How to join the Amazon Affiliate Program: Ultimate Guide
Are you ready to unlock the immense potential of affiliate marketing and embark on a journey towards financial independence? Look no further than the Amazon Associates Program – a gateway to endless opportunities and lucrative earnings. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned blogger, or an online influencer, this comprehensive guide is designed to equip you with the knowledge and strategies needed to excel in the world of Amazon affiliate marketing. We’ll demystify the Amazon Affiliate Program, explore its immense potential for generating passive income, and reveal the step-by-step process of joining this lucrative program. So, fasten your seatbelts, sharpen your marketing skills, and get ready to embark on a thrilling journey of financial success!
Why you should become an affiliate marketer for Amazon
Amazon is the 6th world’s biggest public company on Forbes’ Global 2000 list, which increases its revenue year over year. Between 2004 and 2022, there has been a significant surge in the net revenue of Amazon.com’s e-commerce sales. As for 2022, the multinational e-commerce giant recorded a net revenue of nearly 514 billion U.S. dollars, representing a notable increase from the 470 billion U.S. dollars reported in 2021.
Source: Statista
Each second Amazon makes $4,722, which brings more than $17 million in an hour. (Source: RepriceExpess) Approximately 4,000 items are sold per minute by sellers in the US alone. (Source: Savemycent)
What is Amazon Associates Program aka Amazon’s Affiliate Program
Amazon Associates is the affiliate marketing program offered by Amazon, the global e-commerce powerhouse. Since the associates program was launched in 1996, it has never never ceased to be extremely popular. It allows individuals, content creators, bloggers, and website owners to earn commissions by promoting and driving sales for products available on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, you have the opportunity to monetize your online presence by recommending and linking to Amazon products through unique affiliate links.
The program provides associates with access to a vast selection of products spanning various categories, including electronics, books, fashion, home goods, and much more. Associates can choose from millions of products to promote, tailoring their recommendations to suit their target audience and niche.
How does the Amazon Affiliate Program work?
When a visitor clicks on an associate’s affiliate link and makes a qualifying purchase on Amazon, the associate earns a commission on that sale.
Amazon Associates offers a user-friendly platform that provides associates with reporting tools, performance analytics, and various promotional resources. Associates can track their earnings, analyze click-through rates, and optimize their strategies based on data-driven insights.
Furthermore, Amazon Associates provides associates with the ability to create customized affiliate links, widgets, and banners, allowing for seamless integration into their content. This flexibility enables associates to enhance their promotions and provide a smooth shopping experience for their audience.
Joining Amazon Associates is free and relatively straightforward. Once accepted into the program, associates can start incorporating affiliate links into their content, such as blog posts, product reviews, social media posts, or even YouTube videos, to drive traffic and conversions.
Can you really make money with the Amazon Affiliate Program?
In a nutshell – yes.
But don’t just take our word for it, let’s take a look at stats instead.
Based on ZipRecruiter data, the average annual salary for an Amazon affiliate is reported to be $55,434. The highest-earning 1% of affiliates make between $111,500 and $121,000, while the lowest-earning 10% earn between $16,500 and $26,000.
How much you will earn with Amazon depends on a lot of factors, such as your niche, the amount of your active audience, your marketing skills and of course the products you promote, because commissions vary depending on the product category, ranging from a few percentage points to higher rates for certain categories like luxury beauty or furniture.
Source: Amazon
Btw, you can make some serious money with Indoleads’ affiliate programs too
Amazon Associates Program requirements
Eligibility for the Amazon Associates program is absolutely free and open to individuals and entities around the world, as Amazon has separate affiliate programs tailored to different countries and regions. While the program is widely available, it’s important to review the specific eligibility criteria based on your location and the program you wish to join.
Here are some general points to consider:
- Geographic Location: Amazon offers affiliate programs for various countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and many others. Each program operates independently, and eligibility may vary based on your country of residence or the primary location of your audience.
- Age Requirement: To become an Amazon affiliate, you must be at least 18 years old. If you are under 18, you may need to explore alternative options or have a legal guardian or parent sign up for the program on your behalf.
- Traffic sources: you have to possess any of these – a website, a social media account or an app. They should provide a suitable platform for promoting Amazon products and engaging with an audience.
- Traffic sources ownership: Amazon requires affiliates to be an owner of any of the traffic sources mentioned above.
