#bisac

We all know books are categorized into different genres. There is an official committee that essentially helps publishers categorize their titles. It’s called the Book Industry Study Group, and it creates, activates, and deactivates the current BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications) codes. These are exactly what they say they are: codes that define industry standards. It is helpful for libraries and booksellers to have a standardized way of categorizing books, and because of this, many businesses require the publisher to provide this information. At the base of it, this is a simple way to code a book’s genre. Just like metadata, this behind-the-scenes information helps with the placement of a book in both a physical store and an online search.

This is what a BISAC code looks like: FIC022130 FICTION / Mystery & Detective.

So how does a publisher choose a BISAC code? The BISAC codes best practices say to get as specific as possible. The way the codes are decided on and brought into existence is based on need. Therefore, it should help your sales greatly to get very specific with the codes: if there is a code for it, then there are other books boasting the same specific subject matter. While it is technically possible to use unlimited codes, it is recommended to not exceed three BISAC codes to describe your book. There are codes ending in “general,” which are intended to be used in one of two situations: first, if the title includes a very broad or general subject matter; and second, if the subject is so specific it can’t be described by any other code.

How to Use Amazon Categories to Increase your Rankings (Update)

Back in 2016, I had written a post with information on How to Use Amazon Categories to Increase your Rankings. It included an estimate of how many copies a book needs to sell to reach a certain rank on Amazon US. This has now been updated as follows:

Image found on KBoards

The rest of the information on my post, however, is still very much applicable–and all-important–today. I’m copying it here…

Should Science fiction be categorized by what the stories symbolize?

(So, the new STAR WARS movie is out. The next chapter. Finally. I haven’t seen it yet, but I will.)

Ex. Steam punk is a sub-category of this genre. It involves heavy machinery. It involves grandeur in outrageously unbelievable ways. Is that the right categorization for what this is? Where does the inspiration come from? Is that…

Using the BISAC Subject Codes

What does BISAC stand for?

BISAC is an acronym for Book Industry Standards and Communications.

What are BISAC subject codes?

The BISAC Subject Heading List (BSHL for short) is an industry-approved list of subject descriptors (or headings), each of which is represented by a nine-character alphanumeric code. The list has 50 major sections, such as Computers, Fiction, History, and True Crime. Within…

New Categories for YA Authors | How to Rank on Amazon

What are categories and how does your book’s metadata determine them? Well, if you’re going to write one book and put it online yourself, categories and metadata may not matter very much. But if you plan on publishing several books and you want to have a career as an author, those terms matter a great deal. That’s because categories affect a book’s Amazon ranking.

Indie authors sell their books…

Metadata Mysteries | 7 Things I Wish I’d Known Earlier

Metadata means the basic information that helps publishers, distributors, libraries and bookstores keep track of your book. It’s like the data on your book’s dashboard: the mpg, rpms, temperature gauge, etc. A few years back, when I first stuck my toe in the publishing pond, I was totally daunted by the term “metadata.” I had no idea what it meant, but the term went right to the pit of my stomach.

Ep. 007: When Man and Wolf Came Together

Teacher Librarians Chris Patrick and Tracy Chrenka present “Loud in the Library Ep. 007: When Man and Wolf Came Together” in which they speak with author W. Bruce Cameron about the film adaptation of “A Dog’s Purpose,” his life as a repo man in northern Michigan, and the relationship between dog and man. Chris and Tracy discuss books that are currently on their radar, and they share the…