entire document from scratch.

Below is a refined guide that reflects how this process actually works on the YUDU Publisher Platform.

1. Start with a PDF Designed for Digital Consumption

Before you upload anything, ensure your source PDF is optimised for screen reading rather than print.

Digital-first design considerations:

• Readable font sizes (no tiny text intended for A4 print only)
• Simplified layouts that translate well to screens
• High-quality but compressed images for fast load times
• Logical flow of content to make digital navigation intuitive
• Avoiding overly busy spreads that become overwhelming on smaller devices

If the brochure was originally designed for print, consider exporting a cleaner digital version or removing print-specific design elements.

2. Upload and Convert Your PDF in YUDU Publisher

When you upload a PDF to YUDU Publisher, the system converts each page into high-quality vector images. This ensures crisp resolution and consistent display across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.

Because the output is image-based:

• Text cannot be highlighted or selected by users.
• However, a plain-text variant is automatically generated in the background, enabling:
  • Full document search
  • Indexing for search engine visibility (if publicly accessible)
  • Enhanced reading experiences for users relying on text search

This blend — image-based display + searchable text layer — gives you the best of both worlds: fixed design fidelity with functional search.

3. Add Interactive Hotspots to Bring Pages to Life

Once your PDF is converted, you can begin adding interactive elements that turn a static document into a rich digital experience - using our Overlay Editor.

Popular hotspot types include:

• External web links (product pages, forms, applications, booking systems)
• Internal links (jump to chapters, sections, or reference pages)
• Email links (ideal for recruitment teams, admissions, or sales enquiries)
• Downloadable assets (data sheets, brochures, menus, or pricing)
• Video or audio embeds for deeper engagement
• Pop-up layers containing extra content

Hotspots make your brochure interactive, trackable, and far more engaging than the original PDF.

4. Use Content Pop-Ups to Deepen the Experience Without Clutter

Content pop-ups are one of YUDU Publisher’s most effective tools for modern brochures.

They allow you to keep the main page visually clean while revealing additional detail only when a user wants it.

Ideal uses include:

• Course modules or option descriptions
• Technical product specifications
• Sizing guides or comparison tables
• Photo galleries or alternate product angles
• Testimonials or case study snippets
• Venue details or location maps

This approach keeps the design elegant while delivering depth on demand - especially useful for mobile users who prefer bite-sized interactions.

5. Add Rich Media: Video, Audio, and Interactive Elements

Embedding multimedia helps elevate your digital brochure and make it more memorable.

Common use cases:

• Welcome or introduction videos
• Product demonstrations
• Lesson clips, campus tours, or virtual walk-throughs
• Interviews with leaders or experts
• Short animations or motion graphic explainers

Rich media increases time-on-page and builds emotional resonance that traditional PDFs cannot achieve.

6. Enhance Navigation with YUDU Publisher’s Built-In Tools

Navigation is one of the biggest performance drivers in digital brochures. If users can’t easily move around, they’ll drop out quickly.

YUDU Publisher provides several ways to create intuitive, enjoyable navigation:

• Page Turning Controls
• Replace the outdated “left-hand navigator” with:
• Clear forward/back arrows
• Tap or click to turn pages
• Smooth animation effects that mimic natural page flipping

These controls are instantly familiar to users and work well across devices

7. Add Clear Call-to-Actions That Drive Results

Call-to-actions (CTAs) guide readers toward taking the next step, with YUDU Publisher's Overlay Editor, these can be embedded directly into the content to drive a follow on action..

Common action goals:

• Requesting information
• Booking a demo
• Viewing a product
• Applying for a course
• Downloading supporting documents
• Making a purchase

The digital format allows you to place CTAs exactly where user intent is highest - something print and PDFs cannot do.

8. Integrations That Extend Your Brochure’s Capabilities

YUDU Publisher supports a wide range of third-party platform integrations that extend your brochure beyond static content and connect it directly to your marketing, sales, and support ecosystem. 

• Appointment Scheduling - Allow readers to book demos or consultations directly through platforms like Calendly, Microsoft Teams and HubSpot.
• Live Chat and AI Assistance - Embed human or AI chat tools such as Teams, Slack, Zendesk or HubSpot to give readers instant support.
• CRM Plugins -  Connect brochure interactions to your CRM to automate follow-ups, lead scoring and sales notifications.
• Behavioural Analytics - Integrate heatmap and session replay tools like Hotjar or Smartlook to understand how readers engage and improve future versions.

Through integrations, you can enhancing your digital brochure by connecting it with the tools your teams already use.

9. Sales Features That Drive Revenue Directly from Your Brochure

Turn your digital brochure into a sales engine by adding conversion-focused tools throughout your pages.

• Include Shopping Carts - Empower customers to make purchases directly from your brochure by adding shopping cart functionality to product pages.
• Add a Product Order Form - Build a custom order form—or embed a third-party one—to enable customers to place orders without leaving your web-based brochure.
• Collect Leads or Subscribers - Add a pop-up form to capture new leads or allow readers to subscribe for future brochure releases and updates.

These features shorten the customer journey, reduce friction, and turn your brochure into a powerful, revenue-generating asset.

10. Track Behaviour Through Analytics and Optimise

Once your brochure is live, YUDU’s built-in analytics - or integration with Google Analytics -  let you see exactly how users interact with it.

You can view:

• Page-by-page engagement
• Drop-off points
• Click-through rates on hotspots
• Time spent per section
• Device breakdown (mobile vs desktop)
• Popular chapters or pages

This data informs future versions of the brochure and improves marketing campaigns around it.

Final Thoughts

Transforming a PDF into a high-performing digital brochure isn’t about redesigning your content - it’s about enhancing it. With vector-based rendering, interactive hotspots, rich media, mobile-friendly navigation, and analytics, YUDU Publisher turns a simple document into a powerful digital asset.

Your brochure becomes more engaging, easier to use, and infinitely more insightful thanks to measurable user behaviour.