Secure Your Book's Identifier

Securing an ISBN for your book title is an important step in getting it published. In this article, we will cover some high points related to getting a number identifier.

Why do I need an ISBN?

An ISBN is an International Standard Book Number. ISBNs are requited by MOST libraries and bookstores. If you want to be able to list and sale your books in these locations, an ISBN is necessary. They will also often require a barcode! Keep reading to the end for tips on how to leverage what you already have access to in order to get a barcode.

An ISBN makes your book easy to find a purchase by libraries, bookstores, and your customers. It doesn’t matter how creative your book title is, an ISBN is what is most commonly used in the book world to sort and identify books.

The ISBN also separates the various versions and formats of your book. Are you publishing a paperback and hardcover? The ISBN will help customers, libraries, and bookstores differentiate between the two. Are you re-releasing a title from 2012? A new ISBN will help readers, libraries, and bookstores order the correct version of your book.

When you get an official ISBN number, you will be able to nationally register the metadata of your book. This is pretty much set in stone and no one can change or altar it which protects your book’s interests and makes it more  discoverable.

Where can you get an ISBN?

Now, let me be very clear. There is only ONE place you can go to get an ISBN that you own.

Hear me clearly. There is just ONE place in the USA that you can go to purchase an ISBN that is solely owned and controlled by you. That place is called Bowker. Any other place where you can go to get an ISBN, you don’t own it. The company you’re getting it from owns it. If you desire to own your ISBN, you need to head over to Bowker.

When you visit this website, you’ll see the listed prices of an ISBN as follows:

• 1 ISBN $125

• 10 ISBN $295

• 100 ISBN $575

There are other options available on the site, but these are the only ones you recommend for independent authors. These prices may be alarming to you. Bowker is a monopoly. Which means they can set these kinds of ridiculous prices.

Subscribe to this blog and we can get into the wicked politics of this another time.

For independent authors, we recommend getting the 10 ISBN (without the barcodes!) On average, you’ll be able to produce 3 separate book titles with this package.

What if I don’t have the money?

I get it. You’re balling on a budget. Here are 2 other options we recommend for those who are eager to publish and lack the funds or the ability/know-how to make your money back after publishing.

Use What’s Offered.

If you are publishing through Amazon KDP or Ingramspark, these companies offer a FREE ISBN for you to use.

Yes, it’s $FREE.99.

However, you don’t own it.

These ISBNs are owned by either Ingramspark or Amazon. Which means, if you want to do something different with your book such as list it for sale on another platform, you’ll need a new ISBN. If this doesn’t bother, go with the free ISBN that is offered when setting up your book to be published.

ISBN Services.

This company offers ISBNs for a steal! About $23 per ISBN. They also have sales throughout the year so that you can purchase multiple.

Again you don’t own the ISBN. However, you have the flexibility of using this ISBN freely to list your book for sale on any platform.

How many ISBN do I need?

The answer to this question is quite simple. How many version of your book do you plan to publish? You MUST have a different ISBN for each version of your book title.

• Paperback

• Hardcover

• eBook

There are some references that say you need an ISBN for an audiobook as well, but in our history of publishing audiobooks through ACX, we have never been required to add an ISBN. If you are using a different service for the production and distribution of your audiobook, make sure to research if an ISBN is required or suggested.

If you are planning to release a new edition of your book title for any reason, you’ll need a new ISBN to list your book for sale.

Pro-tips:

Here are some pro-tips that will help you make the most of securing and utilizing your ISBN.

• You don’t need to purchase a barcode. Ingramspark provides a cover template generator. On this template comes a barcode with your ISBN. You can clip and use this barcode on over printing and distribution services.

• ISBNs never expire. You can buy a few and keep them on hand for future book projects. This is best to do when there is a sale, discount, or coupon available of your go-to ISBN service.

• Make a reference spreadsheet. On this spreadsheet you want to have columns for the book tile, format, and the associated ISBN number. This is make it easy to track and properly list your book. Especially, when you are juggling multiple translations.

There’s a lot of moving pieces to publishing a book. Don’t worry, we are here to support Christian authors jut like you to get your books onto shelves. Book an Author Consultation today to craft a vision for your book with detailed steps for you to execute it.