How to add interactions and elements to your flipbooks

Learn how to add interactivity in Flipsnack's Design Studio.

Table of contents

Overview

Adding interactivity and visual elements to your flipbooks enhances user engagement by providing clickable elements such as product tags, captions, slideshows, and embedded media. Whether you're creating product catalogs, brochures, or marketing materials, interactive elements help deliver a more immersive experience.

Key benefits

  • Improved user engagement: Make digital publications more interactive and engaging.
  • Seamless navigation: Add buttons, links, and product tags for a smooth user experience.
  • Enhanced conversions: Drive customer actions by integrating shopping buttons and interactive CTAs.
  • Rich multimedia support: Embed videos, slideshows, and maps to provide dynamic content.

 

Requirements

  • Plan: Available for all Business and Enterprise plans.

Use cases

  • Interactive product catalogs: eCommerce businesses can transform their static catalogs into engaging catalogs by integrating product tags, shopping buttons, and embedded videos. Customers can click on products to view details, watch product demos, and even make purchases directly from the flipbook.
  • Engaging marketing brochures: Marketing agencies and brands can make promotional brochures more dynamic by incorporating videos, GIFs, pop-up frames, and quizzes. These interactive elements capture audience attention, provide additional context, and encourage engagement. 
  • Digital magazines & newsletters: Media companies and publishers can improve their digital magazines and newsletters by integrating social media buttons, embedded videos, and clickable navigation links. Readers can interact with multimedia content, share articles, and navigate seamlessly between sections, creating an immersive reading experience that increases retention and engagement.

 

undefined

 

How to add interactions or elements in Flipsnack

You can add interactive elements using the Interact / Elements button in the left panel of the Design Studio.

  1. Open your flipbook in Design Studio.
  2. Click on the Interactions or Elements button in the left panel.
  3. Select the type of interactivity you want to add.
  4. Configure the properties (e.g., links, text, images, or buttons).
  5. Drag and place the interaction on the page.
  6. Save and preview your flipbook to test the interactivity.

Interactivity in Flipsnack

 

Types of interactions in Flipsnack

Flipsnack offers various interactive elements categorized into different sections:

Links and tags:

  • Link area: Define a clickable area linking to an external page.
  • Link button: Add a button with a hyperlink.
  • Tag: Display a pulsing effect with text and a clickable URL.
  • Caption: Add text with an embedded URL for additional information.
  • Pop-up frame: Add an interactive image that expands when clicked.
  • Embed code: Insert external interactive content via an iframe.

Links and tags in Flipsnack

Image interactions:

  • Spotlight: Highlight a section of an image.
  • Slideshow: Add up to 10 images, control display order, and set loop duration.
  • Pop-up slideshow: Functions like a slideshow but appears in an overlay window.

Images in Flipsnack

Audio & video

  • Video embed: Insert an external video via a URL.
  • Video button: Add a button that plays a video when clicked.
  • Audio button: Add an audio file that plays when clicked.

Audio and video interactions Flipsnack

Shop interactions:

  • Shop area: Highlight an area for users to click and add items to a shopping list.
  • Shop button: Add a call-to-action button linked to an online store.
  • Product tag: Includes title, description, price, URL, button label, and up to three product images.

Shop interactions in Flipsnack

Engagement:

  • Quiz: Add an interactive quiz for user engagement.
  • Question: Include a question block for surveys or feedback.
  • Contact form: Collect user input with a customizable form.

Engagement interactivity in Flipsnack

Navigation

  • Prev/Next page: Allow users to navigate pages easily.
  • Go to page: Create a shortcut to a specific page.
  • First/Last page: Enable quick navigation to the first or last page.

Navigation in Flipsnack

Social media:

  • Social buttons: Add interactive icons linking to various social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.).

Social interactivity in Flipsnack

Other interactive elements:

  • Buy this item: Add cart and credit card buttons with direct purchasing links.

Other interactivity in Flipsnack

 

Types of elements in Flipsnack

Flipsnack also includes graphics and data elements to enhance your flipbook design:

Graphics

  • Stock photos: Access a library of high-quality images.
  • Stock videos: Integrate professional stock videos.
  • Shapes: Add geometric and custom shapes to enhance the design.
  • GIFs: Insert animated elements for a dynamic experience.
  • Stickers: Use graphic stickers to make content more engaging.

Graphics elements Flipsnack

Data visualization:

  • Line chart: Create data-driven line graphs.
  • Pie chart: Display data in a circular chart format.
  • Bar chart: Visualize comparisons with bar graphs.
  • Table: Organize and present data in a structured table format.

Data elements in Flipsnack

Managing animated interactions:

All interactive elements in Flipsnack include a soft animation to make them more visible and engaging. If you prefer static interactions, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Customize > Appearance.
  2. Uncheck the Animate Interactions box to disable animations.
  3. Save your changes by pressing Share now.

Animate interactions in Flipsnack

Replacing a PDF while keeping interactions

If you need to update a flipbook after adding interactions, Flipsnack allows you to replace the PDF without losing interactive elements:

  1. Go to My Flipbooks and select the flipbook.
  2. Click Replace PDF in the settings menu.
  3. Upload the new version of your PDF.
  4. Your interactions will remain intact unless the new layout changes significantly.

Next steps

Explore related interactivity guides:

Need expert support?

Our team is here to help. Connect with our team experts or message us via the in-app chat for a personalized demo.