Everything Self-Publishing Authors Need to Know About ISBNs (and Whether You Really Need One)

Navigating the world of self-publishing means making many, many decisions about your book’s identity—and few are as foundational as the ISBN. This little number holds the key to your book’s distribution, findability, and professional reputation.

This guide breaks down exactly what an ISBN is, why you need to care, and the pros and cons of using a free ISBN versus buying your own.