M.K. Williams | NEVER use the "free" ISBN from Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or any other platform! | Self-Publishing Tip @1MKWilliams | Uploaded March 2024 | Updated October 2024, 2 hours ago.
I’m going to walk you through an example for a first time self-publishing author based on all the authors I’ve helped with this channel to explain why you should never use the free Amazon ISBN. At the end of this video I will tell you the ONE exception to this rule. And if you fit this one exception then have at it and enjoy the ISBN. But for everyone else, like 99% of you, don’t do it.
SCENARIO 1
An indie author is ready to publish and they've already spent so much! Finally something for free! Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digtial all offer free ISBNs!
And *timeout*
I’m super frugal. I want to advocate for authors to get more things for free if they can. The cost of 1 ISBN in the US is $125 dollars. For a number? A number? Are you kidding me?
So if an author can get a break, I’m all for it.
*Okay timein*
If the author has plans to do an eBook, a paperback, and a hardcover for her novel. That means she would need 3 ISBNs. So the savings are adding up here if she takes the free ISBN.
But here’s the catch.
The ISBN that is given for FREE from Amazon, or IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital can’t be used anywhere else.
So you have to lock in to that one platform.
SCENARIO 2
Let's say an author just wanted to get the book out, see how it did. Good news - it is doing great. But now customers want the book from other platforms. The author is ready to expand, but when she goes to take those same files and same ISBN and upload them elsewhere, she can’t because Amazon owns that ISBN and the other platforms won’t accept it.
But she can’t take the Amazon ISBN with her.
Because she should have used her own.
So now she needs to release a second edition of the same book with a new cover or a new bonus chapter or something under her own ISBN so she is free to upload it anywhere she wants.
Do you see why the Free ISBN is actually the biggest handcuff for you.
THE ONLY TIME YOU SHOULD USE A FREE ISBN
There are a lot of other creators on YouTube who talk about low-content self-publishing on Amazon KDP. These are usually journals or diaries. You have lined paper and the real selling point is the cover art. But these can be seasonal and the majority of the audience is on Amazon. Unless you are making beautifully handcrafted journals the people doing low-content books on Amazon are just on Amazon. The other platforms have limited low-content books. So the main place to publish them in Amazon KDP, there’s not much else you can do to take that journal elsewhere and then you’re constantly creating new ones to meet trends. If that is you, low-content journals and diaries on Amazon KDP - get the free ISBN. Because you’re not taking the book elsewhere and you’re gonna need a lot of em.
ISBN videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5wG4jOiELp0BbfdZUAVE9BmHL51VJBf3
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCjvBO4kjuBSYe6Bi3RYQAQA/join
Music from: Wondershare Filmora Sounds: "Something Cheer You Up"
Stock video and images from Wondershare Filmora and Pexels
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DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you, but it can help me continue to create and put out more content. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!
I’m going to walk you through an example for a first time self-publishing author based on all the authors I’ve helped with this channel to explain why you should never use the free Amazon ISBN. At the end of this video I will tell you the ONE exception to this rule. And if you fit this one exception then have at it and enjoy the ISBN. But for everyone else, like 99% of you, don’t do it.
SCENARIO 1
An indie author is ready to publish and they've already spent so much! Finally something for free! Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digtial all offer free ISBNs!
And *timeout*
I’m super frugal. I want to advocate for authors to get more things for free if they can. The cost of 1 ISBN in the US is $125 dollars. For a number? A number? Are you kidding me?
So if an author can get a break, I’m all for it.
*Okay timein*
If the author has plans to do an eBook, a paperback, and a hardcover for her novel. That means she would need 3 ISBNs. So the savings are adding up here if she takes the free ISBN.
But here’s the catch.
The ISBN that is given for FREE from Amazon, or IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital can’t be used anywhere else.
So you have to lock in to that one platform.
SCENARIO 2
Let's say an author just wanted to get the book out, see how it did. Good news - it is doing great. But now customers want the book from other platforms. The author is ready to expand, but when she goes to take those same files and same ISBN and upload them elsewhere, she can’t because Amazon owns that ISBN and the other platforms won’t accept it.
But she can’t take the Amazon ISBN with her.
Because she should have used her own.
So now she needs to release a second edition of the same book with a new cover or a new bonus chapter or something under her own ISBN so she is free to upload it anywhere she wants.
Do you see why the Free ISBN is actually the biggest handcuff for you.
THE ONLY TIME YOU SHOULD USE A FREE ISBN
There are a lot of other creators on YouTube who talk about low-content self-publishing on Amazon KDP. These are usually journals or diaries. You have lined paper and the real selling point is the cover art. But these can be seasonal and the majority of the audience is on Amazon. Unless you are making beautifully handcrafted journals the people doing low-content books on Amazon are just on Amazon. The other platforms have limited low-content books. So the main place to publish them in Amazon KDP, there’s not much else you can do to take that journal elsewhere and then you’re constantly creating new ones to meet trends. If that is you, low-content journals and diaries on Amazon KDP - get the free ISBN. Because you’re not taking the book elsewhere and you’re gonna need a lot of em.
ISBN videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5wG4jOiELp0BbfdZUAVE9BmHL51VJBf3
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCjvBO4kjuBSYe6Bi3RYQAQA/join
Music from: Wondershare Filmora Sounds: "Something Cheer You Up"
Stock video and images from Wondershare Filmora and Pexels
How You Can Support This Channel and My Work:
👍Like, Subscribe, and Comment on this video!
✉️Subscribe to my monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/52c7cd246b5b/authoryourambition
➕Follow me on my other channels: FB | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
facebook.com/1mkwilliams
twitter.com/1mkwilliams
instagram.com/1mkwilliams
goodreads.com/author/show/14420756.M_K_Williams
☕️Buy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/1mkwilliams
📚Check out my books and purchase them or request them at your library: 1mkwilliams.com or payhip.com/MKWilliamsPublishingLLC
Author Your Ambition Merch on Etsy:
📖etsy.com/shop/AuthorYourAmbition
Partnership Opportunities:
Interested in working together to collaborate on an upcoming video? Let's connect: authoryourambition.com/partnership-opportunities
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you, but it can help me continue to create and put out more content. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!
