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)