Book Marketing
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WHAT AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CIP, PCIP, MARC, LCCN, PCN
CIP, PCIP, MARC, LCCN
Confused about what all the initials mean?
Wonderful outline of what you need to know by DGI, Connecting publishers and librarians for the benefit of readers everywhere.
CIP stands for Cataloging-In-Publication. It is a service originally established by the Library of Congress to assist publishers and libraries by providing bibliographic descriptions of soon-to-be-published books. There is a common misconception that CIP is a number but it is actually a block of text (usually found on the copyright page of a book) that describes the book using a very specific set of vocabulary and structure. The text block includes Library of Congress authorized subject headings, classification numbers for both the LC and Dewey Decimal systems, and all the information librarians need to get the book ready to put on the shelf in their libraries.
Publishers can apply for CIP to the Library of Congress. However, some publishers, especially self-publishing authors or very small presses, do not qualify for the CIP Program.
PCIP (Publisher’s Cataloging-In-Publication) is data, prepared by trained professional catalogers, which meets all the standards of records prepared by the Library of Congress. It comes in the form of a block of text which is inserted into a copyright page; in addition, an electronic version of the catalog record is sent to OCLC and SkyRiver, two major cataloging databases. PCIP services are available to any publisher or self-publishing author, for material in any format (print, audio, DVD, ebook, etc.).
The MARC (MAchine-Readable Cataloging) record is a computer file containing the PCIP text block in coded form. The file is delivered to OCLC and SkyRiver soon after the text document is delivered to the publisher. These records can be located and downloaded by libraries as part of their regular workflow. The records can only be opened and read by using special bibliographic software which libraries have and most publishers do not, unless publishers are creating their own cataloging for their titles.
“But I already have an LCCN (Library of Congress Control Number) or PCN (Pre-assigned Control Number)—isn’t that the same thing?”
Publishers that qualify for CIP receive an LCCN, and their work is cataloged to be added to the Library of Congress collection. Publishers that do not qualify for CIP can request a PCN (Pre-assigned Control Number), which is a placeholder only and does not contain the level of description that libraries need. More information is available on LC’s website: http://www.loc.gov/publish/cip/
What is the advantage of having PCIP in your book?
PCIP is a value-added feature; a purchasing librarian will recognize that your title(s) can quickly be added to a library’s collection. Books without CIP/PCIP are often set aside to be cataloged later. This means that your title will not get onto the shelves and into readers’ hands as quickly as you’d like. Having the MARC record for your title already prepared and loaded into OCLC and SkyRiver means improved service to library users (and happier librarians). If you plan to sell your book (whether print, audio or ebook) to libraries, you need PCIP!
Where can publishers obtain PCIP and MARC records for their titles?
The Donohue Group, Inc. (DGI) is a library contract services firm based in Windsor, CT. We are a company founded, managed and staffed by professional librarians. DGI has served the library and publishing communities for more than 30 years, garnering a reputation for professionalism, creativity, and individualized attention to client needs. We began our PCIP program many years ago to serve the needs of small and independent presses and authors, and we have an established track record in providing high-quality cataloging to the publishing community.
Please visit the DGI website, which describes their services in more detail: http://www.dgiinc.com/pcip/
Questions? Contact Pat McCurdy-Crescimanno at pcip@dgiinc.com
Libraries, Joel Friedlander, and The Book Designer Blog
Thank you to Joel Friedlander and The Book Designer for posting my thoughts on the library market today! To see more, click HERE
And One ISBN Shall Bind Them….
Why You Need
ONE ISBN for your Paperback
ONE ISBN for your eBook and
ONE ISBN for your Audio Book
Paperbacks
Let me be very clear (because apparently other folks out there are not)
You need ONE ISBN for your paperback book. That ISBN needs to be purchased from and registered at Bowker (or your country’s official provider if you are not in the US) and the ISBN should be put on your book cover file and on the copyright page.
That SAME file with the SAME ISBN should be uploaded and used at CreateSpace, IngramSpark, you local printer, and anywhere else you need to submit your files for printing or distribution.
ONE ISBN. It does not matter where you print your book or whom you choose to distribute it. If you have three printers and two POD companies supplying the marketplace copies of your book, ALL of them should have the SAME ISBN.
Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you cannot use the same ISBN at CreateSpace and IngramSpark. That is not true if you have purchased your ISBNs from Bowker as you should have. It USED to be true for all of those who took free ISBNs from CreateSpace because CS owned the ISBNs and would not allow you to use them at IngramSpark. (Because they did not belong to you.)
(sorry about the all caps)
eBooks
You need ONE ISBN for your ebook formats of the same book. Kindle (mobi) and Non-Kindle (epub) use the SAME ISBN for the one book. That ISBN needs to be registered and the ISBN should be put on the copyright page.
No matter where you upload your ebook, Kindle, Smashwords, Overdrive, Nook, Kobo, Proquest, 3-M, Bookbaby, KDP, IngramSpark…. SAME ISBN for all.
ONE ISBN. It does not matter what the format is (mobi, epub or prc) or whom you choose to distribute it. If you have a dozen companies supplying the marketplace copies of your eBook, ALL of them should have the SAME ISBN.
Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you don’t need an ISBN for an eBook. ISBNs are the best way to track your sales and identify your book. What are you going to do at your local bookstore when you want them to list your eBook in their catalog? Give them your AMAZON number? I’d like to be there when you try that… call me….
As eBooks become more and more a part of our industry, tracking their sales and downloads will only work with ISBNs.
