What Self-Publishers Need to Know Before Buying an ISBN?

It's a practice, for better or worse, now that conventional publishing houses have become nearly impossible for many writers wishing to tell their stories; self-publishing is the new, more reasonable, and available way to make their work come to life. One of the first decisions any author must make when pursuing self-publishing is buying an ISBN for his book. Though perhaps small in significance, knowing what an ISBN is and whether one is necessary means how to procure one for the easy and proper distribution and professional recognition of your book.

So, when you decide to purchase an ISBN, we're here to walk you through the ins and outs so that you know exactly what you're getting into. As new and seasoned self-publishers have discovered, ISBNs are a basic necessity for success in today's highly competitive book market.

What Is an ISBN and Why Does It Matter?

An ISBN is an identification number given to every book published worldwide. A 13-digit number (or ten digits for older ISBNs) is considered a fingerprint for your book in the global publishing environment. This number allows bookstores, libraries, online retailers, and distributors to keep track of, order, and sell your book accurately.

ISBNs are important for writers looking to ensure that their books are listed in industry-professional databases. However, due to ISBNs, your book may become obscured when sold in major bookstores and other places, like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or libraries.

Besides its use for identification and circulation, an ISBN will protect your book's intellectual property and build a strong individual identity for your book. It allows no two books to bear the same ISBN, eliminating confusion in a sales or distributor channel.

Should You Buy an ISBN as a Self-Publishing Author?

Whether you should get an ISBN depends on how you will distribute your book, along with the extent of control you require to be included in the rights of your book. Several factors to think about include:

Distribution and Control Over Your Book’s Rights

If you distribute your book far and wide to more retailers, bookstores, libraries, or even overseas markets, then by all means, it pays to buy your own ISBN. When you buy your ISBN, you are technically counted as the publisher of record for that book. That is, you retain full rights to it and all its distribution. You can then distribute it to Amazon, IngramSpark, or any other retailer that carries your book, and that book will carry your ISBN as its identifier.

On the other hand, in case you want your book published through self publishing services like Amazon KDP or one of those so-called all-in-one packages, you will not have to buy an ISBN number since most self-publishing providers offer a free ISBN, but for publishing the same book through that specific publisher's package; here you will not be marked as a publisher. This means, however, that you would not have much control over your book's metadata and, even more importantly, over sales channels and, most likely, over future rights.

Self-Publishing Platforms That Offer Free ISBNs

Most of the large self-publishing platforms give authors a free ISBN, so this could be a pretty good option for new authors, especially if they are not prepared to pay for an ISBN at this stage in their writing career.

Other companies, such as Amazon KDP, offer free ISBNs; however, the company publishing your book will be listed as Amazon, not the author. Then, a service like Draft2Digital or Lulu offers a free ISBN for their user accounts. Understand, though, that flexibility and ultimate control are greatly reduced by using these no-cost, free ISBN services.

The Benefits of Owning Your ISBN

While it is tempting to use a free ISBN, there are several key advantages to owning your ISBN for your career as a self-published author. Let me explain why your own ISBN is worth the cost:

Full Control Over Your Book’s Metadata

Another critical advantage of buying your own ISBN is that you will have total control over all the metadata regarding your book. The metadata includes book title, author name, publication date, and publisher. With a free ISBN from platforms such as Amazon, they'll appear as the publisher and be able to edit the metadata on your book. When you buy an ISBN, you're in charge of the metadata of your book and so your work as a whole.

Multiple Editions and Formats

If you are publishing your book in multiple formats (hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook), then each format will require an ISBN. Each format of your book may have its separate registration with a platform, giving you every opportunity to sell and circulate your book across multitudes of platforms without getting jumbled or any such restraints.

For instance, if you print your book in both hard copy and eBook, each format will require its own ISBN. You would then buy ISBNs for the different formats, ensuring that your book is correctly cataloged and recognized whether someone buys the hard copy from a bookstore or the eBook from an online retailer.

Easier Rights Management

With ownership over your ISBN, managing rights for your book will become simpler, especially if you have to license your book for translations, adaptations, or even movie rights. Identifying the work would be clearer because when a book is published with its author's ISBN, it makes all the difference in having agreements or licensing. Plus, ISBN ownership means you retain all rights over the book; you can freely change the distributors or platforms you use for your book without losing your identity.

How to Purchase an ISBN: What You Need to Know

Now that you know why an ISBN is important, it's essential to discuss how to purchase one. In most countries, ISBNs are governed by specific agencies, and buying one is different from place to place.

Where to Buy ISBNs

The official provider of ISBNs in the United States is Bowker, which is accessible online at www.myidentifiers.com. Using Bowker, authors or publishers can purchase individual ISBNs or blocks of them if they might need several later on. For the UK, authors can secure an ISBN from Nielsen, and for Canada, it's through Library and Archives Canada.

While buying directly from these bodies is the most direct route, you may also find that some publishing services, such as IngramSpark or Lulu, offer the option to get an ISBN through them. Be watchful, however, because the service may end up listed on the ISBN as the publisher.

The Cost of an ISBN

The cost of an ISBN depends on the supplier and the number of ISBNs purchased. In the U.S., a single ISBN purchased from Bowker costs $125, while a ten-unit block of ISBNs is around $295. In contrast, some self-publishing services may offer lower-cost ISBNs or even a free ISBN, but this requires sacrificing control over your book's metadata and rights.

Can You Transfer an ISBN?

Once assigned to a book, an ISBN usually cannot be used for another book. However, if you are switching platforms or disseminating your book in different forms, you might need different ISBNs for each type. So, if you are going to rebrand, update, or add more to your book at some point in the future, you'll want to remember this.

Conclusion

An ISBN purchase is the most significant decision any self-publishing author must make. It gives a publishing author better rights, wider distribution, and access to better metadata when printing widely. Still, starting on a platform such as Amazon KDP, for instance, can be completely avoided.

Before making a decision, consider your long-term goals as an author. Pen Publishing Services can guide you through this process to help ensure that your book will be professionally published and distributed accordingly, regardless of the decision.