Tuesday, April 18, 2017

The ISBN Dilemma … Should Authors Buy Their Own?

WOWSA! Such a deal … buy your ISBN for only ten bucks … who wants to pay $125? The real questions are: are they legit ISBNs? Or, are they knockoffs? Or, are they a re-sale? And if they are a resale, are they being sold by an approved resale outlet? Are they legit … or are they fake? What’s an author to do?



All authors need to understand this: ISBNs are ONLY ISSUED by Bowker ... it doesn't matter what name you get them through. And in fact, it may be a giant hiccup if you take this route. Bowker has the exclusive distribution rights in the United States ... other companies have them in other parts of the world. Here's what ePubBud.com and others like it do: they purchase a bank of ISBNS... you too, can buy 1000 for $1000 or $1 an ISBN (now, that’s a deal)—where single ones are sold for $125 via Bowker, 10 for $250, 100 for $500 and 1,000 for $1,000, etc. 

Anyone can buy and then repackage and sell them as singles or multiples at, say $10 vs. the single direct purchase from Bowker for $125. If you are crunching numbers, $10 sounds better than $125—but is it?  Supposedly, they have a "channel" arrangement with Bowker to do that. You think—"WOW—such a deal." Maybe. Maybe not. And yep, that means you could buy them and resell to your friends and maybe as a “side business” as well. Hmmm, 1,000 for $1,000—resell for $10 each … what a rate of return!

They are making 10 times on their money—not a bad ROI for sure! ... and get this: all those ISBNs are really listed as them—whoever sells them to you and originally purchased them—as the publisher ... you see, Amazon’s CreateSpace still owns them, as does IngramSpark or ANY other company that you use THEIRS and you don’t PERSONALLY buy them yourself. Understand this.  When you buy from others, they “resell” to you but DO NOT transfer ownership to you as the publisher. Deep in the guts of Bowker, it still will show that the original owner is the owner. What you get is the right to use the number as long as you are connected with it. Technically, your book is connected to the ISBN via title, but not as the publisher. And if you leave CreateSpace, etc., you will have to get a new ISBN before you print/publish your book again with your own publishing company … or with another.

Bottom line: Before you buy any of the "deals" check it out—determine if you get to register your book personally with the ISBN so that BookScan picks up your retail sales and IDs you as the publisher. It’s Author Beware time.

My take ... if you are a publisher, you should have a minimum of 10 ISBNs ... better yet, 100. Why 100?--it's cheaper for sure ($5 each) and if you really get the re-purposing side of just what one book can create—breaking it up into mini books, creating new books and products, etc. And if you watch the emails that Bowker.com puts out, they often offer deep discounts on them.

I have one client who took his tome—published what we called the Mothership; then broke it into sections—created each in a POD format with corresponding eBook; and then took 9 other chapters in the book that stood alone-did the POD and eBook side—we morphed the cover just a tad—branding was there; created a new intro for each. One book = 15 books. He was amazed. He is selling. He is happy. He needed 15 ISBNs and bought 100, all registered to his own publishing company. 

When my husband and I first started Mile High Press, we pulled down 100 ISBNs several years ago—we are now at #73 in use. If I do what I plan to do, I will have to go for a second round of 100 soon. 

Noodle here ... what are your big plans ... the Vision thing for your authoring and publishing? Right now, Bowker owns the game in publishing town and controls ISBNs in the United States. Other countries have different arrangements with ISBNs within their countries. Who it officially allows to resell is another game and then those who just buy and resell and don't give a twit if it's official or not is yet another. 

My Advice:  Bowker created MyIdentifyers for ease for authors to get information on publishing as well as buy single ISBNs to multiples. Make it your portal to get YOUR ISBNs that you own and control. It’s the savvy thing for all authors who are self- and independent publishing today. 

Should buying ISBNs be a dilemma? Nope … you should buy your own from the get go.







Ashography Event Photography
Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of AuthorU.org, a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the '80s. Judith is the author of 35 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (Foreword IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #35 was published in 2016: How to Avoid 101 Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers & Boo-Boos. Get your copy now.
Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three-day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2017, the dates are June 22-24th.  Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for "AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing" on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow.
Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU, and join the Facebook group Book Publishing with The Book Shepherd. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.
header-logo1.pngAuthor U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps, and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre-, during and post-publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.
 If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching ... call in to Judith's Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday if you are an AuthorU.org GOLD member. 

