Why I’m Not Linking to Books From Amazon Anymore

Amazon and I are breaking up over books. I’m not saying I won’t purchase the occasional last-minute slime ingredient that my kids nag me about as I’m trying to get them to bed. I am, however, done ordering books from Amazon. And I’m done linking to Amazon on the most popular page on my site–my reading lists with pithy reviews.

I had been using Amazon links for two reasons. #1. I write short reviews (a few lines) so I like to make it easy for my readers to learn more about a book. #2. As I had always stated clearly on my reading list page, at no cost to the customer, Amazon pays affiliates a tiny commission for sales that come from these links. There is no shame in being an affiliate. I consider my book review page a service to fellow book lovers, and if I can make $10-$20 a month from my crazy pace of reading–that’s a fun little bonus.

But last week I read a compelling article in Publisher’s Weekly by Mary Laura Philpott, who is an author, a bookseller at Parnassus Books in Nashville, and the editor of the store’s online magazineIn her piece, “Hey, Writers: Think Before You Link to Amazon,” Philpott recounts being asked by an entertainment site for book recommendations only to see her suggestions and another independent bookseller’s suggestions linked to Amazon.

I gasped at the chutzpah of that writer using independent booksellers as a source then linking to Amazon as the purchase option. Then I read Philpott’s next paragraph and had to face an uncomfortable truth about the questionable nature of my own practices. She writes,

“It seems to be a trend. Even as people seek out the expertise of indie booksellers, they treat Amazon as the default for book links. Bloggers write about shopping local while linking to Amazon.”

If you know me in real life or from my blog/social media, then you know I LOVE books. I adore getting lost in a good story, but I also have a deep appreciation for the physical aspect of books and bookstores. I consider browsing the tables at bookstores one of my favorite activities, which is why I rarely accept offers from publicists to read their client’s books and review them on my site. If I accepted all of those requests, I’d never get to read the books I find while browsing at a bookstore. When I travel, one of my favorite stops is to the local bookstore. l also love shopping at the independent bookshops in the Twin Cities and attending some of the many author events we are lucky enough to have in this town–because we have bookstores. 

All of the above is why I felt like such a jerk when I read Philpott’s piece, which goes on to make other excellent points about how bloggers and other influencers can support (or harm) what she calls “the cultural ecosystem.”

I knew I had to make a change. If I love bookstores so much, then I should be linking to bookstores. PERIOD. My two reasons for linking to the titles I discuss are still valid, and I’m grateful to Philpott’s article for introducing me to indiebound.org, which allows me to do the linking I like while directing readers to stores in their own cities. [Edited on 1/3/21 to say I now link to bookshop.org and libro.fm, which keeps the money in the independent bookstore community.]

Do I think the average reader will still click over from Indie Bound or Bookshop.org to Amazon? Perhaps they will, but I don’t need to be the one personally directing traffic there. I spent a long time this week changing the links on my 2017 reading page, but the links from 2011-2016 will take more time. (Not that anyone is looking at my lists from previous years, per se, but I will get it done.)

And listen up fellow bloggers: I don’t blame other bloggers for linking to Amazon. Really, no judgement from me. It’s just that I recognized myself in that line about bloggers who encourage shopping local then link to Amazon. And I didn’t like it–so I changed it. Philpott’s entire piece is worth a thorough read. Here it is again. Happy book shopping, friends.

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Nina Badzin hosts the podcast Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. She's been writing about friendship since 2014, co-leads the writing groups at ModernWell in Minneapolis, and reviews 30+ books a year on her website.

44 Responses

  1. Where are you finding direct links to books if not Amazon? I like to link to cookbooks I use because I won’t share a recipe I used from a book but will sometimes encourage people to then go buy that particular cookbook— but I rarely even find links to online sales that aren’t Amazon.

