Once you are set to publish your book, the ISBN will be the first term you come across. It stands for International Standard Book Number, a 13-character code that becomes your book’s identification number in the world of publishing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n As you release any form of your book\u2014paperback, hardcover, or even eBook\u2014the knowledge of an ISBN becomes mandatory. Most self-publishing<\/a> authors who release their books for the first time are confused about ISBNs, but once you understand them, things get easy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n If you want assistance in publishing your book as soon as possible, then you should consider our services at Kinetic Digital Publishers, where we take care of everything, including registration of the ISBN.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. The number serves as an international identifier for every edition and variant of a book that has been published worldwide. Just like fingerprints, no two books have identical ISBNs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Today’s ISBN consists of 13 digits, which are split into five segments using hyphens. Previously, ISBNs had only 10 digits. Once the International ISBN Agency ran out of digits, they added a prefix consisting of three digits (978 or 979) at the beginning of the sequence. As a result, today’s standard includes 13 digits.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Interesting Fact: An ISBN doesn’t provide you with copyright protection. The processes of registering copyrights and ISBN numbers are completely different. The former registers your book; the latter protects its contents.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n By including an ISBN on all your books’ copies, you make it easier for distributors, booksellers, libraries, and Internet sellers to identify your book without any problems. This way, if someone wants to buy a certain edition of your book, they will not be able to purchase an incorrect version by mistake.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Any publisher, including the self-publisher, that releases their book in print form requires an ISBN. An ISBN is crucial for ensuring that your book gets into catalogs, database listings, and even online book shops.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Do all books have an ISBN? Not all books require an ISBN. All printed books need an ISBN, but eBooks and audiobooks that can be downloaded are not always required to have an ISBN.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n If you plan on distributing your book using the digital format, you do not require an ISBN for distribution on these key websites:<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Should Self-Published Authors Buy Their Own ISBN?<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n This is perhaps one of the most contentious issues when it comes to self-publishing. The truth of the matter is: It all depends on your self-publishing objectives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n If you choose print-on-demand sites like Amazon KDP, then they will provide you with a free ISBN; however, they will publish your book with their name or the name of “Independently Published.” But if you get yourself an ISBN directly through the ISBN agency in your country, then your name will appear as the publisher.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Reasons NOT to Purchase an ISBN<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Reasons TO Purchase an ISBN<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Key point to remember: Some indie bookstores and libraries may be hesitant to sell or order books bearing the publishing imprint of Amazon. Should you decide to distribute your book physically, having an ISBN number will definitely help you out a lot.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Indeed, every format of your book needs a different ISBN.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n The following is a list of instances in which an ISBN is mandatory:<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Note: If you are reprinting a hardcover version of a book without making any changes to the book at all, you do not have to get a new ISBN. However, any change you make to the book will require a new ISBN number.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n If you decide to make changes to your book and produce another edition of it, you will have to apply for a totally new ISBN. This requirement is needed to guarantee the accuracy of the global books identification system.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n That\u2019s why buying an ISBN pack is always a good idea. The price per single ISBN becomes lower when you buy more of them; for example, it will cost much less to buy a 100-ISBN package than to acquire each ISBN separately.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n ISBNs are distributed by the ISBN national agency of each individual country. The international ISBN agency is responsible for managing the worldwide system.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The following is a list of key countries:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are some countries that give ISBNs to publishers for free; Canada is one such country. Publishers of the USA, on the other hand, have to buy their ISBNs from Bowker.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In a technical sense, ISBN numbers are given to publishers. However, since you are a self-publisher, you yourself become the publisher; thus, you will be able to obtain the ISBN number in your own name or under your publishing house.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n If you get a free ISBN from one of the print-on-demand websites, such as Amazon’s KDP, then the print-on-demand website or the term Independently Published will appear as the publisher in the database of the book that you published. Note that this in no way affects your royalties or copyrights, although your publishing professionalism may be questioned.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Pro tip from KDP: In case you want to create an author’s brand, then we recommend creating your own publishing house name and buying ISBN numbers under it. It only costs a few dollars, and it shows your professionalism and commitment. We can help you do this at our company.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Now, what about the ISBNs for magazines? In this case, you need to know that there are other numbers for serially produced publications. These numbers are called the ISSN (International Standard Serial Number).<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n While publishing a digital book without an ISBN is technically possible on most major platforms, there are real drawbacks to consider:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Getting an ISBN is fairly simple. Below is how it is done for US-based authors:<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Tip for budget-conscious authors: Unless you plan to produce only one book in one format (i.e., only one eBook), then the best choice will be buying the pack of 10, which amounts to just $29.50 per ISBN \u2014 rather than buying each ISBN for $125 each!<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n For authors who do not reside in the United States, it would be best to contact their country’s ISBN agency since many countries provide ISBNs for free or at a lower rate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Another option is using services provided by a full-scale book publisher, such as Kinetic Digital Publishers, where we take care of everything, including the registration of your ISBN.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\nIn this article, you will learn:<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
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