How To Make Money With Amazon Affiliate Program

Consider this scenario: you get paid every time you share your favorite emotional support water bottle or your favorite book. That’s exactly what Amazon Associates allows you to do!

Being an Amazon affiliate is a great way to earn money while growing your influence, whether you’re just starting out or have been doing it for a while.

Amazon Associates is an easy-to-use affiliate marketing program, and the best part is? It’s completely free! You can promote any product on Amazon and earn a commission of 1% to 10% for every sale you bring in.

In this guide, we’ll take you through everything about Amazon Associates, from setting up your account to sharing your recommendations and enjoying the rewards for your excellent taste.

What is Amazon Associates?

Amazon Associates, also known as the Amazon Affiliate Program, is one of the largest and most popular affiliate marketing programs in the world.

It allows content creators, publishers, bloggers, and social media influencers to monetize their traffic by promoting Amazon products and earning commissions on qualifying purchases made through their affiliate links.

It’s completely free to sign up as an Amazon affiliate and get started promoting a wide variety of products and services. You can earn a commission rate of 1% to 20%, depending on the product category.

Amazon’s reputation and reliability make it easier for you to convert your audience into buyers. The program also offers user-friendly tools and resources to help affiliates create and manage their links efficiently.

How Does Amazon Associates Work?

To get started, you need to sign up for the Amazon Associates program. This involves creating an Amazon account if you don’t already have one and providing details about your website, blog, or social media channels where you plan to share affiliate links.

Once approved, you can start recommending products. Amazon provides various tools to create affiliate links, including SiteStripe, which allows you to generate links directly from Amazon product pages. You can create text links, image links, or a combination of both, and share these on your website, blog, or social media platforms.

You earn commissions when visitors click on your affiliate links and make purchases on Amazon. The commission rates vary depending on the product category, ranging from 1% to 10% of the sale price.

In addition, you can earn from any qualifying items placed in a customer’s shopping cart within 24 hours of their arrival at Amazon via your affiliate link, even if they purchase different products than the ones you initially recommended.

To qualify, you need an active website, blog, or social media account with original content. Social media influencers must have at least 500 organic followers.

Commissions are earned on qualifying purchases and are paid approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which they were earned.

Amazon provides various tools like SiteStripe and Mobile GetLink to help affiliates create and share links easily. The Idea Hub offers inspiration for promotions and content.

Affiliates must adhere to Amazon’s program policies, including disclosing their affiliate relationship and avoiding deceptive practices.

How Much Can Amazon Affiliates Make?

Amazon affiliates can earn a wide range of incomes, from as little as a few hundred dollars per month to six figures annually. The amount an affiliate can make depends on several factors, including

• Size and engagement of audience
• Targeted niche
• Marketing strategies

According to ZipRecruiter, the national average salary for an Amazon affiliate in the United States is approximately $77,893 per year. The top 3% of Amazon affiliates make between $110,500 and $126,500 annually. The lowest 13% of Amazon affiliates earn between $35,000 and $43,499 per year.

Some affiliates can make over $16,000 per month, while others may earn nothing. For example, Hugo Guerreiro, founder of The Men Hero, reported making $963.69 in a single month from his Amazon Associates account, with earnings continuing to grow. 

Websites like TheWireCutter.com and TheSweetHome.com, which were sold to The New York Times, have been highly successful Amazon affiliate sites, earning substantial revenue primarily through Amazon Associates.

Amazon’s commission rates vary by product category:

• High Commission Categories: Luxury beauty products can earn up to 10% commission, while Amazon Games can offer up to 20%.
• Lower Commission Categories: Categories like toys, furniture, and pet products typically offer around 3% commission

Below is a complete list of Amazon’s commission rates by product category:

How To Make Money With Amazon Affiliate Program in 8 Steps

1. Find a Profitable Niche for Amazon Associates

Choosing a niche that works well with Amazon Associates is all about following the money. But don’t worry, you don’t need to become a Rolex watch critic to make this work. You only have to choose a niche that aligns with your interests and expertise. This will make your marketing efforts more enjoyable and sustainable. 

