How to Become an Amazon Affiliate with this Simple 4 Step Guide for Beginners.

Amazon, the largest online retailer on the planet, has an affiliate program. Becoming an Amazon Affiliate is an excellent way to monetize your website, blog, or social media platform. I have been an Amazon Affiliate for over four years now, and in this 4 step guide I will be walking you through how to become an Amazon Affiliate.

KEY POINTS:

To Become an Amazon Affiliate Follow these 4 Simple Steps:

  1. Choose Your Niche and Products: – To become a successful Amazon affiliate, it is important to choose a niche for your website. A niche is a specific topic or area of interest that you will focus on.
  2. Create an Amazon Account and Join Amazon Associates: – To become an Amazon affiliate, you’ll need to sign up for the Amazon Associates program. The application process is straightforward and can be completed online.
  3. Create Your Amazon Affiliate Links: – To create an affiliate link, simply go to the product page on Amazon, then go to the “Amazon Associates Site Stripe” toolbar at the top of the page, and click on the “Text” link. You can then copy the HTML code or the shortened Amazon link to use in your promotions.
  4. Promote Amazon Products Using Your Links: – Now that you have your affiliate links, you can start promoting Amazon products on your website, blog, paid advertising or social media platforms. Congratulations! You are now an Amazon Affiliate marketer.

As an Amazon Affiliate, you earn a commission on every sale made through your referral link. With over 300 million active customers, Amazon is the largest online retailer globally, offering an enormous range of products to promote. For almost any niche you can think of, there is a product on Amazon that you can promote as an affiliate and earn commissions.

However, becoming an Amazon Affiliate requires some know-how and strategy to maximize your earnings potential. You will most likely need some additional tools, training and support if you are serious about building an Amazon affiliate business. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive 4 step guide on how to become an Amazon Affiliate, covering everything from the benefits of joining the program to the steps involved in the application process. Plus, I’ll hook you up with a free trial of the platform I use to build and run my Amazon Affilate businesses. If you follow the tips and strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful Amazon affiliate.

Understanding the Amazon Affiliate Program


The Amazon Affiliate Program is also known as Amazon Associates. It is a referral program that allows you to earn a commission on sales made through your unique referral (affiliate) link. To become an Amazon Affiliate, you need to apply to the program and be approved. Once approved, you can promote any of the millions of products available on Amazon and earn a commission on each sale.

Becoming a member of the Amazon Associates Program allows you to earn commissions by promoting Amazon products on your website, blog or social media. When a customer clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.

Now, be aware, the Amazon Associates Program has strict rules and guidelines that all affiliates must follow. Violating these rules can result in termination of your account. Make sure to read and understand the Amazon Associates Program Operating Agreement before signing up.

Benefits of Becoming an Amazon Affiliate

Before we delve into the specifics of how to become an Amazon affiliate, let’s first discuss why you should consider joining the program. There are numerous benefits to becoming an Amazon affiliate, including:

  1. Good Commission Rates: Amazon offers some of the highest commission rates in the affiliate marketing industry, with rates ranging from 1% to 10% depending on the product category.
  2. Wide Range of Products: Amazon has millions of products available for sale, meaning there are endless opportunities to promote products that align with your niche and audience.
  3. Trusted Brand: Amazon is a well-known and trusted brand, making it easier to promote their products to your audience and drive sales.
  4. Easy-to-Use Platform: Amazon’s affiliate platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, even for beginners.
  5. Add-On Sales: Once someone navigates to Amazon through one of your affiliate links, you earn a commission on everything they purchase while there, even products you didn’t promote. Amazon is great about suggesting other items.

Now that we’ve covered the benefits of joining the Amazon affiliate program, let’s dive into the steps involved in becoming an affiliate.

How to Become an Amazon Affiliate


To become an Amazon Affiliate, follow these four simple steps:

Step 1: Choose Your Niche and Products


To become a successful Amazon affiliate, it is important to choose a niche for your website. A niche is a specific topic or area of interest that you will focus on. Your niche should be something that you are passionate about, a hobby or interest, and that has a large active audience or participants. When selecting your niche, consider your interests and expertise, as well as the potential profitability of the niche.