- Traffic Quality and Content: While Amazon does not specify specific traffic or content thresholds, it is important to maintain a certain standard of quality and relevance. Your website or blog should provide valuable content that aligns with your chosen niche and offers a positive user experience.
Websites
The content published on your website should be current, typically within the past 60 days.
A website should NOT:
- Violate intellectual property rights
- Include explicit or adult content
- Encourage violence or illegal activities
- Promote discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or age
Social media accounts
Usually at least 500 followers are needed to get through moderation.
Accounts on the following social media platforms are accepted for Amazon associates program:
- Facebook (excluding personal pages)
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Twitch
Apps
- The app should be accessible through Google Play, Apple, or Amazon app stores.
- The app must be free to download, and users should be able to access all Amazon links without any payment requirement.
- The app should feature original content.
- The app should not mimic or replicate the functionality of Amazon’s official shopping app.
- The app should not use WebViews to host or display Amazon web pages.
Amazon Associates Program excluded products
Keep in mind about excluded products:
- Any product or service available for purchase on a website associated with an Amazon Site, such as those listed through Amazon “Product Ads” program or sold on a website linked from a banner ad, sponsored link, or other link displayed on an Amazon Site.
- Any advertisement of alcoholic beverages on your Site, provided that you hold a valid license in the United States for the manufacture, wholesale, or distribution of alcoholic beverages, or if your Site is operating on behalf of such a licensed business.
- Prescription drugs or any other product offered by Amazon Pharmacy.
- Any product or service that has been specifically excluded by a third-party seller or vendor. If you attempt to establish a link using the tools we provide in Associates Central, you will be notified if a product or service is excluded.
Source: Amazon
How to sign up for Amazon Associates Program: Step by Step
The whole process is simple as with any other affiliate program:
- Click ‘sign-up’ on the Amazon website for affiliates https://affiliate-program.amazon.com.
- Fill in your personal details: first name, last name, phone number, address. Note that you need to provide real information, including a real phone number. Amazon conducts number verification, and providing an incorrect phone number will prevent you from getting your PIN to access the program.
- Specify your websites and apps. Here you need to specify your niche, indicate the presence of adult content, total traffic volume and monetization methods.
- Fill out the data in the tax form, where you will be asked to indicate your country of citizenship, among other things.
- Wait for the approval.
- Once you’re accepted, you can access the dashboard and generate unique referral links for your traffic sources.
Voila! You get a commission for each user who made a targeted action on Amazon’s site!
Keep in mind, you have 180 days from the date of approval to drive 3 sales, otherwise your account will be closed.
Also, if you’re going to promote Amazon products in different regions, you’ll have to apply separately on each affiliate programs’ website, e.g. https://affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk for the UK, https://affiliate-program.amazon.com.au for Australia, etc.
Are you looking for more high profit affiliate programs?
How to build Amazon affiliate links
Amazon recommends using SiteStripe tool for building affiliate links, as it simplifies the process of creating Amazon affiliate links.
SiteStripe is a toolbar that appears at the top of every Amazon page when you are logged in to your Amazon Associates account. Using SiteStripe, you can generate your affiliate links without leaving the Amazon page. It offers various options, such as text links, links with product images, or links with both images and text. You can easily copy the provided code and paste it into your content. This eliminates the need to visit Associates Central and allows you to share your affiliate links on social media platforms.
Source: Amazon
1. Creating a Text Link
To create a text link, simply click the ‘Text’ icon on any Amazon shop page. The link will automatically include your Tracking ID. If you have multiple tracking IDs, you can choose the appropriate one from a drop-down menu. Depending on whether you are on an overview page or a product page, the options for creating the text link may vary. If it’s a product link, you need to be on the corresponding product page, and the generated link can be directly placed in your website’s text editor.
2. Creating an Image Link
On any product page, you can generate an image link by clicking on the ‘Image’ option and selecting the desired size. The link will automatically include the last-used Tracking ID, but you can also choose a different Tracking ID from the drop-down menu.
3. Creating a Text + Image Link
With the ‘Text+Image’ option, you can easily copy HTML code to create a visually appealing product link box. The box includes the product name, image, current price, Amazon logo, and a ‘Buy’ button to encourage clicks. The last-used Tracking ID is automatically inserted into the link, but you can select a different Tracking ID from the drop-down menu if needed.
