Promoting Amazon affiliate links can be a game-changer for your online income. By leveraging the right strategies, you can increase your earnings and build a loyal following.
To start, it's essential to choose the right niche. A well-researched niche with a clear target audience can help you stand out from the competition. For instance, a niche like outdoor gear can be very profitable, with products like camping equipment and hiking gear.
Effective product research is also crucial. According to Amazon's own statistics, products with high demand and low competition tend to perform better. By using tools like Amazon Best Sellers and Movers and Shakers, you can find the most in-demand products.
Your content should be engaging and informative to capture your audience's attention. Use high-quality images and detailed product descriptions to showcase the products you're promoting. This will not only increase your click-through rates but also build trust with your audience.
Creating a Financial Journey
As you start your financial journey, it's essential to understand your current financial situation, just like we discussed in the "Assessing Your Finances" section. Knowing your income, expenses, debts, and savings will help you create a realistic budget.
Having a clear picture of your financial situation will also help you identify areas where you can cut back on unnecessary expenses and allocate that money towards your financial goals.
In the "Setting Financial Goals" section, we talked about how to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, which will serve as a roadmap for your financial journey.
Having a clear plan will help you stay motivated and focused on your goals, just like how Amazon affiliate marketers stay focused on promoting their products.
To create a budget that works for you, you'll need to track your income and expenses, just like we did in the "Tracking Your Income and Expenses" section. This will help you understand where your money is going and make informed decisions about how to allocate your resources.
By regularly reviewing and adjusting your budget, you'll be able to stay on track and achieve your financial goals, just like how Amazon affiliate marketers continuously promote and optimize their links for better results.
Understanding Reader Intent
The intent of your readers matters when it comes to Amazon Affiliate conversions, as seen in the example of Digital Photography School, where traffic was growing but earnings weren't keeping up.
This was because the blog was attracting readers who were looking for tips on how to use a camera, rather than those in a buying mood. The site's content was largely focused on sharing tips, which wasn't attracting readers who were likely to make a purchase.
By adding content relevant to people buying a digital camera, such as tips on buying cameras and reviews of digital cameras, the blog was able to attract a new type of reader who was more likely to click a link to Amazon and make a purchase.
Why Many Don't
Many people don't use the Amazon Affiliate program because the commissions are too small, starting at 4% and going as high as 8% depending on the product.
One of the main reasons is that most people buy low-priced products like books, which means 4% of a $10 product doesn't add up to a worthwhile commission.
People also don't like that they have to make a purchase from you within 24 hours, or your affiliate cookie stops working.
This can be a problem, especially if you're promoting products that people might not buy right away.
Some people might consider other affiliate programs that pay higher commissions, but these often don't offer the same range of products as Amazon.
Here are some of the reasons people don't use the Amazon Affiliate program:
- Commissions are too small
- Most people buy low-priced products
- Affiliate cookie expires after 24 hours
Reader Intent Matters
Reader intent matters, and it's essential to understand why your readers are visiting your blog. If your readers are in a "buying mood", they are more likely to click on your affiliate links and make a purchase.
Consider the example of Digital Photography School, which initially focused on sharing tips on how to use a camera. However, the site's Amazon affiliate earnings didn't match the traffic growth. A survey revealed that many readers had recently purchased a camera and were looking for tips on how to use it.
To attract readers in a "buying mood", you can create content that caters to their needs. This might include articles on buying cameras, reviews of digital cameras and equipment, and tips on photography gear. By doing so, you can attract a new type of reader who is researching their next camera purchase.
Here are some examples of relevant products to consider:
By promoting relevant products, you can increase the chances of converting your readers into customers. Remember, it's not just about promoting any old product, but about providing value to your readers.
Transparency with Readers
Transparency with readers is a crucial aspect of building trust with your audience. The FCC requires disclosure of affiliate links in the US, but laws vary in other countries.
In Australia, for example, there's no requirement to disclose affiliate links, although there may be changes in the future. I personally don't disclose every Amazon link on my photography blog, but I do have a disclaimer page.
Transparency isn't as scary as you might think, and readers often appreciate honesty. In fact, some readers even encourage transparency and will go out of their way to click on affiliate links through your website.
Disclosing affiliate links can be especially important when creating content that's heavily reliant on affiliate links, such as best seller lists. Having a clear disclaimer on these types of posts can help maintain trust with your audience.
Having a disclaimer page or making a general disclosure about affiliate links can go a long way in building transparency with your readers.
What is Marketing?
Marketing is a way to promote products or services to potential customers. It involves creating unique product links that can be shared on websites or blogs.
Affiliate marketing is a type of marketing where website owners earn a commission for promoting products. This can be done by creating links to products on a website or blog.
You can earn money through marketing if you already own a website or blog with content that mentions products. For instance, if you own a recipe blog, you can create links for product ingredients.
It's not the best fit for you if you sell products directly on your website.
Become an Influencer
Becoming an influencer can be a great way to monetize your online presence. You can join the Amazon Influencer Program, which is an extension of the Associates program for social media managers.
To qualify, you need to have a YouTube, TikTok, Facebook business, or Instagram business account. Amazon will review your follower count and other engagement signals when making approvals.
This program is best for content creators who have a social media following and are looking for more ways to earn. You can earn commission by sharing URLs and affiliate links on your social media channels that drive traffic to your Amazon storefront.
You can create your own page to showcase your favorite products for people to browse through and buy from.
Social Proof Marketing
Social Proof Marketing is a powerful way to promote Amazon affiliate links. It's based on the idea that people are more likely to make a purchase if they feel they're not alone in wanting to buy something.