Some of the most promising niches for Amazon affiliate marketing include:

• Health and Wellness: Products like fitness equipment, health supplements, organic food items, and wellness books.
• Technology: Gadgets, software, and tech accessories, which often have high-ticket items and substantial commissions.
• Outdoor and Sports Gear: Camping equipment, sports apparel, and related accessories.
• Beauty and Skincare: Constant demand for beauty products makes this a lucrative niche.
• Finance and Wealth Building: Investment tools, financial software, and related services.

The most effective way to reach your audience for niche websites is through Google search and keywords, but you need to keep an eye on what’s happening on Amazon as well. In this way, you can determine how many relevant products are being sold and whether they are top sellers.

In order to conduct this research, you should use search engine optimization tools like SEMrush, KWFinder, Long Tail Pro, and SeCockpit. The data provides insights into search volume, niche or keyword competition, and whether a niche is worth pursuing.

For keyword research, tools like Keywordtool.io and Ubersuggest can help. And don’t forget to peek at Google Trends to spot emerging trends or to see the trend graph for your chosen niche.

The goal is to find a niche where there is interest, but not too much competition. The idea is that you can create a website promoting products in this niche, attracting ready-to-buy customers to Amazon, and earning commissions when they make purchases.

At the end of the day, here are the key factors to consider when finding a promising niche:

• A wide variety of products and related items available on Amazon.
• A price range that works well (ideally between $50 and $150).
• Consistent sales volumes (check the Best Seller Rank on the Product Listing page; lower numbers mean better sales).
• Positive product reviews from customers.

Today, niche research benefits from tools that quantify how many people are searching for specific keywords, making it easier than ever to find profitable opportunities.

2. Build Your Affiliate Site

To build an affiliate website, you need to select a  domain name that is memorable, relevant to your niche, and preferably includes a keyword related to your niche.

You want your affiliate site to load quickly and be available to visitors 24/7. This is why you need to choose a reliable web hosting provider. Popular options include Bluehost, SiteGround, and WP Engine, which offer good performance and support for WordPress, the most recommended platform for affiliate websites.

Most hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation. WordPress is user-friendly and has numerous plugins and themes tailored for affiliate marketing.

You don’t need any coding skills to build a WordPress site. There are lots of WordPress themes for you to choose. For beginners, you should choose a theme that is easy to navigate, clean, responsive, and optimized for SEO. Themes like Astra, GeneratePress, and OceanWP are popular among affiliate marketers.

Once approved for Amazon Associates program, you can start generating affiliate links for the products you want to promote and embed these links in your website to earn commissions on sales.

You can use plugins like ThirstyAffiliates or Pretty Links to manage and cloak your affiliate links.

3. Set up your Amazon Affiliate account

After you’ve found your niche and prepared content for the products you’ll promote, let’s move on to setting up your Amazon affiliate program account.

Step 1: Join Amazon Associates

To get started, visit Amazon Associates Central and click on the sign-up button. You can either use your existing Amazon account or create a new one. Make sure to use the email linked to your website or social media channels.

Step 2: Add Your Website or Social Media Links

The sign-up process will walk you through a few prompts. You’ll need to share your name, address, and phone number. Then, it’s time to add your “website and mobile apps.” This is where you’ll be placing those Amazon affiliate links.

If you have a website, simply enter its URL. If you plan to promote Amazon products on your social media profiles and don’t have a website, use the public links leading to your social media pages.

Step 3: Create Your Amazon Associates Profile

Next, complete your Amazon Associates profile. Here, you’ll set up an Associates ID, a unique code Amazon uses to track your link referrals. Go for a concise version of your business name or social media handle to easily identify where your clicks are coming from.

During this step, share some insights about your business or focus. Amazon will ask about your target audience, the product types you’ll promote, and how you intend to bring traffic to your website or social media channels.

Step 4: Input Your Tax and Payment Info

The last step involves entering your payment and tax information. This enables Amazon to compensate you when you start earning commissions. Payments can be made via check or as Amazon gift cards, depending on your preference.

