When I first started out, ISBN numbers were a mystery to me. They aren’t so much anymore, but the prices haven’t changed since I started–they are still one of the most expensive things you can spend your money on when you self-publish.
Take a few minutes to listen in to our chat about them. Whether you decide to buy them or not is a personal choice, but it’s always a good idea to have all the facts before you choose.
Take it away, KT!
KT Daxon
What are we starting with first?
Vania Margene Rheault
Should we start with ISBN numbers? There’s quite a debate about them.
KT Daxon
Sounds great! What are the pros and cons when it comes to buying your own ISBN numbers vs using CreateSpace’s free ones?
Vania Margene Rheault
The biggest pro is that you are protecting your own work. I like knowing I own my work free and clear. Using a CreateSpace ISBN number doesn’t mean they own it, but they are listed as the publisher in the product details. Some people don’t mind it, but if a reader has been burned by an indie book, it’s the quickest way to lose a sale.
This is from someone who took the free number.
The other pro is yes, you can list an imprint you create for yourself as the publisher, lending a bit more professionalism to your book.
KT Daxon
Which also doesn’t help separate you from other indie authors when you share the same “Publishing Name” I would think professionalism would be up on the top of an authors list?
Vania Margene Rheault
Yes. But that goes with the biggest con. ISBN numbers are expensive, and not everyone can afford them. If you publish with IngramSpark, they make you buy your own.
KT Daxon
I’m very excited to learn about imprints…as for the cost of the ISBNs, they are expensive but is it worth it to buy your own?
Vania Margene Rheault
Here’s where people are divided. Some say it’s worth it, some say they don’t care. The professional opinion of the Alliance for Independent Authors say you should always buy your own. But with CreateSpace giving them away, and Kindle Direct Publishing give you an Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) lots of people forgo buying their own numbers. It’s a personal choice. Personally, if you can afford it, I say you should. Even if just for the vanity (and fun!) of being able to use your own imprint.
KT Daxon
I really can’t see myself doing it any other way. Self-publishing is a journey, why wouldn’t you want to go all in?
Vania Margene Rheault
I guess cost is the main issue. After you pay for editing, maybe formatting, maybe cover design, there’s not much money left for something you can get for free.
Another con is if you’re going to be slow to publish. The best deals are in packs of 10, 100, and 1000. If you only publish once a year, it doesn’t seem worth it.
KT Daxon
Do ISBN numbers expire?
Vania Margene Rheault
No. Once they are yours, they are yours. But you can’t sell them or give them away. They are registered under your name and imprint. I called and asked them that. 🙂
KT Daxon
So as long as you wrote 10 books in your lifetime, it wouldn’t be a waste….if one could afford it?
Vania Margene Rheault
Five books. One for the paperback and one for the KDP version. Any version of the book needs a new ISBN number. I’m thinking of publishing my books in Large Print. That would require another ISBN. So one book could have four or five ISBN numbers.
KT Daxon
Such great information to know. Knowing that each book requires a different number, shows me that it IS worth it to get your own. Even if you had to sell something to afford it. (Which is what I considered, haha!)
Does CS and KDP have unlimited free ones?
Vania Margene Rheault
Yes, they’ll give you as many as you need to publish.
Other questions people have asked about ISBN numbers:
*Can you change the cover without needing a new number? Yes.
*Can you change the insides without need a new number? Yes–if you don’t change more than 20%.
*Can you change the size of your book and keep the same number? No.
*Can you change the title and keep the same number? No.
*Can you change your author name and keep the same number? No.
KT Daxon
Great information to know! Especially for those just venturing out. I’ve learned so much tonight!
Vania Margene Rheault
I hope we’ve helped some others, too. Do you have any other questions right now?
KT Daxon
Not at this time. The good thing about these chats, I’m sure we’ll get comments to inspire other chats.
Vania Margene Rheault
Awesome! I’ll dig up a couple of articles on the pros and cons of buying your own ISBNs as well.
It was fun to chat with KT about ISBN numbers. I know they are very expensive, and I like I said in the chat, not everyone can afford them–especially if they pay for other things for their book like editing or cover design.
Here’s what the Alliance of Independent Authors says about buying your own. You can read it here.
Should You Buy Your Own ISBN When You Self-Publish?
Thanks for listening in! Next time we’ll be chatting about imprints! See you there!
Vania Margene Rheault 
I use the CreateSpace ISBNs because:
1. While you *must* have one on physical books, they are totally pointless on e-books. They serve no purpose whatsoever (except enriching the people who sell ISBN numbers, who happen to be the ones who write all the articles about why they are important).
2. What % of your sales are print? For me it’s 10%. So only 10% of the people looking at my book description might notice the publisher. And what percent of readers look at the publisher of a book? Maybe 10%? So the downside might impact 1% of your sales. Good luck selling enough books that a 1% boost pays for a vanity ISBN.
Also, those people who feel burned by indie and are protecting themselves by looking at the publisher are going to see right through your vanity press name. If it isn’t one of the big five, that’s all they need to know.
By the way, I feel exactly the same way about library of congress numbers. A pointless and expensive exercise indulged in by authors who want to feel “real.”
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