Publishing glossary
Publishing glossary
Imprint: the publisher name on your book.
An imprint is the publisher brand shown on the title page, copyright page, and store listing.
Checked:
✓Self-publishers can create one✓Shows in the KDP publisher field✓One imprint per author brand
Using an imprint as a self-publisher
An imprint makes a solo author look like a publishing house and groups a series under one brand. It costs nothing to create on KDP.
- Pick a name not used by others
- Keep it consistent across books
- Imprint appears with the ISBN publisher
Where the imprint appears
In KDP metadata the publisher field, on the copyright page, and in the store listing. Consistency across all three avoids catalog mismatches.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a company to use an imprint?
No. A self-publisher can use any original name as their KDP publisher field.
Can two books share one imprint?
Yes. That is the point: the imprint is the brand all your titles publish under.
Should the imprint match the pen name?
Not necessarily. The imprint is the publisher; the pen name is the author. They can differ, and many authors publish several pen names under one imprint. What must stay stable is the imprint string in your metadata, because Amazon uses it to group your publisher shelf.
What happens if I sell under an imprint I do not own?
Using a registered company name you do not control can create rights disputes. If another publisher already uses the name, your listings can be flagged or taken down. Check the name is free before you commit it to a series.
Was this publishing guide or tool helpful?
Put the definition to work for free.
Run your manuscript through the matching free check and see how the term applies to your own book.