Do you want to get into affiliate marketing but don’t know where to start? Joining affiliate programs is one of the easiest ways to make money as a content creator. However, scouting out the right programs for your audience can be challenging.
One of the best options to consider is Amazon Associates. Whatever your niche might be, there are several ways you can incorporate Amazon products into your content. For instance, you can create gift guides, write product reviews, or put together product lists such as recommended books or top outdoor gear.
In this post, we’ll look at the benefits of joining Amazon Associates. Then we’ll show you how to become an affiliate, from setting up your account to generating links for your favorite products. Let’s get started!
Why You Might Want to Become an Amazon Affiliate
As an Amazon Associates affiliate, you earn a commission every time someone makes a purchase through an affiliate link in your content. This means you can make a passive income simply by promoting products that are sold on Amazon.
There are other reasons you may want to consider signing up for Amazon Associates:
- It’s free and easy to join. You don’t have to pay a membership fee or meet specific requirements to be accepted.
- It is home to millions of products. You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to curating items for your audience.
- It offers several options for displaying products. You can generate customized links and widgets for the products you want to promote.
Next, we’ll show you how to become an Amazon affiliate, so you can start earning money by recommending relevant offerings to your audience.
How to Become an Amazon Affiliate (In 5 Steps)
Before applying to Amazon’s affiliate program, you need to have a live website. If you’ve just launched a blog, you might want to publish some original posts before submitting your application.
Having an active site increases your chances of getting accepted. You can also set up an Amazon affiliate account for your YouTube channel or mobile app.
Step 1: Sign Up for the Amazon Affiliate Program
Start by heading to the Amazon Associates home page. Select your language and location from the top menu, and then click the yellow Sign Up button in the header.
The next page will ask you to sign in with an existing Amazon account. If you don’t have one, click on the Create your Amazon account button and you’ll be taken to a registration page:
Once you’ve set up your account, return to the Amazon Associates homepage and sign in with your details. Then, you can start filling out the application for the affiliate program.
Step 2: Enter Your Personal Details and Website Address
Next, let’s go through the application step-by-step. On the first page, Account Information, you’ll be asked to provide and confirm your personal details, primarily your name, address, and mobile phone number.
At the bottom of the page, select the main contact for the account you’re creating. You can choose yourself as the payee by checking The payee listed above option. Alternatively, you can add another contact by selecting the second option.
When you’re done, hit Next to move on to Website and Mobile App List:
Here, you can add the web addresses where you plan to promote Amazon products. This can include websites, blogs, YouTube channels, and mobile apps.
Step 3: Build Your Profile
The Profile page will ask you to provide some information about your website(s) or mobile app(s). Start by setting your Associates ID. You can use your name or your website’s name for this. Note that the ID will also appear in your affiliate links.
Next, write a few sentences explaining what your website is about. From the lists provided, choose the topics that best describe your website, pick the kind of Amazon products you plan to promote, and select the type of website(s) or app(s) you own:
In the Traffic & Monetization section of the page, you’ll need to tell Amazon how you’ll drive traffic to your site and how you’ll generate money from your content. Use the lists provided to select the options that apply to your site:
Before clicking on Finish, you might want to read the Associates Program Operating Agreement mentioned in the Contract Terms section.
Step 4: Select Your Payment Preferences
Once you’ve built your profile and hit Finish, you’ll see a page confirming that your application has been submitted. You’ll also find some information about using your Associate ID and navigating the affiliate program.
Amazon will review your application once you’ve made the first sale through your website. If you don’t make at least three sales within the next 180 days, your application will be withdrawn.
This page will also ask you to enter your payment details and tax information, but you can choose to do that later.
Step 5: Start Generating Your Affiliate Links
That’s it – you’re now an Amazon affiliate! Note that Amazon asks you to identify yourself as an Associate and put a disclaimer on your website. You might want to do this right away to avoid getting banned from the affiliate program.
When you’re ready to create your first Amazon affiliate link, head to the Amazon Associates home page. This is where you’ll search for products and track your monthly performance:
Let’s generate the first affiliate link. Navigate to Quick Links: Search for Product, and type the product you’re looking for into the search bar.
Click on Go and you’ll get a list of results. Choose your product and hit the accompanying Get link button:
Next, you’ll see a page with options for displaying the product on your website: Text and Image, Text Only, Image Only, and Add to Widget.
Whatever option you choose, you’ll get an HTML code to add to the page or post where you wish to display the product. If you select Text Only, you can grab a link instead of the code:
Conclusion
If you want to make money by promoting products on your site, you should definitely consider signing up to Amazon Associates. It’s free to join, simple to use, and offers access to millions of products that you can promote through customized links and widgets.
Becoming an Amazon affiliate is a very straightforward process. All you need to do is:
- Sign up for the Amazon affiliate program.
- Enter your personal details and website address.
- Build your profile.
- Select your payment preferences.
- Start generating your affiliate links.
