How to Get Your Book on Online Retailers Like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books

Selling your book on major online platforms requires more than just great content. To successfully reach readers on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and other popular retailers, you need clean formatting, competitive pricing, and accurate metadata, including an essential identifier: the ISBN. Services such as ISBN Service provide an easy and reliable way to obtain and manage your ISBNs, making the publishing process smoother for indie authors and self-publishers aiming to distribute across multiple channels.

Step 1: Prepare Your Manuscript with Proper Formatting

Before submitting your book to any retailer, ensure that your manuscript is professionally formatted. Each platform has its own guidelines for file types and formatting styles:

• Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): Accepts MOBI, DOC/DOCX, and EPUB formats. The EPUB format is increasingly preferred as it offers better compatibility across devices.

• Barnes & Noble Press: Primarily accepts EPUB files for ebooks and PDF for print books.

• Apple Books: Requires EPUB files that meet their specifications, including embedded fonts and correct chapter breaks.

Using professional formatting tools or services helps your book look polished and readable, preventing common issues like awkward page breaks or unreadable text.

Step 2: Obtain Your ISBN

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) uniquely identifies your book worldwide, allowing retailers and libraries to track sales and inventory efficiently. While some platforms like Amazon assign a free ISBN for print books, using your own ISBN gives you greater control and credibility, especially if you want to sell across multiple retailers.

You can acquire your ISBN from trusted providers like ISBN Service, which specialize in supplying legitimate ISBNs quickly and affordably, perfect for self-publishing authors who want to maintain full rights and ownership of their book metadata.

Step 3: Create and Optimize Your Book Metadata

Metadata is the information that describes your book, title, author name, description, keywords, categories, and pricing. This information helps readers find your book through search and browsing.

• Write a compelling book description that grabs attention.

• Choose relevant keywords that your target audience might use.

• Select appropriate categories or genres to ensure your book appears in the right listings.

• Set competitive pricing based on market research and your goals (e.g., building readership vs. maximizing revenue).

Accurate and engaging metadata significantly increases your book’s visibility on retailer platforms.

Step 4: Set Up Accounts on Each Retailer Platform

Each retailer requires you to create an account and upload your book files along with metadata and cover images:

• Amazon KDP: The most popular self-publishing platform with global reach.

• Barnes & Noble Press: Great for reaching Nook users.

• Apple Books: Access millions of readers using Apple devices.

Each platform’s dashboard guides you through uploading your manuscript, cover, metadata, and setting pricing and distribution rights.

Step 5: Upload Your Book and Submit for Review

After uploading your files and entering all required information, submit your book for review. Review times vary by platform but usually take a few days. Be prepared to:

• Check proofs to ensure formatting looks correct.

• Fix any flagged issues promptly to avoid delays.

• Monitor your book’s status for publication.

Step 6: Promote Your Book

Once your book is live, promotion becomes critical. Use social media, email newsletters, book blogs, and advertising campaigns to drive traffic to your retailer pages. The better your marketing, the more sales and reviews your book will generate.

Conclusion

Getting your book on major online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books involves clear formatting, precise metadata, and owning your ISBN. By partnering with services like ISBN Service, indie authors can simplify the ISBN acquisition process, ensuring their book meets industry standards and reaches readers across all key platforms with ease. With preparation and persistence, you can successfully launch your book into the digital marketplace and grow your audience worldwide.