Even before the pandemic, people were searching for ways to increase their income. One popular method is affiliate marketing, which can generate passive income. And when it comes to affiliate marketing, there’s nothing quite like Amazon Associates.

Step Up Your Amazon Associates Game For 2023:

What is Amazon Associates?

As the largest online retailer, Amazon boasts over 12 million products and rakes in an average of $17 million in sales every hour. In 2020 alone, the company reported a net revenue of $386.06 billion. However, it’s not just Amazon making a fortune – affiliate marketers account for about 45% of the website’s market share. With over 900,000 members, Amazon Associates is one of the largest affiliate networks worldwide.

Amazon Associates is Amazon’s affiliate marketing program, which allows content creators, bloggers, and marketers to monetize their websites by promoting Amazon products. Signing up for the program is free, and you earn a commission when someone clicks on an Amazon link on your site and makes a purchase. The commission can range from 1% to 20%, depending on the product category.

This program is ideal for bloggers, influencers, and content creators who already have a following, but it’s also an excellent starting point for new affiliate marketers. With Amazon’s wide range of products, there are countless options to choose from.

How Does Amazon Associates Work?

Amazon’s affiliate program enables you to promote eligible products to your target audience using unique product links. When customers click on these links and make a purchase within 24 hours, you earn a commission. The commission percentage varies depending on the product type.

If a buyer closes their tab without making a purchase, you won’t earn commissions on future purchases. However, if they revisit the site through one of your affiliate links, a new 24-hour earning window opens. It’s important to note that this window expires if the buyer places an order or revisits the site using another affiliate’s link.

Sometimes, customers use your link to add an item to their cart but don’t complete the purchase. However, if the item remains in their cart before it expires (usually after 90 days), you will still receive a referral fee. The fee will only reflect in your account when the buyer purchases the item, accepts the delivery, and pays Amazon in full.

How Much Can Affiliates Earn with the Program?

The amount you earn as an Amazon affiliate marketer depends on factors such as the size and engagement of your audience, the quality of your content, and your online marketing activities. On average, Amazon affiliate marketers earn $55,434 per year. However, there are also those who make less than $20,000 annually, while some manage to earn millions of dollars in a single year.

If you’re just starting, your payout may not be as lucrative. But the earning potential of Amazon Associates varies significantly, giving you ample opportunity to boost your affiliate revenue over time. It’s essential to learn about the commission rates for each product category to calculate your potential earnings accurately. Additionally, your conversion rate, which measures the number of visitors who make a purchase after clicking on your affiliate link, is also crucial for maximizing your earnings.

Who is Eligible to be an Amazon Affiliate?

Amazon accepts affiliates from all around the world. There is no registration fee or minimum sales quota required to earn commissions. Once Amazon approves your application, you can start promoting products right away. However, you must have a suitable platform for advertising Amazon products and services.

Website

The most common way to advertise Amazon products is through a website, such as a blog. To qualify, your blog must have at least ten unique entries, with the most recent post being within the last two months. Additionally, your content must not infringe on intellectual property rights, contain explicit material, incite violence or criminal activities, or display discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or age.

Social media

If you have an active social media account with at least 500 organic followers, you can also apply to the Amazon affiliate marketing program. Acceptable platforms for promotions include Facebook (business or public group page), Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, and Twitch.tv.

Apps

If you have a mobile app that meets Amazon’s specific criteria, you can apply using your app. It must be available for free on Amazon, Apple, and Google Play stores, contain original content, differ from Amazon’s shopping app, and not have price tracking features.

What is the Application Process to be an Amazon Affiliate?

To become an Amazon affiliate marketer, you need an Associates account. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Go to Amazon Associates: Visit the Amazon Associates website and click on “Sign Up,” or log in if you already have an account.
2. Fill out your account details: Provide the required information, including your name, address, and contact details.
3. Enter the URL(s) of your website(s), social media channels, and apps: Include the URLs of all the platforms you plan to use for promoting Amazon products. You can list up to 50 websites or mobile applications, which allows you to target various regions.
4. Choose a store ID: Select a store ID, which is similar to the name of your primary website or platform.
5. Describe how you generate traffic: Explain how you attract visitors to your site, how you monetize your marketing efforts, and outline your link-building process.
6. Decide on a payment method: Enter your payment and tax ID details. You can add more payment information later. Afterward, return to your dashboard and enter the 4-digit PIN provided by Amazon.

Now, all you have to do is wait for Amazon to review and approve your application. If your website meets the criteria, and you have completed all the necessary fields correctly, you should be accepted into the program shortly. Once approved, you can access your Amazon Associates page, which provides detailed information such as monthly summaries and commission overviews. At this point, you can start creating your affiliate links.

If you want to promote products on different Amazon regions, you will need to repeat the registration process for each location. For example, if you plan to target customers on Amazon.com in the US and Amazon.co.uk in the UK, you’ll need to enroll in the Amazon Associates program for each respective region.

How Do You Create Amazon Affiliate Links?

