In here we share with you Amazon Associates Complete Review 2021 let’s go
Affiliate marketing entails an advertising approach where a company rewards third-party publishers for driving traffic or generating leads to its products and services. These publishers, known as affiliates, receive commission fees as an incentive to promote the company effectively.
If you possess a website with substantial traffic, you can capitalize on this opportunity and join various affiliate marketing platforms to earn income. With numerous affiliate programs available, it’s crucial to make informed decisions to find the best fit for your needs. To aid you in this process, we present a comprehensive review of the Amazon Associate program that might prove beneficial.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Amazon Associates Program?
- How to Become an Amazon Affiliate
- What Is the Amazon Affiliate Program Commission Rate?
- What About the Amazon Associates Cookie Duration?
- Pros of the Amazon Associates Program
- Cons of the Amazon Associates Program
- Alternatives
- Conclusion
What Is the Amazon Associates Program?
The Amazon Affiliate program, also known as Amazon Associates, is a free affiliate marketing initiative. It enables website owners and bloggers to become Amazon Associates and advertise products from Amazon.com on their sites through customized links. When customers click on these links and make purchases from Amazon, the website owners earn referral fees.
If you’re still unsure about what affiliate marketing is or whether it suits your needs, let me explain further. Affiliate marketing allows online retailers to collaborate with niche website owners who can create special product links (affiliate links). These website owners must then promote these links, and whenever someone clicks on the link and makes a purchase, they automatically receive a commission. As an affiliate, you only earn money when the link is used in a transaction.
Affiliate marketing is a great fit for you if you already own a website or blog and your content provides opportunities for product mentions. For instance, if you run a recipe blog, you can create links for the ingredients used in your recipes.
On the other hand, if you primarily sell products directly on your website, affiliate marketing might not be the best fit for you. However, you can still use a combination of product selling and affiliate marketing to generate income.
How to Become an Amazon Affiliate
Before you apply to Amazon’s affiliate program (Amazon Associates), it’s essential to have a live website. If you’ve recently launched a blog, it’s advisable to publish some original posts before submitting your application.
Having an active and established website enhances your likelihood of being accepted into the program. Additionally, if you have a YouTube channel or mobile app, you can also set up an Amazon affiliate account for those platforms.
Step 1: Sign Up to the Amazon Affiliate Program
To begin the process, head over to the Amazon Associates home page. From the top menu, choose your preferred language and location. Once that’s done, click on the yellow “Sign Up” button located in the header.
On the next page, you’ll be prompted to sign in using an existing Amazon account. If you don’t already have an Amazon account, click on the “Create your Amazon account” button, and you’ll be redirected to a registration page:
After setting up your account, please navigate back to the Amazon Associates homepage and log in using your provided credentials. Once logged in, you can proceed with completing the application for the affiliate program.
Step 2: Enter Your Personal Details and Website Address
Now, let’s proceed with the application process step-by-step. On the first page, titled “Account Information,” you will be required to furnish and verify your personal information, including your name, address, and mobile phone number.
At the bottom of the page, please designate the primary contact for the account you are creating. You can opt to be the payee by selecting “The payee listed above” option. Alternatively, if you want to add another contact, choose the second option.
After completing this section, click “Next” to proceed to the next step, “Website and Mobile App List.”
In this section, you have the opportunity to provide the web addresses where you intend to promote Amazon products. You can include a range of platforms, such as websites, blogs, YouTube channels, and mobile apps, where you plan to showcase and advertise Amazon’s products. Be sure to enter the relevant URLs accurately to ensure a smooth application process.
Step 3: Build Your Profile
On the Profile page, begin by specifying your Associates ID. You have the option to use either your name or your website’s name for this purpose. It’s important to note that your chosen Associates ID will also be visible in your affiliate links.
After setting the Associates ID, you’ll be asked to provide a brief description of your website or mobile app. Take a few sentences to explain the nature and purpose of your platform.
From the provided lists, please select the topics that best represent the content of your website. Additionally, indicate the types of Amazon products you intend to promote through your platform. Finally, specify the category that aligns with the type of website(s) or app(s) you own. This information will help Amazon understand your target audience and the nature of your promotional activities more effectively.