Make sure to complete the tax information section, which may require details like your social security number, employer identification number, or another tax identifier. 

4. Create affiliate links in your account

Having set up your account, let’s move on to creating affiliate links. The reason this step is so important is that if a customer does not use your specific affiliate link, you won’t be paid a commission.

After you’ve logged into your account, you’ll land on your performance dashboard, where you can keep tabs on your earnings.

1. Head to the homepage and click on “Product Linking” and then “Product Links.”
2. You’ll have the option to either search for products based on keywords you want to promote or enter a specific ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) if you have one in mind.
3. Click on “get link” and choose the type of link that suits your needs. You can go for a Text and Image link, Text-only (with choices like HTML, Standard, or Shortened Link), or an Image-only link.
4. Paste the link on your website or wherever you’re promoting an Amazon product. That’s the link that ensures you get credited for any purchases made through it.

5. Understand Amazon Affiliate Program Rules and Requirements

Although Amazon Associates is a great income-generating opportunity, there are rules and requirements. The guidelines are meant to promote ethical behavior and prevent abuse. Here are some rules to keep in mind:

• Disclosure: Be upfront and clear about your affiliation with Amazon when communicating with your website visitors.
• Accuracy: Avoid making false or misleading claims when recommending products through your affiliate links.
• Pricing: Steer clear of mentioning specific prices in your affiliate promotions because Amazon’s product prices can change frequently.
• Offline Promotions: Amazon affiliate links should strictly be used for online promotions and should not find their way into offline promotions, eBooks, or emails.
• Link Shorteners: While not explicitly forbidden, it’s generally discouraged to use link shorteners for affiliate links because they can obscure the destination of the link.

To understand why some Amazon Associates accounts are suspended, watch the video below.

6. Create original content on different platforms

Content is the backbone of your affiliate marketing business. It’s where you strategically place most of your affiliate links, so it has to captivate and engage your target audience.

Depending on the niche of your website, your content should cater to the preferences of your audience. Using affiliate content that works best for your situation can give you an edge over your competitors.

Here are some of the most popular content types for affiliate marketing:

• Product Reviews: Offering in-depth reviews of products you’re promoting can be incredibly effective.
• Listicles: Compiling lists of top-rated or recommended products is a hit with readers.
• Tutorials: Providing step-by-step guides or tutorials involving the products can be highly engaging.
• Comparisons: Pit two or more products against each other to help readers make informed choices.

However, these days, it’s not enough to just create original content. You also want to spread your content across multiple platforms. Why? Because omnichannel customers tend to spend two to five times more than those who stick to a single channel.

Currently, it’s essential to tap into the popularity of Instagram Reels and TikTok. These platforms leverage smart algorithms that display the most relevant content to users at the right time, resulting in more clicks for you.

Here’s how you can make the most of these features to boost your referral earnings:

• Create Instagram Reels or TikTok videos showcasing the specific products you recommend. Demo videos and try-on hauls can drive lots of traffic when you showcase products you genuinely love.
• YouTube is also a fantastic platform for going deep with product recommendations. Users on YouTube often seek more in-depth comparisons, demonstrations, and how-to videos. The less restrictive time limits allow creators to provide thorough answers to user queries.

Keep in mind that YouTube may be more competitive depending on your niche. However, it offers more opportunities for bottom-of-the-funnel users who are ready to make significant purchases, potentially yielding higher long-term earnings.

Pinterest is a go-to platform for users looking for inspiration in various niches, be it fashion, crafting, or interior design. This makes it a hotbed for curated product recommendations put together by savvy shoppers like you.

The best part? You don’t have to do video content to share Amazon recommendations on Pinterest (though it can earn you more clicks). You can do this by designing eye-catching static Pins that link back to your website, blog, or social media channels.

7. Start a blog

Starting a blog is similar to creating content on other platforms, but it comes with added benefits. The primary goals of posting content on your blog are to:

• Establish your expertise in a specific subject.
• Boost your website’s SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
• Direct visitors toward the products you promote.