Amazon has strict policies regarding affiliate links. To simplify the process for affiliates, the site offers different tools for creating links.

Product Link Tool

This tool allows you to create both text and image links:

1. Go to the Product Linking tab on your Associates Central dashboard.
2. Choose “Product Links” from the menu.
3. Assign an ASID (Amazon Standard Identification Number) to each item.
4. Click the “Go” button to generate a new affiliate link.
5. If you prefer an image-only URL or other options, click “Get link.”

Banner Creation Tool

This tool specifically helps you create eye-catching banners for promoting Amazon products and special deals:

1. Open the Product Linking drop-down menu.
2. Click the “Banner Creation Tool” button.
3. Choose from a wide range of banners categorized by size and genre.

Site Stripe

Many affiliate marketers find Site Stripe the most user-friendly tool as it allows them to build links directly from Amazon pages:

1. Go to Associates Central.
2. Choose “Site Stripe” from the Tools menu.
3. Read the brief description and click “Learn More” to access the display settings window.
4. Toggle the switch to “Enable.”

Amazon provides a dedicated FAQ page on link building, which provides more detailed instructions. Once you have your affiliate links and images, you can incorporate them into your marketing strategies.

What Are the Amazon Associates Guidelines?

To maintain your position as an Amazon associate, it’s essential to adhere to the Associates Program Policies. These policies cover various guidelines related to your participation in the program. Familiarize yourself with these rules to avoid violating any policies, which could result in Amazon terminating your account.

While there are many guidelines to follow, here are some basics to keep in mind:

• Make three sales in six months to avoid account deactivation: It’s advisable to apply as an Amazon affiliate when your website already has consistent traffic. Otherwise, meeting this requirement can be challenging. If your initial attempt as an Amazon Associate fails, you can reapply in the future. However, avoid placing orders using your affiliate link, as this is against Amazon’s policies and could lead to account suspension.

• Include a prominent Amazon affiliate disclosure: Amazon Associates requires their affiliates to disclose their partnership on their websites. This disclosure is mandated by the Federal Trade Commission, and it’s crucial to make it easily readable and understandable. Amazon has approved this simple statement as a disclaimer: “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”

• Avoid cloaking Amazon affiliate links: Amazon values transparency and prohibits link cloaking. While using a URL shortener for readability might seem beneficial, it’s against Amazon’s policies. If you use an affiliate plugin that automatically injects affiliate links into your content, make sure to disable cloaking in the plugin settings.

• Refrain from displaying specific pricing for promotional products: Amazon does not allow specific pricing to be displayed for promotional products. Price changes frequently, and Amazon wants to prevent affiliates from unintentionally spreading false information. Instead, you can use price references, such as $ for low-cost items, $$ for medium-priced goods, and $$$ for expensive products. Alternatively, you can use the Amazon Associates API, which adjusts the price in real-time.

• Avoid self-hosting product images downloaded from Amazon: If you download a product image directly from Amazon, you cannot host it on your server. However, if you generate an image-and-link directly from the site or through the API, you can use the image on your marketing platforms as long as it loads from Amazon’s servers. You can also use your own photos, but you cannot add an affiliate link directly to the images. Instead, include a custom button with your Amazon affiliate link next to the image.

• Use caution when including affiliate links: Amazon prohibits using affiliate links on certain promotional materials, such as offline marketing supplies, emails, eBooks, PDFs, and private Facebook groups.

How Can You Improve Your Amazon Affiliate Marketing Strategies?

Success as an Amazon affiliate marketer relies on a numbers game. You need significant website traffic and a considerable following to generate conversions. Here are some tips to help you become a successful Amazon affiliate marketer:

• Pick a niche: Choosing a specific niche or specialty will greatly impact your success as an Amazon Associate. If you already have a website or blog, it’s best to focus on a subject you’re passionate about, as you’ll be discussing it extensively. This allows you to naturally incorporate product links without sounding overly promotional.

• Create unique content for different platforms: To stand out, build authority, and gain trust with your target audience, provide unique, high-quality content. Distribute your content across various platforms, such as blogs, YouTube, and social media channels, to reach a broader audience.

• Write product reviews and comparisons: Product reviews and comparisons are effective ways to include Amazon affiliate links organically within your content. Reviews are especially powerful because they target high-intent readers who are closer to making a purchase. Product comparisons give you more opportunities to include affiliate links while providing your audience with choices.

• Deliver consistent content: Keep your blog and social media platforms active with regular updates. Instead of prioritizing quantity over quality, focus on posting well-researched and substantial content, even if it means publishing less frequently. Develop a content marketing strategy and incorporate good SEO practices to write relevant and effective blog posts.

Now that you’re armed with all this information, you’re ready to start your journey as an Amazon Associate. Whether it’s a website, social media profile, or mobile app, you have multiple options. Once Amazon approves your application, you can begin promoting products and earning additional income through the Amazon affiliate marketing program. Remember, success lies in selecting a niche, producing high-quality content, integrating affiliate links organically, and following Amazon Associates’ policies.