What is an ISBN Number?

What is an ISBN Number?

Consisting of 13 digits, an ISBN number, or International Standard Book Number, is an identifier for your book. It’s totally unique to your book and has specific information about it, like format (paperback, hardcover, PDF, eBook), edition and publisher.

It’s important to note that with any new edition of your publication, a new ISBN is required. This ensures retailers and libraries know exactly which version they’re distributing, and your customers know exactly which version they’re getting.

Hint: See how one of our clients self-published his way to literary success.

Benefits

Before we answer the how do I get an ISBN number for my book question, let’s dive into the benefits of having one in the first place. Besides identifying your publication, there are many other reasons why you want one:

• They improve the likelihood that your book will be found and purchased.
• They ensure marketing and distribution is more efficient.
• You’ll find that most retailers require them.
• They help you collect data and analyze information about your book sales.
• They’re the global standard for book identification.

How to Get an ISBN Number

Now, let’s dig into how to buy an ISBN number. Yep, that’s right. If you’re wondering about how to get an ISBN number for your book, the short answer is you have to buy it.

You can purchase an ISBN from multiple sources on the internet, including Bowker, or through your local ISBN agency. And the great thing is that you don’t have to wait until you’ve published your book – you can buy ISBNs in advance, and they never expire.

ISBNs and Smartpress

How does Smartpress fit into the ISBN equation? When you upload the print-ready file of your book design, be sure to include your ISBN number, and we’ll generate the barcode for you. We cannot issue ISBN numbers.