alphabeta
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Post by alphabeta on Sept 10, 2014 23:26:50 GMT -8
I quote from Smashwords Style Guide: "Missing an ISBN in the Dashboard’s ISBN Manager. Although we don’t require an ISBN for inclusion in the Premium Catalog, if you don’t attach an ISBN in your Dashboard’s ISBN Manager then we cannot distribute your book to Apple, Sony and Kobo." And: "It’s not necessary to place your ISBN inside your ebook. Instead, you’ll attach your ISBN via your Dashboard’s ISBN Manager feature at Smashwords. If you don’t have an ISBN, Smashwords can supply you one for free. If you don’t attach an ISBN via the ISBN Manager screen, your book cannot ship to major retailers such as Apple, Sony and Kobo." So, precisely when Smashwords will provide me with the ISBN necessary to attach it via the ISBN Manager Screen? Before or after uploading the book? Tks P.S. An not quite sure this is the place I can ask such questions, I saw an intimidating announcement about not asking questions about editing somewhere, but then I was led to same place as before.
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serbanvcenache
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Post by serbanvcenache on Sept 11, 2014 4:18:37 GMT -8
Once you upload your book to Smashwords, then you go to the Dashboard's ISBN manager and acquire the ISBN for the book. It's instantly; it's not a waiting process.
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alphabeta
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Post by alphabeta on Sept 13, 2014 23:06:56 GMT -8
Thank you.
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serbanvcenache
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Post by serbanvcenache on Sept 14, 2014 1:18:22 GMT -8
With pleasure. ^_^
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Post by jaydax on Sept 25, 2014 15:47:28 GMT -8
Of course a reasonable policy would be for Smashwords to issue an ISBN before you upload so that you don't have to upload twice. I presume they don't want authors to tie up ISBNs before they have a complete book.
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vincentberg
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Post by vincentberg on Sept 25, 2014 17:48:48 GMT -8
Actually, suggesting you go the extra yardage, I published using assigned ISBNs for a long time but finally decided to purchase my own. If you buy them one at a time, they've very expensive, but having the ISBN point to your own books is worthwhile. But, more importantly, I tried listing my books on goodreads.com. Since goodreads accesses their book information via iSBNs, it took close to two months before I could list any of my smashwords books. By purchasing my own and filling in the information ahead of time, the book's information is available as soon as you publish (or even before, if you want to launch a pre-release giveaway).
The secret to getting private ISBNs cheaply is to buy in bulk. Since I publish separate files to smashwords, Amazon, Createspace and now, Google Books and iBooks, I need several ISBNs for each book I publish. If you don't think you'll publish that many books (I'm about to publish my 10th soon), a better option is to find several other authors and form your own collective. By joining together and forming your own publishing group, you'll draw attention to each others works while still focusing attention on your own books. Plus, you can get the ISBNs you require for a nominal fee. (I believe it's $5.75 if you purchase 100). Don't quote me on the price, though, as I bought mine some time ago.
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Post by Ted on Sept 25, 2014 19:21:15 GMT -8
Canadians can get ISBN's for free, but not so in the US and some other countries. Check government web sites for your country.
Danish government as an example: Prices
Prices for ISBN-lists m/EAN talpr . 1.January 2014.
10 Numbers Free
100 Numbers Free
After that there is a fee.
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vincentberg
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Post by vincentberg on Sept 26, 2014 7:01:02 GMT -8
Interesting. I guess they're essentially government subsidies to promote the regional book market. Not a bad investment scheme by each country.
Do the ISBNs work for each country? (I can't imagine why they wouldn't, but I'm just curious whether everyone recognizes them.) Broker's prices seem especially steep. That's why I recommended investing in a bundle using a group of writers as a cost saving option.
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Post by Ted on Sept 26, 2014 8:10:44 GMT -8
Interesting. I guess they're essentially government subsidies to promote the regional book market. Not a bad investment scheme by each country. Do the ISBNs work for each country? (I can't imagine why they wouldn't, but I'm just curious whether everyone recognizes them.) Broker's prices seem especially steep. That's why I recommended investing in a bundle using a group of writers as a cost saving option. ISBN are International. Bowkers sticks it to US authors. They should offer a Danish version; free ISBN for 10 or 20 ebooks or whatever.
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alphabeta
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Post by alphabeta on Oct 3, 2014 1:21:11 GMT -8
Well, I did not understand it right. As soon as I asked for a free ISBN it was automatically added to my ISBN manager without me doing anything. But if I will unpublish from smashwords or use my right to publish elsewhere too, I believe this ISBN will not do any more. I'll see if there are free ISBN's locally. Thanks for answering at length
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bearden
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Post by bearden on Nov 15, 2014 20:34:20 GMT -8
Please see my message below.
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bearden
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Post by bearden on Nov 21, 2014 20:17:03 GMT -8
I'm a bit slow on the uptake, but can I assume Smashwords will automatically assign me an ISBN. And will that be a problem if I live in Australia since I'm publishing via the U.S.A.
If Canada gives away free ISBN's, and I'm a citizen of Canada, but don't live there, then can I get free ISBN's from there.
In Australia they are, I think, $34 for one plus $55 first time customer surcharge.
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Post by Ted on Nov 21, 2014 21:32:39 GMT -8
Bearden, on your Smashwords Dashboard is a link to your ISBN Manager. Once you've published your work you can use the ISBN Manager to apply/receive your free ISBN from Smashwords.
Canadian ISBN's are available to Canadian publishers. Being a Canadian alone doesn't qualify, you have to live/operate in Canada.
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mickthompson
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Post by mickthompson on Dec 11, 2014 20:01:29 GMT -8
Brilliant. It worked, Ted. All that time sitting right up there on the Dashboard.
Thanks for that advice.
Smashwords is turning out better every day.
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chelsfield
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Post by chelsfield on Dec 12, 2014 2:09:12 GMT -8
The secret to getting private ISBNs cheaply is to buy in bulk. Since I publish separate files to smashwords, Amazon, Createspace and now, Google Books and iBooks, I need several ISBNs for each book I publish. If you don't think you'll publish that many books (I'm about to publish my 10th soon), a better option is to find several other authors and form your own collective. By joining together and forming your own publishing group, you'll draw attention to each others works while still focusing attention on your own books. Plus, you can get the ISBNs you require for a nominal fee. (I believe it's $5.75 if you purchase 100). Don't quote me on the price, though, as I bought mine some time ago. I am a bit confused here. I assumed that, even though the ISBN for the first book in our series was assigned by Smashwords, it was portable. Essentially, I could use this ISBN when uploading to Amazon etc. Or else what is the use of a number unique to that title? If I saw that one title had a number of ISBNs attached to it, I would assume that the additional ones signified revised version, new versions of the title. Are online retailers requiring ISBNs unique to their sites? I must have missed the memo....
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