In the Traffic & Monetization section of the page, you will be required to outline your strategies for driving traffic to your site and generating revenue from your content. Please utilize the provided lists to select the applicable options that best describe your site’s approach.
Prior to clicking on “Finish,” it is advisable to review the Associates Program Operating Agreement referenced in the Contract Terms section.
Step 4: Select Your Payment Preferences
After creating your profile and clicking on “Finish,” a confirmation page will appear indicating that your application has been successfully submitted. This page will also provide essential details on utilizing your Associate ID and navigating the affiliate program.
Amazon will review your application once you’ve made your initial sale through your website. It is crucial to note that if you do not achieve a minimum of three sales within the next 180 days, your application will be withdrawn.
Additionally, the page will prompt you to enter your payment details and tax information, but you have the option to do so at a later time.
Step 5: Start Generating Your Affiliate Links
Congratulations, you have now become an Amazon affiliate! It is crucial to comply with Amazon’s requirements by identifying yourself as an Associate and placing a disclaimer on your website. Taking these steps promptly is essential to prevent any potential bans from the affiliate program.
When you’re prepared to generate your first Amazon affiliate link, navigate to the Amazon Associates home page. This platform will allow you to search for products and monitor your monthly performance as an affiliate.
Now, let’s create your initial affiliate link. Go to “Quick Links: Search for Product” and input the product you’re seeking into the search bar.
Afterward, click on “Go” to retrieve a list of results. From this list, select your desired product and click on the “Get link” button provided alongside it:
Following that, you’ll encounter a page offering various display options for the product on your website: Text and Image, Text Only, Image Only, and Add to Widget.
Whichever option you decide to go with, you will receive an HTML code to insert into the page or post where you want to showcase the product. In the case of selecting “Text Only,” you have the option to obtain a link instead of the full HTML code.
What Is the Amazon Affiliate Program Commission Rate?
The cause behind the rate changes remains uncertain. However, there are several assumptions circulating on the internet. One prevailing hypothesis is that Amazon’s sellers requested the rate reduction to assist them in dealing with the challenges posed by the pandemic. Others speculate that Amazon sought a larger share of the profits. Despite these speculations, the actual reason for the implementation of these changes remains elusive.
Categories | Previous rates |
Physical video games and video game consoles | 1.00% |
Televisions and Digital Video games | 2.00% |
Amazon Fresh and toys | 3.00% |
Various amazon devices, watches, jewellery, luggage, shoes and handbags | 4.00% |
Digital music, Grocery, Physical music, digital videos | 5.00% |
Furniture, Home improvements, pantry, lawn & garden | 8.00% |
Luxury beauty, amazon coins | 10.00% |
Amidst the pandemic, Amazon implemented alterations to both payout rates and product groupings, which are now illustrated in the following table:
Categories | Current rates |
Furniture, home improvement, lawn and garden, home, pantry, pet products, | 3% |
Beauty, headphones, musical instruments, business, and industrial supplies | 3% |
Outdoors, tools | 3% |
Grocery | 1% |
Sports | 3% |
Baby products | 3% |
Health and personal care | 1% |
Amazon Fresh | 1% |
Amazon opted for vaguer terms when describing the product categories. As a giant in the industry, it doesn’t necessarily require new marketers to promote sales; it is capable of handling the task independently. Nonetheless, this decision has left product marketers and affiliates discontented. They were instrumental in generating traffic for the website and played a significant role in the initial growth of the company.
In the table provided below, we have compared the commission rates of Amazon Associates with those of some of its competitors’ affiliate programs:
Categories | Amazon | eBay | Walmart |
Furniture, home improvement, lawn and garden, home, pantry, pet products, | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Beauty, headphones, musical instruments, business, and industrial supplies | 3% | 4-5% | 4% |
Outdoors, tools | 3% | 1% | 4% |
Grocery | 1% | 1% | 4% |
Sports | 3% | 1% | 4% |
Baby products | 3% | 1% | 4% |
Health and personal care | 1% | 1% | 4% |
What About the Amazon Associates Cookie Duration?
