Technical Essentials
ISBN • Copyright • Metadata • File preparation • Quality assurance
Get the technical housekeeping right so your book can be discovered, sold, and protected.
We handle the legal identifiers, metadata, and technical preparation that make a book publishable, discoverable, and store-ready, so you can focus on the writing.
Do You Need This?
Good writing needs a solid technical foundation. Without it your book may:
- Be undiscoverable on retailer platforms because of poor metadata.
- Suffer delays at printers or ebook stores from incorrect files or missing identifiers.
- Fail to appear in relevant category searches or algorithmic recommendations.
- Be legally exposed if rights and registration aren't handled clearly.
We treat these elements not as administrative chores but as the infrastructure of a professional book release.
What We Do
Good writing needs a solid technical foundation. Without it your book may:
ISBN Registration & Management
We register International Standard Book Numbers for print and ebook formats, assign ISBNs correctly by edition/format, and advise on when authors should buy vs. when we register on their behalf. Deliverable: ISBN(s) + formatted ISBN page ready for print + registration confirmation and retailer-ready metadata.
Copyright & Legal Readiness
Clear, simple steps to protect your work: copyright registration guidance, rights statements for front/back matter, and plain-English explanations of what you retain vs. what you license for specific uses (anthologies, excerpts, translations). We draft copyright pages and advise on rights language for contracts or distribution platforms.
Metadata Optimization (Discoverability)
Metadata is how readers find you. We research keywords, craft category-appropriate BISAC/ONIX category choices, write clickable descriptions and blurbs, and optimize metadata fields across platforms (title variants, subtitle, series metadata, contributor roles, keywords, language, territories). Deliverable: Platform-ready metadata sheet for Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, Ingram, and distributor upload.
Retailer-Ready File Prep
We prepare and validate final files for all major platforms: perfectly formatted EPUB, MOBI/Kindle-ready files, and print-ready PDF/X-1a or PDF/VT depending on printer specs. We run preflight checks for fonts, images, bleeds, margins, and embedded fonts, and provide proofs and advice for print runs.
ONIX & Distributor Feeds
We create or format ONIX feeds and distributor-ready packages so your book's data flows cleanly into retailer systems. This reduces listing errors, speeds approvals, and prevents mismatched metadata that hurts search and visibility.
Metadata + Discoverability Add-Ons
Optional services: keyword A/B testing, subtitle optimization, backend keyword rotation strategies, copy tests for store pages, and simple split-testing of book descriptions for conversion performance.
Quality Assurance & Delivery
We don’t ship files until they pass strict checks:
Preflight
Fonts, images, color space, bleeds
Readability Pass
Orphan/widow control, chapter breaks, hyphenation
Platform Validation
EPUB validation, Kindle Previewer check, printer proof checks
Metadata Sanity Check
No conflicting titles, consistent author name formatting, correct ISBN mapping
After delivery you get
- Final files
- Metadata sheet
- Proof screenshots
- Short implementation guide for uploading to retailers
Typical Timelines & What to Expect
ISBN Registration
2–7 business days (depends on local agency/process)
Copyright Guidance & Page Draft
1–3 business days
Metadata Research & Draft
3–5 business days
Ebook + Print File Prep & QA
3–10 business days (depending on complexity)
We always confirm timelines in the project brief and include a fast-track option for urgent launches.
Pricing
Get tailored quotes after an editorial assessment
- ISBN Registration & Basic Metadata
starting ₦15,000
- Metadata Deep-Dive (Research + Description + Category Strategy)
starting ₦50,000
- Retailer-Ready Ebook (EPUB) + Validation
starting ₦30,000
- Print-Ready PDF + Preflight + Printer Liaison
starting ₦45,000
- Combined Technical Bundle (ISBN + Copyright + Metadata + Ebook + Print Prep)
package pricing available on request
Who Needs This
Self-Publishing Authors
Who want their book to behave like a professionally published title.
Authors Using Hybrid or Supported-Publishing Routes
Who need clean metadata and retailer-ready files.
Publishers and Small Presses
Seeking a reliable tech partner for distribution and data hygiene.
Quick How-It-Works
Brief & Files
You send manuscript, cover, and launch goals.
Assessment & Quote
We audit files and confirm services.
Technical Work
ISBN, copyright wording, metadata research, and file preparation.
Validation & Proof
You review proofs/screenshots; we implement minor revisions.
Delivery & Guide
Final files, metadata pack, and retailer-upload instructions.
FAQs
Do I have to buy my own ISBN?
No. You can purchase and own ISBNs (recommended in many markets), or we can register/manage ISBNs on your behalf. We explain pros/cons in the initial call.
Will you register copyright for me?
We provide guidance and draft the copyright page. If you want formal registration with the national office, we'll walk you through the steps or handle filings where available for an extra fee.
If I change my subtitle or cover after launch, does metadata update?
Yes, but updates propagate at different speeds across platforms. We can coordinate updates and re-optimize listings post-launch.
Ready to Lock the Technical Foundation of Your Book?
Technical errors can undo great work. Get everything store-ready and discoverable with a single, reliable partner.