(yes, there was a little cutting and pasting there)
Audio Books
Sing along with me folks…. You need ONE ISBN for your audio book, no matter how many places you distribute it through.
If you would like more information about the correct way to publish and get your book out to the market with a minimum of fuss and mistakes, THE WRITE WAY can be purchased here.
The ISBN is connected to the format of the book, not the printer or distribution company/model.
(Thank you for your kind attention, we now return you to your regularly scheduled internet viewing)
7 Tips For a Sheet That Will WOW The Media and Get You More Press
Want to get more press?
Sure you do!
Sandra Beckwith offers you this terrific advice on her site: www.buildbookbuzz.com
A tip sheet is a news release that offers tips or advice in a bulleted or numbered format. It’s one of the hardest working and most useful tactics available for generating publicity. Use a tip sheet to generate short column notes in a newspaper or magazine or to interest a reporter, editor, or producer in a feature article or talk show interview on the tip sheet topic.
Here’s how to create an effective tip sheet:
1. Use a press release format. The biggest difference between a tip sheet and a traditional press release is that the body of the tip sheet will include your tips or advice in a numbered or bulleted format.
2. Start with a headline that mimics those on magazine covers – “5 ways to lose weight before June” or “6 ways to save the most at the supermarket.”
3. Write your first paragraph so it explains why the tips are necessary. Think of it as stating a problem (the solution comes in your tips).
4. Quote and identify the expert source (you) in the second paragraph. This should provide more detail about why the tip sheet is necessary and establish the subject’s credentials.
5. Set up your tips with a sentence – “Here are Smith’s tips for saving money at the supermarket” – or a short paragraph.
6. List your tips with bullets or numbers. When tips are listed this way, rather than in a traditional paragraph format, editors can quickly scan them to see if they would be useful to readers – or not. Make sure you write your tips in an active voice with strong verbs. And make sure they provide advice, not reasons to do something or product features.
7. Finally, add the concluding boilerplate paragraph that you use in most press releases.
Look for ways to include tip sheets in your book’s publicity plan; you’ll soon see how easily they generate results.
Sandra Beckwith offers a free book publicity and promotion e-zine at www.buildbookbuzz.com and teaches the “Book Publicity 101: How to Build Book Buzz” e-course.
Why You Need Your Own ISBN From Bowker
“Can’t I just use the CreateSpace ISBN?”
“But I heard I can buy one ISBN for A LOT less money from Ingram!”
“I have a publisher who is going to publish my book and they will let me use one of their ISBNs!”
No. No. No. No.
If you are going to publish a book yourself, if you are going to be taken seriously as an author and as a publisher, you have to have complete control of your brand, your publishing decisions, the name listed on your book and on the pages that LIST your book.
Spend the money and go to www.myidentifiers.com and get yoru OWN ISBNs.
Book buyers, librarians, reviewers and everyone else in this industry knows that serious books have been published correctly and with all the steps taken. If you skip this obvious and very public step, what ELSE will you be skipping? You will throw your entire publishing reputation into doubt.
It is not worth it.
Get your own ISBNs. Buy 10 for under $300 because you WILL need a separate ISBN for your eBook and any other format you may come up with.
Publisher Business Plan Health Checklist
MAN! I keep meeting fantastic authors who want to be publishers, authors who have already published, and authors who are about to publish who are not sure if they have done it “right”.
NO ONE can tell you if you are doing it right, but I have put together a free, downloadable, one page worksheet that you can print out or use right on your computer.
The purpose of this sheet is to give you one place where you put all your information and check off all of the items needed to publish successfully.
Click Here or on ADD TO BAG to download this free sheet today and get peace of mind that you thought of everything, OR know that you have some missing elements and email us to help you fill them in!
How to Name Your Publishing Company
Why Do You Have to Have a Publishing Company Name?
When bookstores and airport store buyers look at your book, one of the first things they will do is flip to the spine, the back cover, and the copyright page to see if you are “self-published”. Certain vanity presses showing up as your publisher will often cause the buyer to put you in the “no” pile automatically.
You want to publish your book under your OWN publisher name and present that publisher as professionally as possible. If your publishing house, imprint or company looks professional, you get to stay in the “maybe” pile on the buyer’s desk!
What is the Difference Between a Publishing Company, Publishing Imprint, Publishing House?
Publishing House – The overall company that publishes a book
Publishing Company – The exact same thing as “publishing house”
Publishing Imprint – Sometimes, publishers will start publishing different types of books (Erotica AND Business Leadership!). To keep the brands and look separate, they will often create a SUB publisher name for each division. Those are called imprints.
How Do I Name a Publishing Company?
Keep it simple and professional. Do not pick ANY words or terms that can be traced back to you as the author. (Some folks choose the name of their hometown, street, kids, pets….. no… just no)
Choose a name that inspires and sounds much bigger than your book. Some of my current favorites chosen by my clients are Holland Press, Capitol Publishing, Organization Diagnostics, TideWater Press.
You want a name that inspires confidence in the buyer and reader.
What do you do then?
Register your publisher name at your existing Bowker listing, CreateSpace Account, Ingram Spark Account, and ALA Buyers Guide listings.
Big Box Chain Sales
I have recently put together with Joan Stewart a full 90-minute presentation on how to do your own sales and marketing to Costco, B&N, Target, Wal-mart and the other big box stores. If you are interested in owning this presentation, please just email me at amy@newshelves.com and I will arrange for you to receive a copy. This class is only $49.95 and teaches you everything you need to sell your book into the big box stores. Watch the video below and if you like what you see, go to PUBLICITY HOUND to buy the full class.
D5 Creation