For More on Niche Selection
Read: How to Find the Best Niche for Affiliate Marketing

The next step is to set up your website or blog and social media accounts. You can use platforms like WordPress, Wix, Squarespace or my #1 recommended website platform, Wealthy Affiliate, to create a website. Make sure to choose a domain name that reflects your niche and is easy to remember. Once you have your website or blog set up, it’s time to choose the products you plan to promote on Amazon that align with your niche and create your Amazon Associates account.

beachangler.com homepage screen
My fishing blog created at Wealthy Affiliate is an Amazon Affiliate site.

Step 2: Create an Amazon Account and Join the Amazon Affiliate Program

If you do not already have an Amazon account, you need to create one. Visit the Amazon website and click on the “Sign In” button in the top right corner. Follow the instructions to create an account. Once you have an Amazon account, you can join the Amazon Affiliate Program.

To become an Amazon affiliate, you’ll need to sign up for the Amazon Associates program. The application process is straightforward and can be completed online. Go to the Amazon Associates homepage and click on the “Join Now for Free” button.

How to become an Amazon Affiliate - Amazon account sign up page

You will be asked to enter your personal information and website details. Once your application is approved, you’ll be given access to your affiliate account and can start promoting Amazon products on your website.

How to become an Amazon Affiliate - Amazon Associates sign up page

Step 3: Create Your Amazon Affiliate Links

After your application is approved, you can start promoting products on Amazon. To create an affiliate link, simply go to the product page on Amazon, then go to the “Amazon Associates Site Stripe” toolbar at the top of the page, and click on the “Text” link. You can then copy the HTML code or the shortened Amazon link to use in your promotions.

How to Become an Amazon Affiliate - Amazon site strip links

Creating affiliate links is easy. You can then use this link code to create a hyperlink on your website that will direct users to the Amazon product page. If they make a purchase of either the product you’re promoting, or anything else while they are there shopping, you will earn a commission.

Step 4: Promote Amazon Products

Now that you have your affiliate links, you can start promoting Amazon products on your website, blog, paid advertising or social media platforms. Promoting your affiliate links is crucial to making money as an Amazon affiliate. Be creative with your promotions, and make sure to disclose that you are using affiliate links.

You can also use Amazon banners, widgets, custom ads and native ads to make your promotions more visually appealing. And, be sure to follow the Amazon Associates Program policies and guidelines when promoting your links or else you risk having your account suspended or canceled.

Individual working on his  blog from his laptop

To become an Amazon affiliate, you’ll first need to have a website or blog to promote their products. Amazon will ask you for your website information when you sign up.

Your website or blog should be focused on a specific niche or topic, as we discussed earlier, that aligns with the products you plan to promote as an affiliate.

For example, if you plan to promote fitness products, your website should be focused on fitness-related topics.

Once you’ve been approved as an Amazon affiliate, it’s time to start promoting their products on your website. There are numerous ways to promote Amazon products, including adding affiliate links to product reviews, creating product comparison pages, top products (listicles) and placing banner ads on your website.

For More on Getting Traffic to Your Blog
Read: How do I get Traffic on My Blog?

To be successful as an Amazon affiliate, you’ll need to drive traffic (people) to your website or social media. There are many ways to do this, including search engine optimization, social media marketing, and paid advertising.

By driving targeted traffic to your website, people specifically searching for the products you are promoting, you’ll increase the likelihood of your audience clicking on your affiliate links and making a purchase on Amazon and you earning a commission.

Tips for Succeeding as an Amazon Affiliate


While becoming an Amazon Affiliate is relatively easy, succeeding in the program requires some effort and strategy. Here are some tips to help you maximize your earnings:

Choose Products Wisely

Choose products that align with your niche or audience. If your website is about cooking, promote kitchen gadgets or cookbooks. If your audience is interested in fitness, promote fitness gear or supplements. The more relevant the product is to your audience, the more likely they are to make a purchase.

Write Quality Content

Write high-quality content that provides value to your audience. Focus on creating content that educates, informs, or entertains.

Avoid writing content that is solely promotional, as this can turn off your readers. Creating quality content is crucial to the success of your Amazon affiliate website.

Your content should be informative, engaging, and relevant to your niche. Use a mix of text, images, and videos to make your content more appealing to your readers.

Build Trust with Your Audience

Building trust with your audience is essential to succeeding as an Amazon Affiliate. Be transparent about your use of affiliate links, and only promote products that you believe in. Never promote a product solely for the commission.

