How to Get Started as an Amazon Associate

 

Becoming an Amazon Associate

Have you joined the Amazon Associates program yet? You can buy pretty much anything on Amazon these days. Which makes it really easy to find products that may appeal to your audience. It’s an ideal program for any blogger to join who’s looking to monetize through affiliate marketing. Let’s look at some tips and helpful resources to help you get started as an Amazon Associate. 

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own. Read my full disclosure here.

 

Already an Amazon Associate?

If you’ve already joined the Amazon Associate and are just here for tips to boost your sales, check out this FREE guide on how to earn more commissions on Amazon: 

7 Insider Tips to Earn More on Amazon Associates.

New to the program? Read on!

 

Why Become an Affiliate For Amazon?

Everyone trusts Amazon. It only makes sense to place Amazon affiliate links on your blog or website.

The Amazon Associates Program is one of the largest and most successful online affiliate programs out there.

It’s a very popular way to earn money for several reasons.

First off, it’s free to join. Amazon also has over 12 million items available. So this program can really work for any niche. There’s something for everyone!

Amazon also has a great reputation and affordable, if not free, shipping. And while this is not great for local, small businesses, most people can’t resist the convenience factor.

Once you join Amazon as an Associate, you can place product links within your content. If a click on that link leads to a sale, you get a commission.

And chances are, once people are on Amazon, they’ll make a purchase.

Here’s the best part. ANY purchase they make after clicking on your affiliate link will be credited to you.

For example: a reader could click on your link for a type of baby bottle you suggest, and end up buying a car seat. You’d make money on the expensive car seat that you didn’t even suggest!

Sounds pretty good, right? Right!

But it’s easier said than done. And Amazon has some rules to follow. More on that in a moment…

 

 

How much can you make as an Amazon Associate?

How much you make is dependent on many factors. The items you promote being one of them.

Amazon has different commission fees for different item categories. These commissions range from 8 – 17%. Your commission will depend on your niche.

Clothing and Accessories is currently the top paying category. So if you’re a fashion blogger, this is the program for you!

P.S. If you haven’t started a blog yet, learn how to Start a Blog (almost) for Free HERE.

 

How to get Amazon Affiliate links

You may already be sold on this idea and wondering “how do I get links to put on my site?”

Once you register with Amazon you can add what they call SiteStripe. Once installed, you’ll see a grey stripe across the top of your screen when logged into your Amazon Associate account.

You simply find the product you want to promote and you’ll find your links on the SiteStripe. You can choose from an Image link, Text link, or one that shows both image and text.

Say I want to link to this cute password book below. I’d click the Image link, and copy the code provided. Then paste it into the HTML (Text) section of my blog post where I want it to appear.

I also like to get the text link code and link the words of the product, as I did above. 

 

The video below will give you instructions on how to install and use the Amazon Associates SiteStripe:

 

Amazon Associates Program Rules

I bet you are anxious to get started. You need to be aware that Amazon is pretty strict about what is allowed and what isn’t.

It’s really important to understand their guidelines so you get approved quickly and don’t get kicked out of the program.

One rule is that you need to make 3 qualifying sales within 180 days of joining or you will not be able to remain an active associate.

Because of this rule, I wouldn’t rush into joining Amazon until you have your blog established and already have published content ready to have links added to it.

If you are struggling to get those 3 sales, I see lots of opportunities within blogging Facebook groups from other bloggers willing to help out.

Related Reading: Best Facebook Groups for Bloggers

You also do not want to ask friends and family to make purchases through your links. Amazon watches for this. They actually check IP addresses that may have a connection to yours!

You also cannot promote Amazon links in email marketing campaigns or digital products like eBooks.

Additionally, you need to disclose links very specifically. Within legal pages of your site (more on this momentarily), on social media, on Pinterest pin descriptions, etc.

See? Lots of rules. And people get kicked out all the time for thinking they can cheat the system.

Make sure you read the Associates Program Operating Agreement to fully understand what you are and are not allowed to do.

 

 

Affiliate for Amazon: Do it right

If you read the operating agreement and are completely overwhelmed by the legal jargon, help is on the way!

To really make sure you are doing everything right and make this a successful monetization plan, I highly recommend you learn from the best. And I am definitely not an expert on this topic.

BUT, Debbie Gartner is.

She consistently makes $4,000 – $5,000 a MONTH with the Amazon Associate program! And she’s spilled her secrets to that success into an in-depth eBook.

Her popular guide, Journey to the Center of Amazon can take you from making a few dollars a month as an Amazon associate to a full-time, passive income from the content you’ve already written!

 

If you’re already an Amazon affiliate but you’re struggling to see a big return, this one-time investment could make all the difference for your income. 

Have a look at Journey to the Center of Amazon here.

 

 

Posting Amazon Affiliate Links Legally

So back to making sure you disclose those Amazon links properly.

Legally, you need to disclose to your audience that you’re an Amazon Affiliate. I used Lucrezia Iapachino’s Amazon Affiliate Disclosure, which comes as a bonus within her Disclosures Template.

I originally purchased this template to make my entire site legal for doing affiliate marketing.

This is a great way to make sure you’re posting affiliate links, of any kind, legally. The $27 investment is worth the peace of mind. 

P.S. you do know you need disclosures on your blog if you’re doing ANY affiliate marketing, right? Learn more in this post.

 

 

In conclusion

I hope I haven’t scared you from wanting to join this lucrative program. Don’t be frightened off by the rules and guidelines. They aren’t difficult to navigate once you have a good understanding of them.

The Amazon associates program is popular for a reason and once you’re all set up, you’ll love it.

If you want to see an example of a post I’ve monetized with Amazon links, check out: Affordable Gift Ideas for Bloggers

You can see how easy it is to create content where you can recommend Amazon products. 

My niche can be tricky to find relevant products to recommend. But if you’re a mom or lifestyle blogger, the possibilities are really endless.

Think about the commissions that could be earned if someone purchased a high chair or baby swing you recommend.

 

 

Ready to become an Amazon Associate?

To join or just get additional information, simply scroll to the footer of Amazon.com or Amazon.ca and find “become an associate”.

OR sign up here (US) or here (Canada).

And don’t forget to check out this FREE guide on how to earn more commissions on Amazon: 7 Insider Tips to Earn More on Amazon Associates.

 

You may also like:
7 Real Ways to Make Extra Money Online
How to Maximize Affiliate Marketing Efforts (& Sales!)
4 Ways to Earn Passive Income With Sendowl
How to Get Started With Email Marketing (to make money)

 

 

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Getting Started With The Amazon Affiliate Program