Amazon Affiliate Program
If you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, the Amazon affiliate program may be a good option for you.
In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the Amazon affiliate program, including how it works, how much you can earn, and the pros and cons of participating in the program.
We’ll also give you tips on how to become an Amazon affiliate and start earning money.
Brett Helling is a digital marketing expert with over 10 years of experience building, managing, and scaling websites.
- Cost Per Action (CPA): No
- Commission Rate: 1% – 20% (varies by product category)
- Cookie Duration: 24 hours (90 days for items added to cart)
- Payment Payout Threshold: Minimum $10 for Amazon gift cards, $100 for direct deposit or check
- Payment Options: Direct deposit, check, Amazon gift card
The Amazon Associates program is an affiliate marketing platform that allows influencers, bloggers, and website owners to earn commissions by promoting Amazon products.
By signing up for the program, members receive unique referral links to use on their websites, blogs, or social media channels.
When someone clicks on an Amazon affiliate link and makes a purchase, the affiliate earns a commission on that sale.
This program is popular among bloggers and influencers who regularly recommend products to their audiences, as it provides a way to monetize traffic by earning commissions on purchases made through Amazon links.
Products to Promote
The Amazon Associates program allows affiliates to promote a vast range of products across nearly all categories available on Amazon.
This includes popular items in electronics, fashion, health and wellness, books, home and kitchen, and sports and outdoors.
Affiliates can also promote specialized products such as luxury beauty items, musical instruments, automotive accessories, and Amazon’s own digital services like Amazon Prime, Audible, and Kindle.
From everyday essentials to niche categories, the program offers affiliates the flexibility to choose products that best align with their audience's interests, maximizing potential earnings across diverse product selections.
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The Amazon Affiliate Program pays commissions based on a fixed rate structure that varies by product category.
Commission rates generally range from 1% to 20%, depending on the type of product sold.
For example, affiliates earn 4% on luggage sales, 2% on televisions, and up to 20% on certain digital products like Amazon Games.
Additionally, Amazon offers "bounties"—fixed payments for specific customer actions like signing up for Amazon Prime or trying Audible.
Earnings vary depending on website traffic, product choice, and conversion rates.
For instance, if a blog generates 10,000 views with 3,000 clicks to Amazon and a 5% sales conversion, promoting a $40 item with a 4% commission rate could result in $240 monthly earnings.
However, commissions may change, as Amazon occasionally revises its rates.
Affiliates are encouraged to diversify income sources due to potential commission cuts, like the April 2020 reductions in several categories.
How Payments Work
Amazon Associates payments are issued once you reach a minimum earnings threshold of $100.
If you don’t reach this amount in a month, your earnings roll over to the next month until you hit the threshold.
Payments are processed on the first of the month after meeting this threshold, but it can take up to 60 days to account for product returns and cancellations.
Amazon offers three payment methods:
- Direct Deposit: Funds are deposited directly into your bank account and are typically available within five business days.
- Check: A check is mailed to your account’s address within seven business days after processing.
- Amazon Gift Card: In countries where direct deposit and check aren’t available, payment may be issued as an Amazon gift card.
You can select your preferred payment method in your account settings.
Is the Program Worth It?
The Amazon Associates program can be worth it, depending on your traffic volume, audience engagement, and product choice.
It’s easy to join, and the commission structure, though relatively low (typically 1% to 4% for most categories), allows you to earn passive income by recommending Amazon products.
For websites with high traffic and active purchasing audiences, the program can be profitable.
However, given occasional commission cuts and limited earnings potential, it may not be the best option for affiliates seeking high payouts.
Diversifying with other affiliate programs that offer higher commissions could enhance overall revenue.
Get This Program
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How to Join
To become an Amazon Affiliate, follow these steps:
Meet Basic Requirements
You need to be at least 18 years old, reside in a supported country, and have a website, app, or social media account with recent, original content (preferably 10+ posts within the last 60 days) or at least 500 followers.
Sign Up on Amazon Associates
Go to the Amazon Associates homepage, click “Sign Up,” and complete the form with your name, contact information, website or social media URLs, and tax details.
Set Up Your Profile
Create an Associates ID, provide a brief description of your website, and select product categories you intend to promote.
In the "Traffic and Monetization" section, describe how you’ll drive traffic (e.g., SEO, social media, email).
Select Payment Method
Choose to receive commissions by direct deposit or check.
Start Promoting
Once approved, generate affiliate links by clicking “Get Link” on any product you want to promote.
Amazon reviews your account once you’ve made at least three sales within 180 days. Failure to reach this threshold may lead to application withdrawal.
With these steps completed, you’re ready to earn commissions by driving traffic to Amazon products.
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