For over 10 years now, I’ve helped self-published authors with designing, formatting and publishing their books. Compared to 10 years ago, being a published author has gotten a lot easier. However, when it comes to knowing the key data about their book, I find that many do not know what Metadata is.
What is Metadata?
Metadate is the key information about your book. It’s your book’s data and it’s essential in helping you sell your book online and for retailers, librarians and others looking for your book to find it.
DID YOU KNOW… metadata was originally used by libraries in card catalogs until the 1980s?
Today, metadata is used to describe digital information. Using proper metadata is extremely important for authors and publishers to make sure books can be properly cataloged and found.
Key metadata for your book includes:
- Title
- Subtitle
- Publisher or Imprint
- Author Name
- Publication Date
- List Price: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook
- ISBNs (all formats)
- Keywords/categories
These key pieces of information will contribute to book sales. Good keywords and the right categories will help your book be more discoverable.
Be realistic, especially when it comes to pricing your book.
Whether you’re self-published or not, getting your metadata right is crucial. I recommend keeping a word doc, google doc or even a spreadsheet that will help you find your metadata information easily.
