5 Key Differences Between Normal and Amazon KDP ISBNs
Reading Time: 5 minutesIf you’re getting ready to publish your book, you need an ISBN. Should you buy your own or go with Amazon KDP?
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) has been around since the system’s establishment in 1970, and it’s still a vital part of the publishing industry every author should know about.
Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) shook things up with its own ISBNs and ASINs, which work a little bit differently than traditional book numbers.
Here are the ins and outs of these different types of ISBNs. Whether you’re an author or publisher, it’s a good idea to learn what each number demands and offers.
What Are ISBNs and ASINs?
If you want your novel out without a hitch or enhance your professional ebook publishing steps by offering a high-quality printed version, too, learn about ISBNs—if only to avoid problems in the future.
In short, ISBNs are 13 digits long and serve to digitally identify every book in circulation, including details like their edition, publisher, and the country they were registered in.
This makes it easier for anyone on the publishing supply chain, from retailers to libraries, to order, sell, and keep stock of books.
One fact to remember is that ISBNs aren’t mandatory. You don’t need one if you only intend to sell your book in person or through your website. If you want to see it in physical stores, however, an ISBN is a must.
Another misconception about ISBNs relates to copyright. A published book does demonstrate its author, launch date, and so on, but its ISBN isn’t proof of copyright.
If you have more questions about how copyright works or what fair use is for authors, get advice from reliable sources, especially official ones like the US Copyright Office’s page on registering literary works.
Now, let’s look at KDP’s book numbers. When publishing on this platform, if you haven’t already bought your own ISBN, Amazon adds one for free to each printed book.
Digital publications, like any Amazon product, get an ASIN, which stands for Amazon Standard Identification Number. Both codes do the same job as normal ISBNs; they give a book a marker so that Amazon can list and circulate it smoothly. The catch is that you can only distribute your book through the company’s publishing system and must follow its rules.
Clearly, there are pros and cons to either ISBN option, so it’s worth breaking down their differences further. Think about your publishing plan and what kind of book number you need.
Key Differences Between Normal and Amazon ISBNs
Dealing with ISBNs isn’t as simple as creating barcodes on Google Sheets. The traditional ISBN route is costly but more productive. Amazon is cheaper and no less useful, but its demands aren’t for everyone.
1. Amazon’s Numbers Are Easier to Get
You can only buy an ISBN from your country’s official agency, which is Bowker in the US. The easiest way to get your book’s code is to order one or several through the service’s My Identifiers page for buying ISBNs.
KDP, on the other hand, gives you an ISBN or ASIN automatically if you don’t already have your own. If you’re happy to just use Amazon for your publishing needs, it’s the least complicated process.
2. Amazon ISBNs and ASINs Are Free
Another advantage to using KDP book numbers is that they’re completely free, a lifesaver for self-publishing authors with limited funds.
Bowker charges $125 for a single ISBN—quite a big difference. They do come cheaper in bulk, however, which is great if you have several novels in mind.
In addition to more diverse bundles, which include standard barcodes and QRPlus codes, you can get:
- 10 ISBNs for $295
- 100 numbers for $575
- 1,000 numbers for $1,500
3. Normal ISBNs Can Display More Information About a Book’s Publication
Investing in a normal ISBN can boost your book’s prospects. For starters, if you land a deal with a publishing house or even launch the book yourself, you can display the publisher’s details in the copyright page.
If you go straight through Amazon for your ISBN and publication, that same page can only say Independently published. Alternatively, as KDP explains about ISBNs, you can list an already published book on Amazon and display its existing imprint and 13-digit number.
At the end of the day, having a proper publisher’s name attached to your book makes it look better. It adds prestige and attracts readers more than a vague little phrase.
4. Normal ISBNs Allow Wider Distribution
Another problem with Amazon ISBNs is that you can’t get your titles onto bookstore shelves as easily as with normal numbers.
While you do have access to free Expanded Distribution on KDP, which allows retailers and libraries to order your Amazon books, there are still limitations, such as:
- A mandatory price hike for your book
- Only paperbacks allowed
- Strict content requirements
- Exclusion of some languages
Then again, Amazon alone reaches very wide audiences and offers a range of tools to make the best of your publication.
To promote your ebook on KDP, for example, you can use free book promotions, ad campaigns, and sponsored posts among other perks that put your work in front of the right people.
If this isn’t good enough and you want to be able to approach other retailers freely, save up and go straight for a traditional ISBN. Your experience will be very different and far more rewarding.
5. Amazon Is Very Strict With Its Publishers
The best deal you can get on Amazon as an author involves enrolling in KDP Select, which unlocks lots of marketing tools and 70% royalties but demands exclusivity.
As Amazon KDP’s terms and conditions explain about ebooks:
When you include a Digital Book in KDP Select, you give us the exclusive right to sell and distribute your Digital Book in digital format while your book is in KDP Select. During this period of exclusivity, you cannot sell or distribute, or give anyone else the right to sell or distribute, your Digital Book (or a book that is substantially similar), in digital format in any territory where you have rights.
So, any issues with your ISBN or ASIN may be the least of your worries, especially if you violate Amazon’s rules. The company has a habit of abruptly closing down offending accounts before their owners have a chance to retrieve their property.
Basically, if you join the KDP bandwagon, make sure you understand the rules, from what you can share on social media to how to spot and avoid fake Amazon reviews. It will help you tread carefully and take full advantage of the gifts that come with that free ISBN.
If it’s too much pressure, buying your ISBN and publishing somewhere else like Draft2Digital or PublishDrive is your best bet. You’ll be able to share your writing any way you want.
Choose the Right ISBN for the Best Publishing Experience
There’s more to publishing than ISBNs, but the wrong number can cripple your work’s reach. This is why it’s so important for indie authors to learn the difference between normal and Amazon KDP ISBNs and how to pick the best option for their books.
Freedom of movement and distribution are at the heart of their differences. An author with a global campaign in mind that includes physical stores, online retailers, and creative marketing is better off buying their ISBN.
Amazon’s free versions are for those who love the platform, are happy with its offerings, and don’t mind the strings attached.
Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/normal-vs-amazon-kdp-isbn/
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