If you’ve ever shared an Amazon product with a friend and thought, “I wish I could earn a commission when someone buys this,” you’re in luck.
The Amazon Associates Program is one of the easiest ways for beginners to get started with affiliate marketing. It has a relatively low barrier to entry, allows you to create affiliate links for millions of products, and gives creators a simple way to earn commissions from products they already recommend.
In this guide, I’ll explain how Amazon affiliate links work, how to get started, and how creators use them to earn income online.
What Is the Amazon Associates Program?
Amazon Associates is Amazon’s affiliate marketing program.
Once approved, you can create special tracking links for Amazon products. When someone clicks your affiliate link and makes a qualifying purchase, you may earn a commission.
The amount you earn depends on the product category and Amazon’s current commission structure.
Many creators use Amazon affiliate links to recommend:
- Home organization products
- Kitchen gadgets
- Beauty products
- Fashion finds
- Kids’ products
- Electronics
- Books
- Gift ideas
The best part is that you can create affiliate links for virtually any product sold on Amazon.
How to Become an Amazon Associate
Getting started is relatively simple.
First, you’ll apply for the Amazon Associates Program.
Typically, you’ll need a public platform associated with your application, such as:
- A blog or website
- Instagram account
- TikTok account
- YouTube channel
- Facebook page
Amazon reviews applications before granting approval.
Because requirements can change over time, it’s always a good idea to review the latest guidelines directly from Amazon during the application process.
Amazon Associates vs. Amazon Storefront
This is one of the biggest misconceptions I see among new creators.
Being accepted into Amazon Associates does not automatically mean you have an Amazon Storefront.
Amazon Associates
- Create affiliate links
- Share product recommendations
- Earn commissions
- Lower barrier to entry
Amazon Storefront (Amazon Influencer Program)
- Includes a personalized storefront
- Allows you to organize products into lists and collections
- Requires a separate approval process
- Generally involves a more established social media presence
Think of Amazon Associates as the entry point and an Amazon Storefront as the next level.
How Much Money Can You Make with Amazon Affiliate Links?
Commission rates vary depending on the product category.
While rates can change, many creators find that commissions often average a few percent per sale, with some categories paying more than others.
Your earnings depend on:
- The products you recommend
- The amount of traffic you generate
- Audience trust
- Conversion rates
The more helpful your recommendations are, the more opportunities you have to earn commissions.
How to Create Amazon Affiliate Links
Creating affiliate links is surprisingly easy.
Once you’re logged into your Amazon Associates account:
- Find the product you’d like to recommend.
- Use Amazon’s link generation tool at the top of your desktop screen or in the “share” button on mobile.
- Create your affiliate link.
- Copy the new tracking URL.
- Share that affiliate link with your audience.
It’s important that you share the affiliate link generated through Amazon Associates, not the standard Amazon product URL.
That affiliate link is what allows Amazon to track purchases back to your account.
How Do Amazon Affiliate Cookies Work?
One important thing to understand is that affiliate links are not tracked forever.
Amazon uses a cookie system to track qualifying purchases after someone clicks your affiliate link.
The exact rules, timing windows, and attribution policies can change, so you should always review the latest information directly through Amazon Associates.
In general, affiliate commissions are based on Amazon’s current attribution rules and the customer’s purchasing behavior after clicking affiliate links.
Because these policies may change over time, I recommend checking Amazon’s official documentation for the most current details.
Do You Need a Website to Use Amazon Affiliate Links?
Not necessarily.
Many creators successfully use Amazon affiliate links through:
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Email newsletters
However, one challenge is organization.
Amazon Associates allows you to generate affiliate links, but it doesn’t provide an easy way to build collections or organize products unless you’re approved for an Amazon Storefront.
That’s why many creators use tools like Linktree or other link-in-bio platforms.
For example, you might create links such as:
- My Favorite Instant Pot
- My Go-To Protein Powder
- Best Kids Water Bottle
- Home Organization Favorites
Each button can direct users to an individual Amazon affiliate link.
Why I Also Use ShopMy
While Amazon Associates is a great place to start, I personally love using ShopMy as well.
Amazon affiliate links only work for Amazon products.
But what happens when you want to recommend products from:
- Target
- Walmart
- Abercrombie
- Sephora
- Nordstrom
- Hundreds of other brands?
That’s where ShopMy comes in.
ShopMy allows creators to generate affiliate links for many non-Amazon retailers while organizing everything into one easy-to-share storefront.
One of my favorite features is that ShopMy handles much of the backend work for you.
Instead of applying to dozens of affiliate programs individually and tracking commissions across multiple dashboards, ShopMy brings many of those relationships into one platform.
Of course, you can still work directly with brands if you’d like, but ShopMy makes affiliate marketing much easier to manage.
If you’re interested, you can also read my guide: How I Make Money with ShopMy
Final Thoughts
The Amazon Associates Program remains one of the easiest ways for beginners to get started with affiliate marketing.
If you’re already recommending products to friends, followers, or readers, affiliate links can help you earn commissions from products you’re already sharing.
For many creators, Amazon Associates is the first step in their affiliate marketing journey. As your audience grows, you may eventually expand into additional platforms, affiliate networks, and creator tools that help you organize and monetize your recommendations more effectively.