Anyone can write an eBook. Not everyone can write an eBook that will have more success at being read on multiple eBook Readers. One sure way to gain more credibility and get a marketing edge for your eBook is to get an ISBN. ISBN is the standard for all books and is registered at the Library of Congress. ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a unique 13-digit code assigned to books, CDs, audio books and ebooks. Each format requires its own ISBN. A format is type of book. A book could be hardcover, paperback, eBook, audio book, etc. Each type, or format, will require a separate ISBN.

According to the isbn.org website:

“~ ISBNs are linked to essential information allowing book-sellers, and readers, to know what book they are buying, what the book is about, and who the author is.

~ ISBNs are the global standard for identifying titles ISBNs are used world-wide as a unique identifier for books. They are used to simplify distribution and purchase of books throughout the global supply chain.
Most retailers require ISBNs to track book inventory Without an ISBN, you will not be found in most book stores, either online or down the street from your house. Buying an ISBN is your first step to insure that your book is not lost in the wilderness.

Buying an ISBN improves the chances your book will be found Buying your ISBNs and registering your titles on My Identifiers, insures information about your book will be stored in our Books In Print database. This opens up a world of possibilities that your book is listed with many retailers, libraries, Bowker Books In Print, Bookwire, as well as online services like Google Books, Apple’s iBooks, Chegg and the New York Times.”

So the question is, ‘How to Get ISBN Numbers.’

First, you will need to check with your publisher. Most outside publishers include the ISBN numbers in their packages but you will find some that charge an add-on fee for this service.

Second, decide how many you might need. If you only have one eBook then one is all you need. However, if you have plans on writing and publishing more eBooks in multiple formats buying a group of ISBN numbers will be less expensive.

At isbn.org you can purchase individual and groups of ISBN numbers. One drawback with purchasing here is that you will then have to find a place to purchase the barcodes that go with the ISBN. The type of barcode you will need to get is called an EAN Bookland Barcode. A barcode is a graphical representation (or black lines you see on the back of every book and product sold) that contains your book's ISBN number and price. It is included on the back of a hard copy book to allow automated scanning and point-of-sale transactions. Most of the largest book retailers and wholesalers require books to display the Bookland EAN bar code, which is the only barcode that encodes the ISBN as well as the book's retail price.

To purchase or customize bar codes, you will need:
a. An ISBN Number
b. Retail or List Price Information

Third, once you have purchased your ISBN numbers you will assign the eBook to a particular ISBN number. Once the number has been assigned you will need to go to Bowker US ISBN Agency to setup the title and register your book with its unique ISBN number.

Please note: Although having an ISBN and registering your title means people who wish to order your publication can find the information, it does not mean you are selling your book through Bowker. Bowker provides data about your book to online, retail and Library databases worldwide and powers over 1.3 billion
searches per month.

A link to Bowker US ISBN Agency is on the isbn.org website and will walk you through the process.

Finally, once your book has been published as an eBook and you have registered and published it with its own unique ISBN number and barcode you need to create an Android APP version of the book. By 2014 more than 1/3 of all readers will be on smartphones and tablets. Currently Android comprised more than 50% of all devices. Having your eBook in APP format insures that your book will appear in the search results of both Google and Amazon. A great company to transpose your eBook into an Android APP is MSRtech. They have been writing APPs for two years and have written many author APPs as well as actual eBook APPs. Their latest eBook APP is titled: ‘Lil’ Croc and Plover Bird’ which is a children’s picture book and can be found on the Android market. MSRtech’s website is www.msrtech.com.