If you’ve never self-published before, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the terms and acronyms being thrown at you. One of those terms you’ll come across is ISBN.
What exactly is an ISBN? The term stands for International Standard Book Number, and it’s essentially a unique identifier for your book. Think of it like your book’s fingerprint. It’s a code that tells booksellers, libraries and distributors exactly which edition they’re looking at. This helps avoid confusion when different books or editions have similar titles or authors.
This might seem terribly official, but don’t let that intimidate you. The process of understanding and using ISBNs doesn’t have to be complicated, even if you’re brand new to publishing.
Here are the key things you need to know.
Do You Really Need an ISBN?
One of the most common questions new authors ask is whether they really need an ISBN. The answer depends on the format of your book.
If you’re publishing a paperback (or hardcover), then yes, you’ll definitely need an ISBN. This is because print books are tracked and sold in bookstores and libraries that require this unique identifier.
Ebooks, however, are slightly different. If you’re publishing an ebook exclusively on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform (KDP), you don’t technically need an ISBN. Instead, Amazon assigns your ebook an ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number). This works just fine for selling your ebook within Amazon’s ecosystem.
However, if you plan to publish your ebook in multiple stores, such as Apple Books or Kobo, then you will need your own ISBN for each different ebook edition.
Free vs Paid ISBNs – What’s the Difference?
Hopefully that all seems straightforward. Because here’s the bit that causes confusion: if you do publish with KDP, you’ll find that Amazon will offer you a free ISBN for your paperback book.
That sounds amazing, right?
As with many things in life, this freebie comes with a catch. That free ISBN is tied exclusively to Amazon as the publisher. This means if you want to sell that same edition through other retailers, you won’t be able to use Amazon’s free ISBN. You’d need to buy your own.
Many first time authors choose to start with Amazon’s free ISBN option because it’s simple and cost effective. And that can be a smart move. You can always purchase your own ISBN later if you decide to distribute your book more widely, but if you start by dipping your toe in the water, this can be a less risky way of doing it.
However, if you want to retain full control over your book’s publishing rights and distribution, owning your own ISBN is the best move. It allows you to list yourself as the publisher and distribute your book anywhere.
Need Help Navigating ISBNs?
The good news is that you don’t have to figure out all these details alone. When you work with Lindie, we guide you through the entire ISBN process, from selecting the right type of ISBN for your publishing goals to setting it up properly. Our goal is to make sure your book is ready for the world, with all the technical details taken care of.
Publishing is full of small but important decisions like this, and our job is to make those choices easier for you. That way, you can focus on the most exciting part: writing and sharing your story.
Ready to feel confident about every step of publishing? Download the Lindie Self-Publishing Guide and start your journey to self-publishing with clarity (and far less stress).
