What’s the Difference Between an Imprint and Publisher Name?
And, as an indie author, do you need either?
There are two places in the self-publishing process where people get confused by the imprint and publisher name: When they are buying their own ISBNs (In the US and Australia, through Bowker) and when they are filling in their data on a publishing platform.
First, an imprint is different (or can be different) from your publisher name. When you are uploading your book to a publishing platform (KDP, Lulu, IngramSpark, etc.) you will be asked for the “Publisher Name.” The name you type in MUST EXACTLY MATCH the name that you used when you bought your ISBN. (For example, you might have typed in the full word “Incorporated” instead of “Inc.”)
What Is a Publishing Imprint?
An imprint is the publisher’s brand or trade name. A traditional publisher may have hundreds of imprints for various genres and product lines. Penguin Random House, for example, has over 250 imprints, including imprints under their Knopf Doubleday, Penguin, Penguin Random House Audio, Penguin Young Readers, Random House, Random House Children’s Books, and the hits go on.
Penguin is, of course, a huge publishing empire. What about you as a self-publisher? Should you have an imprint?
