The Amazon Affiliate program, also known as Amazon Associates, operates as an affiliate marketing program. Becoming an Amazon Associate is cost-free for website owners and bloggers. They promote products from Amazon.com on their websites by generating links. If customers click on the links and make purchases from Amazon, referral fees are earned by the associates.
Are you still unsure of what affiliate marketing is or what it entails? Or are you uncertain about whether it is suitable for you?
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing entails online retailers giving niche website owners the opportunity to generate distinctive product links, known as affiliate links. For website owners to earn commission, they are required to promote these links, and they will automatically receive payment if someone visits the link and makes a purchase. It is important to note that as an affiliate, you will only earn money when the link is utilized in a transaction.
If you currently possess a website or blog and your content provides opportunities for product mentions, then affiliate marketing suits you. For example, if you own a blog about recipes, you can generate links for the ingredients of the products.
If you sell products directly on your website, it may not be the most suitable option for you; however, you can still earn money by utilizing a combination of product selling and affiliate selling.
How to become an Amazon affiliate
Before signing up to become an Amazon affiliate, it is important to note that having a website, app, or YouTube channel is a prerequisite. Therefore, before proceeding to Amazon, ensure that you possess one of these options that is current and already hosts some content.
1. Go to the Amazon Associates center and click the Sign up button
Following that, you will be prompted to either log in using an existing Amazon account or create a new one. It is advisable to create a new account if you only possess a personal account in order to differentiate your business. Nevertheless, if you have a phone number associated with your personal account (but lack a business phone number), creating a new account will not be possible.
2. Fill in your information
To ensure accurate payment of your earnings, you will be required to provide your affiliate account details for Amazon.
3. Add your website, mobile app, or YouTube channel
You have the option to add up to 50 websites or mobile apps. If you have multiple digital homes, you can include them as well. After adding a website and clicking the Next button, you will be prompted to indicate if your site or app is intended for children under 13 years old. Please note that such sites or apps are not eligible for the program.
4. Set up your profile
In this section, you are required to provide details about your website, including your preferred store ID (usually your business name). Amazon needs to know the purpose of your website and the products you plan to promote through links.
5. Explain how you drive traffic to your site or app
In the subsequent section, we would like you to elaborate on the methods you employ to attract visitors to your website (select multiple options if applicable). Additionally, kindly disclose the current means through which your website or app generates revenue, elucidate how you establish backlinks, provide the total number of unique visitors you receive, and state the reasons behind your interest in joining the program.
Once you have finished that, you will be required to solve the security CAPTCHA and accept the operating agreement.
6. Add your tax and payment information
After finishing the application, you will be asked to provide your payment and tax information, but you have the option to do it later. Afterward, you can begin utilizing Associates Central to generate affiliate links.
7. Use the Amazon Associate Connector app
If your website operates on Shopify, you have the ability to utilize the Amazon Associate Connector app, which enables you to effortlessly import Amazon products into your Shopify store.
To create a successful Amazon affiliate website, follow these steps: Begin by accessing your Shopify store through the app page and then proceed to connect your Amazon Associates account.
Once you are at that point, you have the option to bring in specific products by using the product URL. However, please note that searching for Amazon products in the app will require you to have Amazon Webservice credentials. Once you have added a product, it will be displayed in your products window in the following manner:
By clicking on the View on Shopify link, you will be redirected to the product page editor in Shopify. This will allow you to customize various details.
The product details will be automatically filled with the information included in the original Amazon product link, while maintaining the same meaning. No new information should be added, and no information should be removed.
After adding the product through the connector app, you will be able to see it in your Shopify store. Customers can make purchases, and you will receive a commission.
How to Create an Amazon Affiliate Link
1. Log in to your Amazon Associate account
By following a step-by-step approach, rephrasing the given text will ensure that the generated link text associates the promoted product with your account without any additional information being added or removed.
2. Click on Product Linking in the top banner and select Product Links
By thinking step by step, you can rephrase the given text while keeping the same meaning. Ensure that no new information is added or removed. This will demonstrate the available options you have for generating your links, which encompass the tools for linking to any page.
3. Use the Amazon Associates SiteStripe to generate Amazon Affiliate links
When logged in to your Amazon Affiliate Panel, you can easily generate your Amazon Affiliate Links by utilizing the SiteStripe bar that appears on product pages.
To rephrase the text while maintaining the same meaning: First, click the Text button in the Get Link selector to generate a short or full-length Amazon Affiliate link. Once the link is generated, copy it to your clipboard and use it for your promotional purposes.
4. Try other product linking options to find and create affiliate links
In addition to providing direct links to your preferred products on Amazon, there exist a few thrilling options that can broaden your audience’s reach and ignite their inspiration.
Use the Idea Hub to find the best products for your audience.
If you are an affiliate, there may be times when you run out of product ideas or are uncertain about the latest promotions that are relevant to your niche. In such situations, you can make use of the Idea Hub. Start by scrolling down to the Idea Hub from the Promotions banner. Then, select Filter & Sort and utilize the options in the left-hand menu to refine your search criteria.
