How to register an ISBN for a book is not just yours but every author’s question.
Just like each of us has a unique name and personality, each of our books has its own name and personality. This is called an ISBN number, and it is different from the book’s cover, title, and story.
On the back cover of the book, you may have seen a small bar code and a number above it. This is the ISBN number.
You are almost through writing the last line, you want to start thinking about book covers and marketing, and you’re unsure if you also need one of those strange-looking 13-digit numbers and barcodes you have seen on book covers. What is ISBN? Is it merely a strange code used by insiders? Can something so minor actually be so significant?
Even though it may seem unimportant, an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is crucial for helping you reach the largest audience possible.
What is ISBN?
You must be wondering what is ISBN after all?
An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a series of numbers that identifies important data about your book (known as metadata), such as the title, author, kind of book, physical characteristics, and publisher’s location.
The fundamental idea behind ISBN is actually fairly straightforward: each edition of a book issued by a specific publisher may be identified by a specific numerical string.
Every single published version of a book has an ISBN, so if you decide to publish in different formats (paperback, hardback, eBook, etc.), each one would require its own ISBN. It’s distinctive and particular to that edition, kind of like the fingerprint of your book.
For example: “The Hunger Games” and “Catching Fire” even though are books from the same series but have different titles therefore will have two different ISBN.
ISBNs are used by publishers, booksellers, libraries, and online merchants for stock management, ordering, listing, and sales tracking. In essence, your project’s ISBN gives merchants all the information they require to properly stock and market your book.
How to register an ISBN in India?
Step 1
Set and confirm the font, page size, margins, cover page, and all other details. The number of pages must be entered when applying for an ISBN. This detail cannot later be modified, so be very careful with this procedure.
Step 2
Get a print of your book that is exactly how you want it to be released and promoted. You will have to send the relevant authorities a printed copy of the front and back covers of your book, along with a note indicating whether it is a hardbound or paper back.
Step 3
Choosing the selling price is the third step. Keep in mind that you must account for commission and administrative costs within the maximum selling price in order to turn a profit. Printing, binding, storage, marketing, publisher’s commission, etc. are typical expenses that you must consider.
To know more, here is a post to help you figure out the cost of self publishing in India.
Step 4
Go to the website of ISBN India and click on New Applicant Registration. You can register as an Author by following the easy steps. Approval can take 5-7 days after you submit your application. Once your application has been approved, you will receive an email from ISBN.
Step 5
Once your application has been approved, login to the ISBN website and apply for an ISBN. The following details must be provided while applying for an ISBN number.
- Title of Book
- Author
- Publisher
- Year of Publication
- Place of Publication
- Pages
- Price
- Subject
- Language
- Paperback or Hardback
- Address for Communication
And what else? Nah, I didn’t forget anything. It’s true, you can get an ISBN for free in India.
ISBNs are issued by the government, so it may take up to 20 days to get one. Additionally, they never expire, so you don’t have to worry about reapplying.
