Bidmus

Independent ISBN, Barcode & Self-Publishing Consultant

Mar 2026 - Present • 7 mos

I work with independent authors and publishing imprints to get their books properly set up for launch, handling ISBN registration guidance, barcode generation, and the technical side of preparing a book across paperback, ebook, and Kindle editions. Most clients come in assuming all three formats work the same way, and untangling that is usually the first part of the job. A paperback edition needs a checksum valid EAN-13 barcode placed precisely on the cover, matched to an ISBN registered under the client's own publishing name. An ebook needs its own separate ISBN if it's going out to platforms beyond Amazon, but never needs a barcode at all, that's strictly a print retail requirement. Kindle is different again, since Amazon assigns its own identifier automatically, and attaching an ISBN incorrectly can cause a book to be treated as a separate title from the same book sold elsewhere, splitting reviews and sales history in the process. I guide clients through registering with the correct national agency for their country, generate the barcodes myself once ISBNs are assigned, and handle placement directly on existing cover files so nothing needs to be redesigned from scratch. A large part of the work is making sure clients understand what each format actually needs before they publish, since a mistake here is far more expensive to fix after a book is live than before it goes out. Every project finishes with a clean reference document showing exactly which ISBN belongs to which format, so clients have something reliable to work from as their catalogue grows.

Professional Book Editor & Amazon KDP Publishing Specialist

Nov 2014 - Present • 11 yrs 11 mos

Experienced Across Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoirs, Self-Help, Business, Children's Books, and eBooks