This tool allows you to filter by featured content, categories, star rating, and more. For instance, if you are unsure about the products available for Prime Early Access in your niche, this tool can assist you in locating them.
Link to Favorite Destinations to highlight product lines or categories
When featuring affiliate content, it can be advantageous to focus on a category of products instead of specific ones. For instance, when sharing a blog post about holiday shipping, you can direct your audience to a webpage containing various packing and shipping supplies. This simplifies the process for your audience in finding what they need with just one click.
To access this tool, simply click on Product Linking located in the top banner and choose the option Link to Any Page. Afterward, navigate to the Link to Favorite Destinations tab. Within this tab, you can refine your search using the drop-down menus on the left side. Assign a name to your link and proceed by clicking the Get HTML button.
There will be a preview link on the right of the tab that you can click to view the appearance of the page.
To rephrase the text while maintaining the same meaning: Please rephrase the text below step by step, without adding or removing any information. Once completed, click the “Highlight HTML” button at the bottom to copy the updated link.
Link to Search Results to highlight specific keywords within a product line.
A lot of affiliates achieve success by using targeted content. You have the option to utilize this tool in order to generate links for a particular keyword within the product category you belong to. An instance would be if you are currently running a promotion for Halloween involving spooky lawn decorations, you can share a link that directs to that specific search. By doing so, you can showcase various excellent options to your audience simultaneously.
To utilize this tool, simply click on Product Linking located in the top banner and select Link to Any Page. After that, proceed to the Link to Search Results tab. At this point, you can refine your search by using the drop-down menus located on the left-hand side. Assign a name to your link and finally, click on Get HTML.
By following a step-by-step thought process, the tab on the right will display a preview link enabling you to witness the appearance of the page by simply clicking on it.
Rephrase the text below step by step, without adding or removing information, while maintaining the same meaning. After that, click the “Highlight HTML” button at the bottom to copy your updated link. You can also select “Text” in the SiteStripe bar in your preview to generate a shortened link.
Link to Any Page to direct your audience to any Amazon link.
If you are looking for an alternative to the SiteStripe tool, you have the option to utilize the Link to Any Page tab for creating your affiliate links. To access this tool, navigate to the top banner and click on Product Linking, then choose Link to Any Page.
5. Use the generated link on your site or other promotional materials according to Amazon’s standards
Remember that Amazon’s guidelines state that using the link in offline promotions, email, and eBooks or PDFs is prohibited. Quality content plays a crucial role in achieving success in marketing and sales. Make sure to attract your audience with quality content and share appropriate affiliate links on your website or YouTube channel.
Each link you create will include a cookie that will track your website visitors once they click on the link. This is advantageous to you as it enhances the chances of earning a commission for the sale. The only drawback is that the tracking function is only active for a limited period.
Marketing tips to boost income
Find a niche
In order for customers to purchase from you, it is necessary for them to be aware that you offer what they require, as with any brand strategy. This can be achieved by establishing yourself within a specific segment of the broader market, which is characterized by its unique needs and knowledge. This particular area becomes your expertise as an affiliate marketer.
To make marketing easier and keep yourself engaged in building the business, focus on a specific product category that genuinely interests you.
Create original content on different platforms
If you are an online entrepreneur, you are already aware of the importance of producing unique content. It assists in making you distinguishable, establishing trust, and building credibility with your audience, which are all vital for achieving success in affiliate marketing.
Simply creating original content is no longer sufficient. It is essential to distribute the content on various platforms as well. This is because customers who engage with multiple channels tend to spend double to five times the amount compared to those who engage with a single channel.
By producing content on both its blog and YouTube channel, the company aims to assist individuals in adopting a more sustainable way of living. Through showcasing their expertise, they are able to appeal to individuals who are inclined to trust them and eventually make purchases.
Invest in SEO
If you want your website to appear in search results on Google or any other search engine, you need to consider search engine optimization (SEO). Optimizing your website for search engines ensures that it can be found when people search for relevant terms.
SEO is not solely focused on keyword-stuffing; instead, it involves ensuring that your website is optimized for search engines. This can be achieved by creating web pages or incorporating content that aids search engines in comprehending your website.
Product reviews
By including product reviews, you can fulfill two objectives effectively. Firstly, they play a significant role in establishing social proof for potential customers. Secondly, they enhance your SEO ranking by regularly updating and refreshing your content. Additionally, as an affiliate, you have the opportunity to develop buying and gift guides for the products you endorse.
Product comparisons
Product comparisons, whether in the form of blog posts or dedicated web pages, are an effective strategy to enhance SEO. This is due to the fact that 81% of customers engage in pre-purchase research. By providing comparisons between similar products, customers are supported in their research process.
Start a blog
Creating a blog is akin to the principles discussed in generating content on various platforms, except in this case, said content resides within the confines of your website’s blog. The primary motive for sharing content on your blog is to establish your proficiency in a particular field, enhance search engine optimization (SEO), and guide individuals towards your merchandise.