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Is Your Author Photo a Selfie or Professionally Done?

What photos are you using on your website? How about for media? Or, a speaking engagement? Are they oldies, but what you consider goodies? Could they be more than five years old?


Your picture says a thousand words:
  • what you do;
  • who you are;
  • what you love to play with or at;
  • what your expertise is;
  • who’s your crowd;
  • what else?
Visuals are powerful. You may use them on your book covers, your website and your promo and publicity material. Think Bio shots, Author One-Sheets, website, promo materials, social medial. All that showcase your genre and personality.

You’ve invested in your book, your editing, your cover design, your interior. Now, invest in a photo shoot of yourself. It might me a solo shot; it might contain items that support your branding; it might capture you “out of your regular element” … but what it will do is give you a variety of options to have available for media, your website and much more.

What You Need to Determine:
What types of author pics do you need?

Ideally, you need a professional headshot. With the mobile devices, we all have and the built-in cameras, getting headshots and candid shots were simple. I have been on enough cruises, that I had actually cropped some of the pictures taken and even used those. Good enough … but were they, are they, really?
Do those photos really highlight the “best” of what you want to reflect? Maybe … but most likely, not.

Stop. You are worth more than any Selfie shot will create. Bypass the selfies. Your book and Author One-Sheet should not look like a DIY project. Your readers and buyers will know. So will your book sales and speaking engagements—don’t be surprised to discover that many may not pick up your book because it looks mediocre; a meeting planner may bypass you because of the same thing. Ugh.

When I did a self-assessment, I knew it was time to step up my game. I had professional shots down over the years … but it had been a long time. It was time to make a phone call and set up a time to do a new one.

Show some action and use different locations.
Both outside and inside … it changes the look and feel. On the radio show I did with Author Photographer Ashlee Bratton, she shared,
If you have a business book, you can use a studio shot or a neutral outdoors. Nonfiction can have a backdrop that ties into your theme. Military books could use a tarmac, bomber jackets. Cookbooks put you in the kitchen environment. Fiction books open multiple possibilities. Be creative. Listen here.  

How much should you pay and how to negotiate?
Always a good question … understand that prices will vary from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on who you work with and what packages they have. You want to be sure to get commercial copyright use and digital files in whatever your portrait package is. And, read whatever contract you sign. Ashlee has put together a terrific all-inclusive package for authors for under $300. Take advantage of it.

Finally, I took my own advice.
OK, I did it ... meaning that I settled in and did a photo shoot with photographer Ashlee of Ashography, who just happens to be an author as well—Life Before the Lottery.

In the back of my mind, I knew ... yes, I knew, that I had to step up and get a professional photo shoot done. She had been after me for a few years to do one. Then, she called my bluff a few months later. “I’m doing a baby shoot next weekend in your area and I have a few hours. I’m coming by and we are going to do shoot the next Sunday!” her voice confidently said.

Gulping, I agreed to be ready. Here’s a few from my shoot:

I loved working with her. It was fast, super casual (my style) and painless. I loved the variety and felt she captured me. Changing earrings a few times and my blouse/jacket plus a re-apply of lipstick … it was a TaDah!
Do yourself, your book, your fans, and followers a favor. Get an another photo shoot scheduled ... but before you do, make sure you listen to the show I did with Ashlee to give you all the tips you need to make it the BEST!
And guess what, Ashlee is bugging me again … time to do an updated shoot. Why not—when?




Ashography Event Photography
Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of AuthorU.org, a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the '80s. Judith is the author of 35 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (Foreword IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #35 was published in 2016: How to Avoid 101 Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers & Boo-Boos. Get your copy now.
Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three-day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2017, the dates are June 22-24th.  Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for "AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing" on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow.
Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU, and join the Facebook group Book Publishing with The Book Shepherd. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.
header-logo1.pngAuthor U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps, and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre-, during and post-publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.
 If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching ... call in to Judith's Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday if you are an AuthorU.org GOLD member. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code is only availabe to members ... have your questions ready--there's a full hour to ask and listen. Join us.