Home » ISBN vs ASIN: Which One to Choose

ISBN vs ASIN: Which One to Choose

You’ve finished writing and editing your dream book. Now what? It is time for you to hit that exciting publish button and share your story with the world. But it is never that easy. If you’re a writer and have published your book before or if you’ve even tried to understand the process, you know what I mean. There are hundreds of questions to be answered after you are done with writing your book. Questions like if you’d want to get your book traditionally published or turn it into an Amazon KDP book. Which of these will be more suited to you?

Publishing a book is a daunting task. Whether you want to get your book traditionally published or through Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), it is a hassle.

Getting your book traditionally published means having to wait for a long time. It takes crafting the perfect query letter. It comes with multiple agent rejections until you finally land that book deal. Once you land a book deal, you’re set. The publisher will take care of the rest. However, some, if not most, authors find themselves waiting for years before successfully connecting to an agent with a good network. Sometimes, that opportunity never comes.

If you’re not one to wait, Amazon KDP can be the best option for you. Through Amazon KDP you can directly publish your book. Amazon will print and distribute the book. The rest will be your responsibility. Whether it’s editing, formatting, marketing, to designing, it’ll be your job. You can hire a team to do it all. But it is a confusing task, one way or another. The entire process prompts a million questions, from minor tasks to major ones

Today, we answer one such question. What are ISBN and ASIN? And more importantly, which should you choose for your Amazon KDP book.

ISBN and ASIN

Collectively, ISBN/ASIN are codes assigned to books that you can see online (and some in-store). These codes help identify books. Both ISBN and ASIN help readers find and purchase books.

If you’re a writer and want to publish your book, knowing ISBN/ASIN and their specifications is important. It can help with your book sales. It will also help the reader discover your book more easily.

You don’t have to worry about it if you want to go the traditional way. Your publisher will get your ISBN. If you want to self-publish your book, though, you will have to see this yourself. You will have two choices. You can either choose ISBN or ASIN.

Let’s see what these two terms mean.

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International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

ISBN is a code assigned to every book edition. This makes it easier for readers, bookstore owners, and libraries to find your book. Assigning a code or an ISBN to your book helps people find and buy your book. It is also needed to track sales and maintain copyright protection.

Benefits of ISBN

Easy Identification

ISBN is like the fingerprint of your book. It makes it easier for people to identify, find, and purchase your book. A retailer can easily discover your book through an ISBN.
Example: You’re a reader and you want to find a fantasy novel online. You can easily look for “Harry Potter” because it has an ISBN. Without an ISBN, that search would have been a lot harder.

Professionalism

Having an ISBN means that your book will look more professional. It makes your book look well-made and serious.
Example: Imagine you’re a retailer, and you see an ISBN written on a book. It will make you think that the book must be trustworthy and written by a professional writer. And that will make you order a large set of these books to sell in your bookstore.

More Discoverable

ISBN makes it easy for libraries and retailers to acquire your book. This makes your book accessible to many readers.
Example: You’re a reader who likes to visit bookstores. You feel a book in your hands and then decide whether to get it. If a book has an ISBN, a bookstore can easily carry it. If a book is available in a store, you’ll be able to get it.

Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN)

ASIN, as the name suggests, is specific to Amazon only. ASIN is similar to ISBN. It is also a code that is assigned to your book, helping people easily search and discover your book. ASIN is a code assigned by Amazon to each product available on its platform. The difference between both codes is that while ISBN applies to all retailers and formats, ASIN is Amazon-exclusive. It is for Amazon to keep a simple catalog of each of its products, and that will include your book.

Benefits of ASIN

Easy on Amazon

ASIN is just for Amazon. It is a special code that helps make your book stand out. It makes your Amazon KDP book get noticed by its customers.
Example: You just published your poetry book on Amazon KDP with an ASIN. It was soon featured in the “New Releases” section and got a lot of attention.

Quick Publishing

Acquiring ASIN is as easy as clicking a button. This makes it easier for you to get your book published quickly and see it in your readers’ hands.
Example: You are completely done with the writing and editing process. You just want to get your book out there, so you decide to go with ASIN. In a matter of minutes, your book is ready to be published.

Cost-Free

ASIN is completely cost-free as compared to ISBN. Even though it limits your book distribution to Amazon, there will not be a single penny you’d need to spend on your book’s ASIN.
Example: You want to self-publish but are low on a budget. You opt for ASIN and without any costs, get your book published.

ISBN vs ASIN

The main question is which one you should opt for.

If you plan to publish your book on Amazon only, going with ASIN can be the way to go. ASIN is simple and convenient. Acquiring ASIN makes it easy for Amazon topromote your book. Their customers will have easy access to buying your Amazon KDP book as your ASIN will be seamlessly integrated into Amazon’s ecosystem. This will increase your book’s visibility to Amazon customers. Obtaining ASIN is completely free.

However, if you have plans to distribute your book on other platforms along with Amazon, you will have to choose ISBN. ISBNs are recognized universally and make your book easy to purchase by people around the world. ISBN allows you to distribute your book to retailers and libraries, giving access to more people to buy and read your book. They also give your work the due credibility. Obtaining an ISBN is not free. If you publish your book on Amazon and still want to opt for ISBN, Amazon can provide you with a free ISBN. However, that ISBN is limited to Amazon only. If you want to distribute your book elsewhere, you must purchase an ISBN for your book.

Before choosing between both codes, you must consider your publishing goals. Ask yourself questions like, what your target audience is? What your marketing budget is? Where do you want to distribute your book to? Are you able to purchase ISBNs for wider distribution?

By answering certain questions, you will be able to understand what it is your book requires most.

Summary

ISBN and ASIN are extremely important for authors who want to get published. Both codes help you succeed. If you wish to distribute worldwide, investing in ISBN is wiser. However, you can opt for ASIN if your main target audience is Amazon. ISBN needs to be purchased, but ASIN is completely cost-free.

Basically, the choice between ISBN and ASIN depends on your publishing goals. By understanding their differences and benefits, you can push your book toward more sales and reader engagement in the world of Amazon KDP.