The Amazon affiliate cookie has a duration of 24 hours, meaning that affiliates can earn commissions only from sales that occur within this time frame after users click on the affiliate link. Once the 24-hour period expires, affiliates must prompt users to click again and encourage them to make a purchase before the duration resets.
One significant advantage of Amazon cookies is their universality, as they apply to all the products customers buy after clicking on the affiliate link. For instance, if a user adds a car mount phone holder to their shopping cart through your Amazon affiliate link and continues to add more items, you, as the affiliate, will receive commissions on all the products included in their final checkout.
What is the Amazon 90-day cookie?
The Amazon affiliate system offers two types of cookies – a standard 24-hour cookie and a unique 90-days cookie. Although there isn’t a specific 90-days Amazon cookie, the 24-hour cookie can be effectively extended by an additional 89 days. This extension allows users to take their time, considering purchases over weeks, without losing the referrer’s credit for the sale.
To benefit from this extension, users must add products to their cart within the initial 24-hour window. If they decide to add more items and check out after the 24-hour mark, the affiliate will only receive compensation for the items originally added within that timeframe.
The Amazon affiliate cookie duration is crucial for maximizing earnings from user clicks. With the 89-day extension, commissions can be generated even if customers complete their purchase later, providing a significant advantage for affiliates who may have delayed conversions.
Pros of the Amazon Associates Program
In 1996, Amazon Associates was introduced, marking it as one of the earliest and triumphant online affiliate programs.
The program boasts numerous advantages that attract a wide array of affiliates. Here are some of its key benefits:
- Free to Join: Amazon Associates offers a no-cost membership, enabling you to begin earning money through affiliate links without any personal financial investment.
- Simple Joining Process: The joining process is simple and hassle-free. Whether you’re into blogging, affiliate site creation, or building an online audience, Amazon Associates presents an excellent opportunity for you.
- Massive Selection of Goods: Amazon Associates offers access to an extensive catalog, allowing you to handpick the products you wish to promote on your affiliate website.
- Trustworthy Brand: Being one of the largest and most trusted online retailers worldwide, Amazon’s brand credibility can significantly boost your conversion rates when promoting their products.
- Universal Cookie: Amazon employs universal cookies, ensuring that any click on your website leads to potential commissions on all the items the visitor purchases from Amazon, not solely the product linked.
Beyond these advantages, Amazon is renowned for its unwavering commitment to top-of-the-line payment security features. Affiliates can rest assured that their earnings are protected through robust measures, and Amazon ensures timely and reliable payments for all affiliates.
Cons of the Amazon Associates Program
Undoubtedly, the Amazon Associates program offers numerous benefits. Nevertheless, it is not without its drawbacks, and one of the most significant concerns is the recent commission cut.
- Payout Cuts: Following the significant alterations to Amazon’s affiliate commission structure, where rates dropped from 3-8% per sale to 1-3% for various product categories, many marketers experienced a substantial reduction in their earnings.
- 24-hour Cookie: Amazon’s cookie has a validity period of only 24 hours from the moment a user clicks on an affiliate link. This limited timeframe poses challenges for affiliates, especially when compared to other companies that offer commissions for sales made up to 90 days after the initial link click.
Adding to the challenges, Amazon has a relatively high payment threshold, meaning you can only receive your monthly payment if your affiliate account maintains a minimum balance.
Moreover, affiliates must complete their tax information before becoming eligible for payments. Additionally, the absence of PayPal integration is a major drawback since it is one of the most widely used payment methods, potentially serving as a deal-breaker for some affiliates.
Alternatives
There are lots of ad networks in the market. So you have to realize which platform is suite for your website and your site traffic. So i wrote a article about best 15 Ad platforms and you can choose best one for you.
Conclusion
The Amazon Affiliate program presents a fantastic opportunity to transform a personal interest into a steady stream of passive income. Select a specific niche, craft content focused on products, and incorporate relevant affiliate links, all contributing to the potential for significant growth in your Amazon Affiliate earnings.