How Reader-Led Platform Boycotts Can Impact Book Sales (Especially for Indie Authors)
Every so often, readers organize boycotts of major retailers like Amazon. Whether in protest of labor practices, pricing, monopolies, or politics, these efforts often feel like a stand for ethics and consumer power.
But here's the thing most readers don't realize:
When you boycott Amazon, you aren't just taking a stand against a tech giant.
You're also directly impacting thousands of self-published authors who rely on Amazon for visibility, income, and access to readers.
Let’s unpack how this works—especially for authors enrolled in KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited (KU).
Why So Many Authors Choose Amazon
First, it’s important to understand why Amazon is so widely used by indie authors:
It’s free to use. You don’t need to pay up front to list your ebook or print book through Amazon's KDP platform.
It offers high royalty rates. 70% for ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99.
It has the biggest customer base. Most readers already shop on Amazon.
It offers page-read income via KU. More on that below.
While "going wide" and selling through other platforms (like Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, or your own website) is absolutely an option, it requires more tech, more setup, and significantly more marketing.
For many debut or midlist indie authors, Amazon is the most accessible path to publication.
What Is KU Exclusivity (And Why It Matters)?
When authors enroll their book in KDP Select, they agree to exclusively sell that ebook on Amazon for 90 days. In return, the book is made available in Kindle Unlimited (KU)—Amazon’s ebook subscription service.
Readers who pay for KU get unlimited reading access to thousands of titles.
Authors get paid per page read.
This can be a game-changer:
A 300-page book read fully = hundreds of pages counted
If hundreds or thousands of KU readers read that book, the author earns a steady monthly income
Many authors earn the majority of their income through KU pages read, not one-time ebook purchases.
So when readers boycott Amazon or KU as a platform, those authors often take an immediate financial hit.
"But Authors Should Just Sell Elsewhere!"
That’s a common refrain in conversations around boycotting Amazon.
And to be honest, it comes from a good place. Readers want to support authors—but not necessarily Amazon. So they say things like:
"Just list your book on another retailer or your own website."
"I’d rather buy it from anywhere but Amazon."
Here’s why that’s easier said than done:
Setting up a store takes time, tech, and money
Print-on-demand shipping can be slow or expensive off-Amazon
Many alternative retailers don’t have the search tools or browsing behavior that Amazon does
KU doesn’t exist on other platforms, so authors lose passive page-read income
For authors with a small audience, moving off Amazon can drastically reduce visibility, discoverability, and income.
So while many would love to sell wide, not every author is in a position to do so—especially not right away.
How Platform Boycotts Affect Indie Authors
If you’re a reader actively avoiding Amazon for ethical or political reasons, that’s absolutely your right.
But understand that for indie authors:
Boycotts may mean a loss of reviews (which affect ranking)
Page-read drops = immediate income loss
Lower sales = lower algorithm visibility
Lack of demand = harder to gain traction long-term
And because Amazon still dominates the ebook market, it's not as simple as moving to another retailer. Many authors are trying to grow into wide publishing, but that process takes time.
Authors aren’t Amazon. In fact, most of them don’t even like the exclusivity restrictions. They’re simply working within a system that offers the most reach and the least upfront cost.
Your decision to buy (or not buy) from Amazon has a ripple effect—especially for indie authors publishing exclusively through KDP Select.
So What Can Authors Do?
If you’re an author navigating this conversation, here are a few steps you can take:
1. Communicate With Your Readers
Explain your publishing choices. Talk about what KU does, how you get paid, and why exclusivity made sense for your career.
Your transparency helps readers understand the nuance.
2. Build an Email List
This gives you a direct line to readers so you can share updates, distribute bonus content, and eventually launch wide when you're ready or if you ever want to.
3. Diversify Slowly
Consider releasing short stories or novellas widely before transitioning your full-length books. This helps you test new platforms and build systems that work.
4. Offer BookFunnel or Payhip Options
If you do have non-KU titles, tools like BookFunnel allow you to sell direct while still offering a good reading experience.
And What Can Readers Do?
If you’re a reader who wants to support authors without Amazon, here are some thoughtful options:
Ask the author if they have direct or alternate purchase options
Support their online shop or Patreon
Buy print editions from indie bookstores (if available)
Request their book at your local library
Leave reviews wherever you read—Goodreads, BookBub, or the author's website
And most importantly: understand that the author is not Amazon. Your support, no matter where it happens, matters deeply.
Let’s Lead With Empathy
There are no perfect solutions in a system that doesn’t favor the little guy.
But whether you’re an author figuring out your publishing path or a reader trying to shop consciously, remember this:
Authors work incredibly hard to get their books into your hands.
They care about their readers, their stories, and yes—their livelihoods.
So if you're unsure where to buy a book, ask. If you're debating going exclusive, weigh your audience, your genre, and your goals. There's no one-size-fits-all answer.
But there is power in being informed.
Want to stay in the loop about industry shifts like this? Inside the Story Flow Collective, we talk about distribution options, reader engagement strategies, and building sustainable author businesses in a changing landscape.
Your stories deserve to be read. Let's make sure you have the support to share them.
P.S. Letters From Story Flow is your bi-weekly resource for authors who are ready to grow their careers with clarity and ease—without relying on hustle-heavy strategies that don’t feel like you.
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