An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique identifier used internationally for all published works including books, eBooks, and music albums. The ISBN identifies the publisher as well as the specific book title, edition, and format (hardback, paperback, ePub, PDF, Mobi, Audio, etc). An ISBN allows retailers to help the customer understand exactly which version of a title they’re purchasing.
Each book and each version and/or edition of that book is ideally identified by its own ISBN.
Do I Need an ISBN for my Self-Published Book?
You don’t necessarily need an ISBN and whether or not you get one is up to you. However, if you plan on selling your book through traditional retail channels like bookstores, libraries, or online retailers such as Amazon, an ISBN is essential. It is often an requirement from the seller.
Buying your ISBN is similar to buying property. Once you have one, you own the rights to your book and you’ll be identified as the initial publisher. An ISBN stores information like what your book is about, who the author is, and who the publisher is. This is critical information for booksellers for tracking sales and inventory.
If you’re publishing a book to distribute to crowdfunding backers, or for internal organizational use, you may not really need an ISBN for your book. There is little to no risk of your book being copied when it is only distributed to a small internal group and you aren’t selling through a store.
What About Illegitimate ISBN Codes
Unfortunately, there are companies that prey on new self-published authors by offering illegitimate ISBN codes. The ISBN number identifies the title of the book for life so it’s important that the the assigning company is legitimate and secure to protect your property. For example, there is a company called isbnagency.com that is not affiliated with the US ISBN agency. Confusing right?
We strongly recommend buying directly through Bowker. Bowker is the only company in the US that is authorized to manage the ISBN program. They can ensure the safety of your book and improve its marketability with the features that come with having a reliable ISBN.
How do I Get an ISBN?
There are 2 ways to get an ISBN:
- The first is to go through a broker who buys ISBNs in bulk. This is the cheapest option but we don’t recommend it due to its unreliability and the possible legal implications of allowing someone you don’t know to technically own the rights.
- The second, more reliable option is to buy directly through Bowker at www.bowker.com.
Bowker offers single and bundle pricing options for purchasing an ISBN.
Bowker also offers a bundling option where you can buy ISBNs and barcodes or QR codes. The barcodes and QR codes allow your book to be scanned by you or the seller. This allows easier access during purchase for the seller and sales tracking information for you.
The more ISBNS you buy from Bowker, the cheaper each individual ISBN becomes. You may want to purchase multiple ISBNs for each book format, or if you intend to release more editions of your book.
You can also visit this site to generate your own barcodes from an ISBN https://barcode.tec-it.com/en/ISBN13
How Many ISBNs Do I Need?
Each edition and format of your book requires its own ISBN to be properly identified in the seller’s, buyer’s and government’s system.
Some things to consider when determining how many ISBNs your book will need are:
- How many books do you plan on publishing?
- How many formats of each title do you intend on creating?
- Are you are planning on creating multiple or future editions?
Even if you don’t plan on needing another ISBN anytime soon, there is always the possibility of unforeseen issues. Or maybe you’ll decide to turn your book into an ebook or to write another book all together!
You can always purchase ISBNs in advance of your next book or book version and register the title of the book later. The good news is, ISBNs never expire. So even if it takes you longer than expected to finish your book or you decide not to create multiple formats, those ISBNs will be waiting for you until you need them.
ISBNs are just another piece in the logistical puzzle of self-publishing, but you don’t have to do it all on your own! We’re here to help you, every step of the way.
If you’re ready to start printing, then grab your free quote!
