Why Are ISBNs and Barcodes Essential in Self-Publishing?
If you are self-publishing a book, chances are you have heard of ISBNs and barcodes and what their significance might be. Let’s go over some key facts here to help answer that question.
What Are ISBNs (International Standard Book Number)
An ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number; this identifier for books functions similarly to Social Security numbers for people. Each edition and format requires its own ISBN; for instance if there’s both hardcover and paperback versions of your book published together then each of those editions would require their own separate number.
Why Should You Register Your Book with ISBN? A book ISBN allows your book to be easily located by libraries, bookstores and online retailers as well as track sales data and royalties more efficiently. Having one may even be mandatory on certain platforms where listing for sale takes place.
What Are Barcodes (EAN/EAN-13/ISBN-13)?
Barcodes are graphic representations of your ISBN that can be read by scanners at point-of-sale for quick and accurate inventory and sales data tracking. Barcodes are essential when selling physical copies of your book in stores or events.
How are ISBNs and barcodes related?
Purchase of an ISBN will come with its corresponding barcode; this barcode contains its respective ISBN in scannable form to make selling it at retail easier and ensure its identification by customers.
Benefits of ISBNs and Barcodes in Self-Publishing
ISBN and barcode registration gives your self-published book an authoritative look while making distribution and sale easier, providing more accurate tracking of royalties for easier decision-making on publishing strategy.
Increased Visibility
An ISBN allows your book to be listed in library catalogs, online databases and bookstore shelves – increasing visibility and reaching more readers!
Sales Tracking
Barcoding your book allows for convenient tracking of sales data. With this knowledge in hand, it becomes much simpler to assess how effectively and where your book is selling – all key pieces of knowledge when optimizing marketing efforts and distribution strategies in order to maximise sales.
Royalties
ISBNs can help ensure royalty payments. When your book sells, using its ISBN can track sales data accurately to track fair compensation for you as an author/illustrator – giving you peace of mind knowing you will receive fair payment of royalties from it sales data.
Conclusion
For self-publishers, ISBNs and barcodes play an integral part of book success. By providing visibility, tracking capabilities, professionalism and making sales more seamless – ISBNs and barcodes help reach a larger audience and help realize publishing goals more successfully. Investing in them now could make all the difference when self-publishing!