Julie Broad (Book Launchers) explains the difference between ISBNs and Amazon's ASINs and advises authors to buy their own ISBN if they want to sell beyond Amazon. She defines ISBN/ASIN/UPC, explains that Amazon's free ASIN ties the title to KDP (and lists Amazon as publisher), notes that ISBNs are free in Canada but must be purchased (via Bowker) in the US, and gives practical tips (buy a block of 10, don't pay for barcodes).
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Amazon will give you a book identifying number for free. So you might be wondering, is it worth buying your own ISBN or let them give you one? Stick around, I'll answer that question. Hey, I'm Julie the book broad with book launchers.com, your fabulous professional self publishing team helping you write, publish and sell nonfiction books that grow your business and make you moolah. We all like moolah, don't we? This question came in from a friend, fabulous YouTube viewer Veronica Prior Facian. And hopefully I said your name right and I realized I hadn't directly answered this question before. So this is for you, Veronica, and anybody else who is watching and wondering the same thing. First, if you're wondering what we're talking about when we say ISBN number, it is the number right here on the back of the book. I've shot a few videos before explaining what it is, but here it is again real quick. ISBN is the acronym for International Standard Book Number. This 10 or 13 digit number identifies a specific book, an edition of a book or a book like product like an audiobook. To be clear, this is used the same as an ISBN on Amazon, but it's not the same as the Amazon assigned number. Amazon will give you an identifying number for free if you use their KDP print service, but they actually call it an ASIN and it's different from a UPC code just so you know so many letters. It's like Alphabet soup because except not as tasty. So the ASIN, the Amazon Standard Identification Number are unique blocks of 10 letters and numbers that identify items. You can find the ASIN on Product information page on Amazon like this one. The ASIN is the same as the ISBN number. If you have an ISBN number, are you confused yet? In other words, this is the important part. If you want to sell your book anywhere other than Amazon, you should get your own ISBN. You need one for for every type of book you need one for an ebook, you need one for print and you need one for audio. Again depending on where you're going to sell it. So if you want bookstores libraries listings with Kobo or Google Play or Apple, you need your own ISBN. Sure you can sign up for expanded distribution on KDP print and in theory it will make your books widely available. But the reality is that you really need your book on Ingram's catalog to be widely available because bookstores won't buy from Amazon and if you use the free ISBN that's then you're locked into KDP print. A free ISBN won't let you be listed as publisher. Another reason to consider your options. If you use the free ISBN, KDP or Amazon are listed as the publisher and it makes you look just a little less professional and it might make it harder to stand out in a sea of books. You will still own the copyright to your book. Ownership is still yours. You just limit the reach of your book. But if this is a legacy type book or the only one you plan to publish and you really aren't concerned about wide distribution free but could be right for you. Now if you're living in Canada, no big deal. ISBN numbers are free, so go get your own and I show you how to get one right here in the us. You have to buy them. Go to Bowker b o w k e r.com and buy it. You might as well buy a pack of 10 because they don't expire and you're going to need one for each format. Like this video. You'll definitely like the video I did on the seven things you need to do to create an Amazon book page that will sell more books. You can check that out right here or right here, wherever I have space on the screen to put it up there. And if you have a question like Veronica did, post it below. And I just might shoot a video for you too. Oh, you're still here. I love it when you stick with me for the whole video. Just a bonus tip. Do not buy anything but the ISBN from Bowker. They try to sell you a barcode and some other stuff that you absolutely do not need. You can create barcodes for free using free tools on the Internet. KDP print upload will do it or your book cover designer can do it. Do not pay for that. You're welcome.
