Where to get barcodes for your book | Do I need a barcode for my book?
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- Опубліковано 18 чер 2024
- As I mentioned in the intro, I did get the idea for this video from comments on my other videos. So, be sure to comment with your questions. Usually, I can direct you to an existing video, if now, I end up making a video to answer that question. Seriously, subscribe and comment. You’re helping yourself and other authors, and me because I need new videos every week.
So where do you get the barcodes for your book?
First, some reminders:
BARCODES AND ISBNS are two totally different things. Your ISBN and your Barcode are not interchangeable terms. The ISBN is the distinct 13-digit number for your exact book by format. Your eBook has one your Paperback has another. The Barcode for the print book will have the ISBN written on it, but it holds more metadata than just the ISBN.
Which leads me to my next reminder. BARCODES are only for physical products that are inventoried or exchanged hands at a point of sale. EBooks and digital audiobooks, no barcode.
So where to get them?
Most if not all self-publishing platforms that offer print-on-demand for paperback and hardcover will apply a no-price barcode to the back of your book cover if you don’t bring your own. If you have no intention of pounding the pavement to get your book into brick-and-mortar stores and only plan to do online retail sales, this is fine. Take the free no-price barcode. The service will be able to apply the ISBN you provided - because you own your ISBN right? - to the barcode. You don’t have to worry about it
Some cover design services are also providing no-price barcodes. Again, this is fine. You will need to indicate in Amazon KDP that you are bringing your own barcode. Or tell your cover designer to not put on one. Again, if there is no price on the barcode it doesn’t matter.
IF YOU WANT THE PRICE ON YOUR BARCODE because you want to sell into brick-and-mortar stores then you have a few options, but each of these requires you to provide the barcode to your cover designer so they can put it on the back cover (one for the paperback and one for the hardcover because the ISBNs are different and the price should be too) for you.
In the US, you can get a barcode with the price on it from Bowker which is where you purchased your ISBN - because you own your ISBN right? - but it costs $25 a pop. So you have to really have that price set before you buy. Again, if you don’t want the price on the barcode, take the free one.
For US authors on a budget or authors elsewhere in the world where I’ve never had to get a barcode, you can use Bookow. They can also generate a barcode with the price on it. They don’t charge, but they do ask for a donation. Honestly, they just saved you $25 so be a good person and put in $5 or $10 so that this service can still exist next time you need a barcode and that it will exist for other authors too.
That’s it folks. What other questions do you have?
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For all the super technical ISBN, Barcode, and copyright questions, start here: ua-cam.com/video/fcS7nm55tps/v-deo.html
Thank you for all the nitty-gritty vids you put out to help us self-pubbed authors get our work into the world. Deeply appreciative. You fill a critically important space and have saved so many, myself included, tons of time, energy, and $$, too. Thank you so so much.
Thank you so much for your kind words and your support for this channel 😍😍😍
All your videos have been so helpful, I am working on getting my book published and had talked to my local bookstore about getting the book in there. I was a little confused when she told me the minimal requiremnts that they had (a professional edit and being able to find it on ingram) but these videos have been very helpful for me to understand the process and feel less overwhelmed by the entire thing.
So happy I can help and best of luck with your book! I hope they stock it at your local store! :)
Excellent video for new writers! Would you be open to creating a video regarding first time publishing authors on how to build a website for their brand? Thank you for ALL of the gems you provide to us as first time publishing authors🙏
Great suggestion, I'll add it to the list :)
As always, awesome information! Thanks for looking out for us.
I try my best :)
Thanks!
You're so welcome!
Ty this helped so much! 😍😍
I'm so glad!
Great info!
Thanks for watching!
I was just about to ask you Can you do a video on the difference between a free and paid book barcode. Also, is it legal to use a free generator one and would the publisher own the barcode if I choose to use it? 😅 you always on top of it 🙌🏾
Yes you can use the free barcode and still own your ISBN.
You mentioned if we bring out own barcode then we upload it when we upload our book to KDP. But then you mentioned giving the bar code to the cover designer. I'm confused.
Yes, the barcode needs to be on the full cover wrap image for the print book so whoever designed the cover needs to include the barcode image in the appropriate area on the back.
After watching your video on formatting I went down the rabbit hole of trying to price out that service (video suggestion). I found that whereas there are a lot of folks who have the correct software and skillset to do the job, the prices they quote are all over the map (from $290-$1350) which caused me great concern. I found another writer/UA-camr in your same vein that also offers this service in addition to copy editing so I have inquired. Not looking to pour money into my book launch, but what's a decent figure just to do Epub and PDF (paperback) file for interior formatting? Also, do you recommend buying the 10 pack of ISBNs at Bowker?
So, yes it can be expensive to get the first book off the ground. Especially when you have to pay for everything up front. I do find that you can figure out how to do the ePub formatting and print formatting yourself, but it is a new skillset to learn. One service I like that does everything (cover, interiors, uploads without issue every time) is 100 Covers: 100covers.com/?ref=49
As for the ISBNs, I knew going in I would have multiple formats and book ideas so I got the 10 pack from Bowker to get the price savings.
@@1MKWilliams Yeah, I checked out that site after seeing your recommendation. Though it seemed they only offer a cookie-cutter approach, a package deal that includes several things I do not want them to do. I've found most pages want this - to be your one-stop cure all, even the folks on Fiverr. My daughter, for instance, is a Dean's List fine artist and is producing a custom cover design. I took notes on all the boxes to check (thank you), and the only real difficulty I'm facing is interior formatting. Don't want to pay too much, but also don't want to pay at all for a half-assed job.
@@1MKWilliams 100 covers site says they only do interior formatting as part of a package that I don't want.
Your info is very helpful. Is self publishing being from Canada different. Can you detail the differences if there are any. Thx.
The main difference is that you get your ISBNs for FREE from the government! So you have to apply ahead of time but the process is easy: library-archives.canada.ca/eng/services/publishers/isbn/Pages/isbn.aspx