If your aim is to attract people to your website via Google or other search engines, SEO is crucial. SEO involves optimizing your website so that it ranks well in search results.

However, remember that SEO isn’t about stuffing your content with keywords. So, how can you optimize your website for search engines? By crafting content that helps search engines understand your site better.

Here are some content ideas that serve both your audience and SEO:

Product Reviews

These serve a dual purpose. They provide social proof for potential customers and enhance your SEO by keeping your content fresh and current. Honest, unbiased product reviews, whether your own or from customers, can build loyalty and boost conversions.

According to Northwestern University’s Medill Spiegel Research Center, a product with five reviews has a 270% higher likelihood of purchase compared to a product with no reviews.

Gift Guides

You can create buying and gift guides for the products you recommend as an affiliate. Many affiliate marketers include gift guides in their content strategy, complete with Amazon affiliate links. When a reader decides to make a purchase, they can simply click the link and buy it on Amazon.

Product Comparisons

Whether as blog posts or dedicated web pages, product comparisons are an excellent way to boost SEO. This is especially important as 60% of customers start their product search on Amazon. Offering comparisons between similar products aids customers in their research.

TechRadar, a tech news and review publication, provides a great example of product comparison articles. They include Amazon links and make it clear to readers that they can make purchases on Amazon. This transparent approach builds trust and can improve conversions. Each “View deal” button contains an affiliate link, earning the publication referral fees within their valuable content.

Starting a blog not only enhances your online presence but also creates opportunities to educate, inform, and guide your audience, all while boosting your affiliate marketing efforts. For more guidance, check out our guide on how to build a WordPress blog.

8. Use Search Engine Optimization For Site Promotion

The next step after publishing content on your site is to build links to it. Links from other sites to your site are viewed by search engines as a vote on the credibility and relevance of your site. You can improve your search authority and attract more visitors to your website by accumulating high-quality backlinks to your affiliate marketing content.

SEO ranking factors still rely heavily on link-building, so prioritizing the acquisition of these crucial backlinks is key. Here are some smart ways to build links:

• Write Guest Posts: Contribute articles to relevant and reputable industry blogs and publications. This not only broadens your exposure but also allows you to earn backlinks.
• Collaborate on Affiliate Content: Partner with relevant brands or publications in your niche to cross-promote each other’s content and exchange links. It’s a win-win situation.
• Leverage Trusted Affiliate Partners: Reach out to your trusted affiliate partners and request them to include backlinks to your content or website from their platforms.

In order to achieve success with affiliate marketing SEO, your content must provide direct value to your audience. These days, when consumers are impervious to flashy sales pitches, you have to make content that aligns with their intent and addresses their pain points.

If you don’t deliver on your content’s promises, you’ll get penalized by search engines. When this happens, it’s unlikely your content will be discovered, and even if it is, visitors might bounce before engaging with your affiliate links.

No matter what content approach you use, prioritize offering value over closing sales. Your content should be natural, engaging, and serve a purpose. You could end up draining your budget instead of making money with your affiliate strategy if you don’t do this.

Closing Thoughts

Getting started with affiliate marketing is easy and free with Amazon Associates. All you need is a website, app, or YouTube channel, an Amazon account, and content where you can add affiliate links.

If you want to step it up, you can link your Amazon affiliate account to your Shopify store using the Amazon Associate Connector app. This handy tool lets you display Amazon product listings and affiliate links right on your store while keeping your branding intact.

Amazon Associates is a great way to make money online quickly. As soon as you’ve set up your first affiliate link, you can start earning passive income by recommending great products to your loyal followers.

Jack Davis

Jack Davis is an internet entrepreneur. He created the Affiliate Marketing Masterclass and offers personal coaching on affiliate marketing. He has been featured in major publications like Forbes, Entrepreneur, and CNBC for his achievements in online marketing. He owns more than 10 niche websites and has made millions of dollars from them. So, he’s the guy you can trust when it comes to building niche sites and SEO.