Amazon Affiliates: The Lazy Person’sGuide to Making Money

March 18, 2025 Kamraan Rashid

Step 1: Sign Up for Amazon Associates

So, you want to make money without actually selling anything? Welcome to Amazon Affiliates, where you convince other people to buy stuff and take a commission for the effort of… sharing a link. It’s like being a salesperson, but without the annoying customers, the awkward small talk, or the guilt of pushing overpriced nonsense.

Here’s how you get started:

1️ Go to the Amazon Associates Website
USA: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com
UK: https://affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk
Elsewhere? Google it. You can work from anywhere, as long as your country isn’t too dodgy.
2️ Click “Sign Up”
If clicking a button is too difficult, I’m afraid affiliate marketing might be out of your skill range.
3️ Sign in or Create an Amazon Account
Already have an Amazon account? Log in.
Don’t have one? Congratulations on avoiding capitalism for this long. Now sign up.
4️ Enter Your Account Information
Name, address, phone number, and where you plan to spam—I mean, promote—your links.
No website? No problem. You can use social media. Even TikTok—because apparently, people love taking shopping advice from 12-year-olds.
5️ Choose Your Store ID
This is like your online gangster name, but instead of striking fear into people, it just makes you sound like a discount tech store (e.g., "BargainTech2025").
6️ Explain How You’ll Drive Traffic
Amazon wants to know your “marketing strategy.” Saying “I’ll just wing it” won’t get you approved. So pick something official-sounding—like SEO, YouTube, or “annoying my followers daily on Instagram.”
7️⃣ Choose a Payment Method
You can get paid via:
Bank Transfer – Fast and sensible.
Amazon Gift Card – If you hate real money.
Check – If you enjoy waiting months to get paid.
8️ Verify Your Phone Number
Because even Amazon thinks you might be a scammer.
9️ Accept the Terms & Submit Your Application
Read the agreement. Or don’t. Either way, you’ll click “Accept” like everyone else.
Approval is usually quick, unless Amazon thinks you’re up to something shady. In which case… good luck.

Step 2: Get Your Affiliate Links

You’re in! Now it’s time to generate affiliate links, aka “printing money”—except, of
course, Amazon takes most of it.

1️ Log into Your Amazon Associates Dashboard
Click “Sign in.” Try not to forget your password immediately.
2️ Use the Amazon SiteStripe Toolbar
This magical toolbar appears at the top of every Amazon page when you’re logged in.
Find a product, click “Get Link,” and choose between:
✅ Text – Boring but practical.
✅ Image – Because some people only click on shiny things.
✅ Text+Image – For when you can’t decide.
3️ Use the Product Linking Tool (For Bulk Links)
Go to "Product Linking" > "Product Links."
Search for a product, click “Get Link,” copy the URL, and spam responsibly.
4️ Shorten Your Links
Long links look suspicious. Like, “Click this mysterious 500-character URL and trust me” suspicious.
Use:
✅ Amazon’s shortener (built-in).
✅ Bit.ly (if you want to sound tech-savvy).
✅ Pretty Links (if you use WordPress and like things to be, well… pretty).

Step 3: Promote Your Affiliate Links (Without Annoying Everyone)

Now, the fun part—convincing people to buy things they probably don’t need.

📌 Where to Share Your Amazon Links?
1️ Your Website or Blog
✅ Write reviews, buying guides, and comparison articles (a fancy way of saying “Googleable nonsense”).
✅ Use SEO so your site ranks on Google—because let’s be honest, no one goes to page 2.
✅ Example: 👉 "The Best Dog Accessories You Didn’t Know You Needed"—featuring links to overpriced leashes.
2️ YouTube Channel
✅ Unboxings, reviews, and “Top 5 Must-Have” videos (people love those).
✅ Put your affiliate link in the video description.
✅ Example:
🎥 Video: "Top 5 Ridiculously Expensive Dog Collars (That Are Still Selling Like Crazy)"
📌 Description: “Check them out here: [Affiliate Link]”
3️ Social Media (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest)
✅ Post short videos, memes, or “Amazon Finds” posts.
✅ Example:
📸 Instagram: " 🔥 This dog raincoat makes your pup look like a tiny detective! Get yours here: [Affiliate Link] #DogStyle #AmazonFinds”
4️ Email Marketing
✅ Send weekly deal alerts.
✅ Example:
📧 Subject: “ 🔥 Amazon’s Best Dog Accessories This Week”
✍️ Email: “I found this ridiculous dog bed shaped like a spaceship—[Affiliate Link].”
5️ Paid Ads (For Big Spenders)
✅ Run Facebook, Instagram, or Google Ads.
✅ Use retargeting to haunt your audience with products they forgot to buy.
✅ Example:
📢 Ad: “Top 5 Dog Accessories You Didn’t Know You Needed. Click here: [Blog Link]”

Step 4: Earn Commissions (Cha-Ching! 💰)

Now, sit back and watch the money roll in. In theory.

📌 How You Get Paid
✅ You earn a commission on ANYTHING the buyer purchases within 24 hours of clicking your link.
✅ Yes, even if they click for dog food and end up buying a treadmill. You win either way.
💰 Commission Rates?
Varies by category (1%-10%).
Digital products usually pay more.
📌 How to Track Your Earnings
Log in to your Amazon Associates Dashboard.
Check:
✅ Click-through rates
✅ Conversion rates
✅ How much money Amazon isn’t giving you
📌 Payment Schedule
Amazon pays monthly.
You must reach:
✅ $10 for bank transfer
✅ $100 for checks (Why are you using checks? It’s not 1️9️9️5️ .)
Final Thoughts: How to Make Even MORE Money
🚀 Optimize for SEO – Because no one’s clicking page 10 of Google.
🎥 Leverage Video Marketing – YouTube & TikTok = 💰💰💰
📧 Build an Email List – So you can sell to people again and again.
📢 Use Retargeting Ads – Because people love being followed by the things they almost bought.

Mastering Amazon Affiliates isn’t just about slapping links everywhere and hoping for the best—it’s about strategy. Optimizing for SEO ensures your content gets seen by the right audience, while video marketing on platforms like YouTube and TikTok can skyrocket your reach. Pair that with an email list, and suddenly, you have a loyal audience to market to over and over again. And let’s not forget retargeting ads—because sometimes, people need a little digital stalking to remind them of the things they almost bought.

When it comes to commissions, not all products are created equal. Digital products tend to offer higher payouts, while luxury dog accessories cater to the deep-pocketed pet parents who’ll gladly spend more on their furry companions than on themselves. Understanding which categories are the most profitable can help you maximize your earnings without extra effort. A well-researched niche, combined with strategic promotions, can turn your affiliate business into a steady income stream.

So, what’s stopping you? Whether you go all in on content creation, leverage social media trends, or run paid ads to scale, the key is consistency. Keep refining your approach, testing new strategies, and most importantly, having fun with it. After all, there’s something satisfying about making money while doing what feels like the digital equivalent of recommending stuff to a friend—except in this case, Amazon foots the bill.

So, there you have it—Amazon Affiliates in a nutshell. Now go forth, share some links, and make Jeff Bezos just a tiny bit richer in the process. Happy linking! 😆