4. Sharing on Social Media
SiteStripe allows you to directly post product recommendations to your Twitter or Facebook feed. Simply click on the respective channel icon, add your personal comment, and post it on your feed.
Source: Amazon
Tips and tricks for Amazon affiliate website
- Choose a niche
Select a specific niche or topic for your website, rather than trying to cover a wide range of products. This allows you to target a specific audience and establish yourself as an authority in that area.
- Research products and keywords
Conduct thorough research to identify popular products within your niche. Additionally, perform keyword research to understand what phrases and terms your target audience is using when searching for those products. This helps you create content that is optimized for search engines and drives organic traffic to your website.
- Create high-quality content
Focus on creating valuable, informative, and engaging content for your website. Write product reviews, buying guides, comparisons, and informative articles related to your niche. Make sure your content is well-written, easy to read, and provides genuine value to your readers. With AI tools, content marketing has never been easier. We have a guide on using ChatGPT for affiliate marketing purposes, but you can use similar techniques for creating the whole blog posts and reviews.
- Incorporate affiliate links strategically
Place your affiliate links naturally within your content, rather than resorting to excessive or intrusive linking. Ensure that your links are relevant to the content and provide clear call-to-action prompts for your readers to click on them.
- Optimize for SEO
Implement on-page SEO techniques to improve your website’s visibility in search engine results. Use relevant keywords in your titles, headings, meta descriptions, and throughout your content. Optimize your website’s loading speed, improve its mobile responsiveness, and ensure it has a user-friendly navigation structure.
- Build a strong network
Establish connections within your niche by reaching out to other bloggers, influencers, and experts. Collaborate on guest posting, cross-promotions, or joint ventures to expand your reach and build credibility.
- Leverage social media
Utilize social media platforms to promote your content and engage with your audience. Share your articles, product recommendations, and updates on platforms where your target audience is active. Encourage social sharing by incorporating social media buttons on your website.
- Monitor and analyze performance
Regularly track your website’s performance using analytics tools. Analyze the data to understand which content and products are performing well, and adjust your strategies accordingly. Pay attention to conversion rates, click-through rates, and other metrics to optimize your affiliate marketing efforts.
- Stay up to date
Keep yourself updated with the latest trends, products, and changes in the Amazon Associates program. Stay informed about any policy updates or new features that can enhance your affiliate marketing strategy.
- Disclose your affiliate relationship
Comply with the FTC guidelines by clearly disclosing your affiliate relationship with Amazon. Include a disclaimer on your website stating that you may earn commissions from the affiliate links on your site.
Remember, building a successful Amazon affiliate website takes time, effort, and consistent dedication. Focus on providing value to your audience, optimizing your content, and staying committed to your niche.
FAQ
- Is Amazon affiliate program legit?
Yes, it is. It’s an official affiliate program by Amazon where you can earn money by driving sales on the Amazon platform.
- How do I become an Amazon affiliate?
In order to become an Amazon affiliate you should have a website, app or a social media account with an active and engaged audience. All you have to do is register on the official website of Amazon associates of the particular region.
- How much money can I make from the Amazon affiliate program?
Your earnings depend on your specific niche, the amount of traffic you receive, and the commission structure in place. There are affiliates who generate over $100,000 per month solely through the Amazon affiliate program. As an estimate, if your website receives 10,000 visitors per month, you could potentially earn $800 per month.
- How to sign up for Amazon affiliate program without website?
You can also become an Amazon associate if you have a social media account or an app with an active audience. The application process is the same: you should click on ‘sign-up’ on the regional website, e.g. https://affiliate-program.amazon.com for the US, and go through all the steps.
- Is Amazon Affiliate program worth it?
If you have a relevant source of traffic and you have a marketing strategy – yes, it is. It’s all up to you, because Amazon affiliate program works exactly as any other affiliate program: the more sales you drive – the more you earn.
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Wrapping It Up
The Amazon Associates program presents a powerful opportunity for individuals to monetize their online influence, generate passive income, and tap into the extensive product range and trusted reputation of Amazon. Whether you are a seasoned affiliate marketer or just starting your online journey, Amazon Associates offers a compelling platform to turn your passion and promotional efforts into revenue.
But not only the Amazon affiliate program can generate an income stream for you. There are thousands of other affiliate programs with high payouts from world-known and local brands. Check out our 2000+ offers from 180+ countries to get a taste of the premium affiliate network.
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