Why Indie Authors and Publishers Should Buy Their Own ISBN #’s

05 Sep Why Indie Authors and Publishers Should Buy Their Own ISBN #’s

An ISBN, or International Standard Book Number, is a special type of identification number for books that is issued by the company R. R. Bowker. A book’s hardcover, paperback, and ebook format will all need their own ISBN numbers, as will each subsequent edition of that book, which can get expensive. It’s no wonder that many authors are wondering if it’s necessary for them to buy their own.

Although ISBNs aren’t currently required for eBooks, you do still need on in order to sell on many online platforms or to make physical copies available in a bookstore. Some publishers will offer to issue an ISBN for you and include the price with your publishing package, and with websites like Amazon or Barnes and Noble issuing their own types of identification numbers on top of it, an ISBN can seem like an unneeded expense.

However, while many indie authors and publishers think that flouting the ISBN number is a way to save on money, it’s actually in your best interest to buy one on your own—even for ebooks. Here’s why.

Ownership

Whoever buys the ISBN for a book is automatically registered as the publisher. This is something many publishing companies won’t tell you when they offer to get an ISBN for you. This isn’t always shady—some authors really can’t afford their own ISBN, in which case it might be appealing for the publisher to help them out—but if you want to make sure that you’re the one noted as the owner, you’re going to have to buy and register the ISBN yourself. This is true for both authors and indie publishers.

This is also important because if someone is looking to contact a person about your book, they will likely contact whoever they find to be the publisher. If that’s you, great! You’ll receive any messages from people who are interested in your book, whether they want to buy many copies or arrange for you to give a talk at their event. However, if you’re not listed as the publisher, those requests could get lost in cyberspace.

Consistency

As mentioned, websites such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble have their own system of identifier codes for their products, including books. However, these identifiers will be different from company to company, and the website in question could change their system at any time. Without an ISBN, there’s no consistent way to keep track of your book across different selling platforms.

This becomes more of a problem as time goes by. If any of those websites was to go out of business, any record of your book would be lost. Amazon might seem like a giant today, but you never know what will happen years from now and it’s better not to put your trust in them completely. The ISBN is a solid, globally recognized system of identifying books, and it’s the best way to keep a record of your work.

Searchability

ISBNs are used by websites, brick-and-mortar stores, libraries, book depositories, and any organization that deals with books. It’s the most-used system of identifying books and it’s the best way to make sure your book can be found if people search for it. ISBNs can help differentiate between hardcover, paperback, and any other editions of the book, making it easier for someone to find exactly the copy they’re searching for.

You also need an ISBN in order to have a physical book available for sale. While you might think you’re fine with only dealing in ebooks now, you’re cutting off the possibility of having paperback or hardcover copies available in the future if you don’t buy an ISBN.

While buying an ISBN can be pricey, especially if your book is in multiple formats, it’s worth it in the end to know that you’re registered as the publisher and that anyone will be able to find your book, no matter what happens to the site you originally sold it on. At the end of the day, it’s a worthwhile investment that can only help you as an author or publisher.

Until Next time, stay positive and keep writing!

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XO

Kim