One of the most complicated decisions about self-publishing is whether or not to sell your book via bookstores (online or otherwise). On the surface this seems like a no-brainer: why wouldn't you want to sell your book via as many avenues as possible? But the reality is that doing that might not be as helpful as it sounds, and there are negatives.

To sell your book in bookstores (online or otherwise), you simply need to get a ISBN (International Standard Book Number). This is a unique number that identifies the publisher and the specific book. Even different editions of the same book require different numbers. Most of us are familiar with ISBNs as the barcode on the backs of modern books and it's easy to see the value of a unique identifier for computerized inventory purposes. If you have an ISBN, your book can be listed in Books in Print and any bookstore in the world can special order it direct from the publisher (which could be you, a printing company like Lulu, or a traditional publishing company).

So how do you go about getting an ISBN?

Read more at:
http://www.macopinion.com/index.php/site/more/adventures_in_self_publishing_part_5/

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