  2. Good for you, Nina! This has been my little act of rebellion on my own website for years. I’ve often wondered if anyone noticed–no one seems to mention it. I usually link to Indiebound, but often to the writers’ own pages, if they have a particularly interesting website, or the publisher’s page. I also try to remind people–readers, friends, anyone who will listen–that local bookstores can usually order any book you want, and can typically get it very quickly. Often faster than you-know-who. My local indie now has an option to place a book order online, pay for it, and pick it up when it comes in, usually in a couple of days.

    Love my indies and will rally. xo.

    1. Thank you and also thank you for listening to the podcast! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have my own podcast, but I’m so nervous I’d be just talking to myself. It’s so hard to be heard. But I guess I felt that way about my blog back in 2010 when I started. I am joining a co-working space soon that will also have a podcasting studio available for members. I am thinking about it . . .

  3. Definitely good for thought. Does Indiebound offer affiliate sales earnings? Because Amazon earnings are the only way I am able to pay for my blog (& no, that’s not much- on either side of that equation! 😉 )

    1. I know it’s a bummer to give up that income. For me, I didn’t make enough to make a huge difference. Indiebound does offer affiliate commissions but I can’t imagine it will add up to anything close.

  4. Thank you!!! If we want bookstores we have to give them our business. And the more we give them our business, the easier it is for them to offer lower prices. Even if you make your purchase online, you still support that brick and mortar store that serves a community, provides jobs to locals and pays local taxes. My current favorite is River Run Books in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

  5. I had no idea but I’m glad to learn of this — I don’t link to books often on my blog. Amazon is such a monopoly with all kinds of things… still so amazed at your reading rate btw!

    As for podcasts, I wish you would do one about friendship. Is there one out there?

    1. My new friend Kate just started a friendship podcast called The Friend Pod. I was a guest recently! It’s something I’m interested in as well, but not sure I have the bandwidth right now.

    1. I really don’t want my post to come off as a judgement call for all bloggers. Each person’s situation is different. I DO talk a lot about bookstores so for me it felt like a MUST to change.

    1. I’m going to repeat what I said to Paula: “I really don’t want my post to come off as a judgement call for all bloggers. Each person’s situation is different. I DO talk a lot about bookstores so for me it felt like a MUST to change.”

  6. Love this. We’re always in the process of becoming our truest selves and this shows you are open to growth. I started linking directly to publisher websites and figure the reader can take it from there. 😉

  7. I stopped linking a long time ago – if I do, I do it to Barnes and Noble. I don’t know, I’ve just read so many bad things about what Amazon has done to the publishing world, and especially to authors. I love Indies, and when I travel, I always visit local bookstores and buy. And they’re always gracious and grateful.

    Funny story. You know that in some big cities, Amazon has opened brick and mortar stores, right? The audacity! Anyways, I have a friend who got a job at one of them. How could she?!?! But she did. She confessed to me that people come in and yell at her all the time, like she was the one who personally drove bookstores out of business.

  8. Nina, thank you thank you for showing me a better way 🙂 Truly, I’m guilty of the same activity because it’s just so easy. I’m excited to read that piece by Mary as I sometimes live in a daydream, selling books at Parnassus.

    Will try to do better!

    1. Aly! Thanks for visiting. I checked out your site and liked what I saw, but didn’t see any social media accounts to follow. Would love to follow you somewhere !

  9. I also wondered about that. Amazon is such a mega conglomerate. Sure I shop them too much. However, I try to get my books at Magers and Quinn. If they don’t have what I want I’ll order from Alibris.com. Do you know anything about the decency of that online bookstore?

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Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

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Hi, I'm Nina

HI, I’M NINA BADZIN. I’m a writer fascinated by the dynamics of friendship, and I’ve been answering anonymous advice questions on the topic since 2014. I now also answer them on my podcast, Dear Nina! I’m a creative writing instructor at ModernWell in Minneapolis, a freelance writer and editor, and an avid reader who reviews 50 books a year. Welcome to my site! 

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