Why publish a digital annual report

Most annual reports are published as a large PDF download and opened by very few people. A digital annual report in flipbook format is easier to open, easier to read on a phone or tablet, and easier to share. Board members, investors, donors, members, and employees get a link that opens instantly in the browser.

Who publishes annual reports as flipbooks

  • Companies for annual reports, sustainability and ESG reports, and investor presentations.
  • Non-profits and charities for impact reports and donor reports.
  • Associations and member organizations for yearly reviews and member reports.
  • Schools, universities, and public bodies for annual reviews and public accountability reports.

Features that matter for reports

  • Search — readers find a figure, a program, or a name across a long report in seconds.
  • Table of contents and page links — jump to the financial statements or a specific chapter, and link directly to a page such as /annual-report-2026/?page=38.
  • Zoom — charts, tables, and footnotes stay readable on any screen.
  • Embedded video — add a message from the CEO or a project film on the relevant page.
  • PDF download and print — keep the original PDF available for readers who need it.
  • Clickable links — link to donation pages, investor relations, or detailed data on your website.

How to create a digital annual report

  1. Export the final, approved report from InDesign or your reporting software as a PDF.
  2. Upload it to Instant Flipbook; the conversion takes about a minute, and links in the PDF are kept.
  3. Set the colors to your corporate identity and add video or extra links if you want.
  4. Download the files and publish the report on your website, for example in your investor-relations or "about us" section.

Hosted on your own website, archived for years

Annual reports need to stay available, often for many years. With subscription platforms, your archive disappears when the contract ends. With Instant Flipbook, you download the complete report and host it on your own server, so this year's report and every previous edition stay online for as long as you want, at no extra cost.

Self-hosting also helps with compliance and privacy: the report is served from your own domain, and the flipbook does not load third-party tracking scripts. You decide which analytics you use.

For design and communications agencies

Annual reports are a core product for many communications agencies. Offer the digital edition as part of the package: convert the final PDF, deliver white-label files under your own brand, or host them on the client's website.