Optimize for Search Engines

Optimizing your content for search engines can help drive traffic to your website and increase your earnings potential. Conduct keyword research to identify the terms your audience is searching for and optimize your content accordingly. Learn how to structure your content so that it ranks well in search engine results. Higher rankings mean more visitors which means higher chances of making a sale and earning a commission.

How to become an Amazon Affiliate - Amazon sales tracking chart

Tracking Your Performance

Amazon Associates Program provides a dashboard where you can track your performance.

You can see how many clicks your links are getting, how many sales you are making, and how much commission you are earning.

Use this data to optimize your website, make changes where necessary, and improve your sales performance.

Best Practices for Amazon Affiliates

To become a successful Amazon affiliate, you should follow these best practices: Following these practices will greatly increase your opportunities for success as an Amazon Associate. At Wealthy Affiliate you will learn the proper methods to build a successful Amazon Affiliate business.

  • Choose a niche that you are passionate about
  • Create quality content that is informative and engaging
  • Promote products that are relevant to your niche
  • Use clear and concise language when promoting products
  • Be transparent with your readers about your affiliate links
  • Stay up-to-date with the Amazon Associates Program policies and guidelines
  • Build a community around your website or blog
Young boy giving the "two thumbs up" sign

Common Mistakes to Avoid as an Amazon Affiliate

There are some common mistakes that many new Amazon affiliates make. Avoiding these mistakes can help you become a successful Amazon affiliate. And, making these mistakes could get you suspended from the Amazon Associates program.

stop - don't do it, cartoon character holding up his hand indicating stop with a circle with a slash over him
  • Choosing the wrong niche or promoting products that are not relevant to your audience
  • Creating low-quality content or plagiarizing content from other websites
  • Not disclosing your affiliate links to your readers
  • Violating the Amazon Associates Program policies and guidelines
  • Ignoring your website or blog’s analytics and not optimizing your performance

FAQs about Becoming an Amazon Affiliate

Do I need to have a website to become an Amazon affiliate?

Yes, you need to have a website or blog to become an Amazon affiliate.

How much can I earn as an Amazon affiliate?

The commission rate varies depending on the product category, but you can earn up to 10% on every sale made through your affiliate links.

Is it free to become an Amazon affiliate?

Yes, it is free to join the Amazon Associates Program.

cartoon figure scratching his head with a giant red question mark behind him

Can I promote Amazon products on social media?

Yes, you can promote Amazon products on social media, but make sure to follow the Amazon Associates Program policies and guidelines.

What should I do if my Amazon Associates account is terminated?

If your account is terminated, you can reapply for the program after 90 days. Make sure to read and understand the Amazon Associates Program Operating Agreement to avoid violating the rules and guidelines.

How to Become an Amazon Affiliate: Final Thoughts


For More on Affiliate Marketing
Read: A No BS Beginners Guide to Affiliate Marketing


Becoming an Amazon affiliate is a great way to earn income online and an excellent way to monetize your website, blog, or social media platform. And, it can be a lucrative opportunity for bloggers and website owners to earn passive income through affiliate marketing.

By following the steps in this guide, and implementing the tips provided, you can become a successful Amazon affiliate and earn commissions by promoting Amazon products on your website or blog, social media or through paid ads.

Remember to choose a niche, create quality content, promote relevant products, and stay up-to-date with the Amazon Associates Program policies and guidelines.

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Highest Rated Platform on Trustpilot

If you are truly interested in becoming an Amazon Affiliate, Check out my #1 recommended platform Wealthy Affiliate (it’s completely FREE to try), where you’ll get all the tools, training and support you need to launch your very own Amazon Affiliate business.

Wishing you all the success and happiness,


Rex

P.S. If you have any questions or are unsure of anything, I am here and I promise I will get back to you on all of your questions and comments. Just leave them below in the comment section. Follow me on Twitter: @onlinebenjamin1, Instagram: dotcomdinero, YouTube: Rex McMahon and Facebook: Online Benjamins

P.P.S. Thanks so much for checking out our blog we really appreciate it. Just so you know, we may receive a commission if you click on some of the links that appear on our site. This helps us keep our content free and up-to-date for everyone. We appreciate your support!”

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