Important Things To Know About ISBNs
If you’re considering self-publishing, getting an ISBN is going to become very important to you after you get through the writing and editing and rewriting portion of an author’s journey. It also never hurts to have extra knowledge about the publishing process, even if you are looking at other avenues of publishing your book.
Writers hear the term ISBN often, especially when they’re researching the publishing process but they may not understand the role an ISBN plays in the lifetime of their book.
Hint. Hint. It’s HUGE!
This article will help you better understand ISBNs, how they work with your book, and some things to think about after your book releases.
What is an ISBN?
To start off, ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a numeric identifier that is unique, making it the most accurate way to search for a book.
Currently, they are 13 digits long and can be found both on the copyright page and the back of a book, typically above the barcode.
You can purchase and receive an ISBN from an affiliate of the international ISBN agency.
When should I get an ISBN?
You should think about getting an ISBN when you are closer to releasing you book. Most people do this around the time they are working on getting their cover designed and/or while they are formatting the interior of their book. It’s really up to you but an ISBN isn’t something you need to worry about while you’re still working on getting to the final draft of your novel.
There is an application process to get an ISBN is pretty straightforward but getting your application approved can take up to two weeks, though most times it is completed within five days.
If you’ve set a date for your book to be released, you definitely shouldn’t put this until the last minute. You’ll not only want to leave time to receive your ISBN so that you can put all the information in when uploading your book, but you will also want time to get proof copies of your novel so that you can review them and correct any errors.
How many ISBNs do I need?
Most writers publish a paperback copy of their book as well as a digital version on Kindle or something similar. Each format that you will be publishing to needs a separate ISBN.
This means that if you want to publish a hardcover book, a paperback version, and a digital book through KDP, you’ll need three separate ISBNs. And yes, audiobooks need their own ISBN as well.
Some International ISBN agency affiliates allow you the ability to purchase ISBNs in bulk so that you are able to get the ISBNs you need to publish your book in all the formats you want.
How much do ISBNs cost?
It depends on which affiliate you work with but many offer the ability to purchase just the ISBN or you can buy a package that includes the ISBN as well as a barcode associated with it. The latter is extremely helpful if you are going to be making custom packaging.
ISBN packages often cost upwards of $100 for a single ISBN, which makes most packages that offer multiple ISBNs more cost effective.
For example, on Bowker, you can get a single ISBN for $125 while a bundle of 10 ISBNs costs $295. If you are self-publishing, this company is who you would use most of the time.
It may seem like a lot of money but it’s an important investment that will help increase the chances of your book being found and purchased.
What if I want to alter my book after publishing?
If you have a large change in the text of the book, a new ISBN is required. This is an important consideration if you find out down the line that your book requires a major change. That is also why it’s important to get reader feedback before publishing your book if you can. It will help you identify any areas that you might have missed. However, grammatical or punctuation changes do not require a separate ISBN.
Each language that your book is printed in also requires a different ISBN. There is definitely more than goes into this as well but, as far as ISBNs go, every translation requires a new one.
You will also need a different ISBN when you change the cover of your book. This is a huge point because as time goes on you might feel a different cover may work better or maybe you’ll just feel like releasing a new edition.
If you’ve been considering not getting an ISBN, remember that most retailers require one. Getting your book into big box stores might not be of immediate concern to you if you’re self-publishing, it is a good thing to keep in mind as you are going through the process. It will be easier to get your books in there if you’re already adhering to the requirements.
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of self-publishing you can reach out to our team to see if we’re accepting submissions.
