Here are the ins and outs of these different types of ISBNs. Whether you’re an author or publisher, it’s a good idea to learn what each number demands and offers.
What Are ISBNs and ASINs?
If you want your novel out without a hitch or enhance your professional ebook publishing steps by offering a high-quality printed version, too, learn about ISBNs—if only to avoid problems in the future.
In short, ISBNs are 13 digits long and serve to digitally identify every book in circulation, including details like their edition, publisher, and the country they were registered in.
This makes it easier for anyone on the publishing supply chain, from retailers to libraries, to order, sell, and keep stock of books.
One fact to remember is that ISBNs aren’t mandatory. You don’t need one if you only intend to sell your book in person or through your website. If you want to see it in physical stores, however, an ISBN is a must.
Another misconception about ISBNs relates to copyright. A published book does demonstrate its author, launch date, and so on, but its ISBN isn’t proof of copyright.
If you have more questions about how copyright works or what fair use is for authors, get advice from reliable sources, especially official ones like the US Copyright Office’s page on registering literary works.
Clearly, there are pros and cons to either ISBN option, so it’s worth breaking down their differences further. Think about your publishing plan and what kind of book number you need.
You can only buy an ISBN from your country’s official agency, which is Bowker in the US. The easiest way to get your book’s code is to order one or several through the service’s My Identifiers page for buying ISBNs.
Another advantage to using KDP book numbers is that they’re completely free, a lifesaver for self-publishing authors with limited funds.
Bowker charges $125 for a single ISBN—quite a big difference. They do come cheaper in bulk, however, which is great if you have several novels in mind.
In addition to more diverse bundles, which include standard barcodes and QRPlus codes, you can get:
10 ISBNs for $295 100 numbers for $575 1,000 numbers for $1,500
3. Normal ISBNs Can Display More Information About a Book’s Publication
Investing in a normal ISBN can boost your book’s prospects. For starters, if you land a deal with a publishing house or even launch the book yourself, you can display the publisher’s details in the copyright page.
At the end of the day, having a proper publisher’s name attached to your book makes it look better. It adds prestige and attracts readers more than a vague little phrase.
4. Normal ISBNs Allow Wider Distribution
A mandatory price hike for your book Only paperbacks allowed Strict content requirements Exclusion of some languages
To promote your ebook on KDP, for example, you can use free book promotions, ad campaigns, and sponsored posts among other perks that put your work in front of the right people.
If this isn’t good enough and you want to be able to approach other retailers freely, save up and go straight for a traditional ISBN. Your experience will be very different and far more rewarding.
If it’s too much pressure, buying your ISBN and publishing somewhere else like Draft2Digital or PublishDrive is your best bet. You’ll be able to share your writing any way you want.
Choose the Right ISBN for the Best Publishing Experience
Freedom of movement and distribution are at the heart of their differences. An author with a global campaign in mind that includes physical stores, online retailers, and creative marketing is better off buying their ISBN.