Creating 'Best Seller' type lists for readers is a great way to use social proof marketing. These lists show readers what is currently popular, in terms of purchases in their community. For example, the author of this article creates a Popular Digital Cameras and Gear page on their blog, which updates every few months and links to the latest best sellers.
Bestseller lists convert well because readers know that others in their community are buying these products too. The author's list, for instance, converts readers to buyers really well. To construct the list, simply go through Amazon affiliate reports/stats and find which products are selling the best from within your community.
Another way to use social proof marketing is by featuring reader reviews on your blog. The author of this article found that a reader's review of a photography book not only converted as well as their normal reviews, but even better. This was likely due to the social proof concept, where readers saw another reader recommending something in a genuine way.
To promote bestseller lists, drive traffic to them by linking to them from within your blog and other posts. You can also promote them through social media channels, as they often get shared well.
Promotion Strategies
Contextual links are the way to go when it comes to promoting Amazon products on your blog. In fact, 99% of conversions come from links within blog posts about the products themselves, not from Amazon widgets or buttons.
You can experiment with Amazon's widgets and buttons, but it's essential to remember that contextual links work best. I've tried using almost all of the widgets Amazon offers, but I've had little to no success with them.
To increase conversions, consider promoting a product multiple times over a few weeks or longer. This can be done by creating different types of content, such as announcement posts, review posts, and follow-up posts. Here's a list of ideas to get you started:
- Announcement post: Link to Amazon immediately after a product is announced
- Review post: Share your honest opinion about the product and include a link to Amazon
- Follow-up post: Share reader reviews, quotes from other sites, or videos about the product
- Compilation post: Share a list of related products or a roundup of reviews
Remember to track your promotions and adjust your strategy accordingly. Focus on promoting products that are relevant to your audience and that you genuinely believe in.
Multiple Promotions per Campaign
Promoting a product multiple times can be a great way to increase conversions, especially for highly anticipated or popular products. This strategy can be done by publishing multiple posts about the product over a period of time.
You can promote a product multiple times by writing different types of posts, such as product reviews, recommendations, product comparison articles, product roundup posts, "alternatives to" articles, and "how to" guides. For example, you can write a post announcing a new product, followed by a post asking readers for their thoughts on the product, and then another post reviewing the product when it becomes available.
It's also a good idea to vary the type of promotion you use, such as using buy now buttons, linking images to Amazon, or embedding widgets. However, be careful not to overdo it, as too much promotion can lead to a negative reaction from readers.
Here are some examples of how to promote a product multiple times:
- Announce a new product when it's first released
- Ask readers for their thoughts on the product
- Review the product when it becomes available
- Share reader reviews of the product
- Compile a list of quotes from other sites that have reviewed the product
- Embed videos from YouTube that show the product's features
Remember to keep your promotions relevant to your readers and to vary the type of promotion you use to avoid overdoing it.
Start Early
Starting early is crucial when it comes to building a successful affiliate marketing strategy. By joining Amazon's Affiliate Program early, you'll be able to populate your blog with links that can potentially convert for years to come.
You'll also have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and gain valuable experience. The author of this series of posts, for example, learned from their own experimenting with Amazon's Affiliate Program and has shared many lessons and tips as a result.
Starting early can be intimidating, especially if you're new to affiliate marketing. However, it's a great way to get a head start and build momentum for your business.
Promote Subscription Services
You can earn a special commission income by promoting Amazon's subscription services to your audience. Amazon has 40+ different subscription offers you can promote.
To find these opportunities, sign in to your seller account, click Help, then Commission Income Statement, and scroll to Bounty Events to find active opportunities. Commission starts at $2 and goes up to $25.
You can earn a fixed fee for every qualified bounty action, and these bonuses are called bounties. Amazon Prime is one of the subscription services you can promote to earn a commission.
You can find the complete list of bounties and rates by clicking here.
Product Promotion
Contextual links within blog posts are a more effective way to promote Amazon affiliate links than using Amazon's banners or widgets. In fact, 99% of conversions come from links within blog posts, not from widgets.
To increase conversions, promote special discounts and promotions on Amazon, especially if they're relevant to your readership. For example, if Amazon has cameras on sale, promote the sale to your newsletter readers.
Here are some strategies to promote Amazon affiliate links effectively:
- Write informative product reviews that include links to the products you're reviewing.
- Create product comparison posts that link to multiple products.
- Use a "buy now" button in your posts, especially below a review.
- Add Amazon affiliate links to pages and posts with lots of valuable content, such as product reviews with videos or recommended list posts.
- Create shoppable videos that include links to products you're recommending.
Images
Using high-quality images of products can make a big difference in your product promotion. Make sure those images are optimized for the web.
You might be surprised how much "click activity" you get on images of products, even if they're not linked to anything. I use CrazyEgg to track clicks on my website, and it's shown me that people are drawn to images.
Linking images to Amazon with your affiliate links can be an effective technique. While they might not convert as well as text links, they can still work in some instances.
Be sure to read and comply with Amazon's Best Practices for Using Images in Your Content.
Buy Now Buttons
Using Buy Now Buttons can be a great way to increase conversions on your blog. The familiarity of the Amazon Buy Now button can help make it more appealing to your audience.
You can place the button below a review as a starting point. This technique has been successfully applied by bloggers who have seen an increase in conversions. The yellow Amazon Buy Now button is a great option to use.
If you have a blog with lots of valuable content, adding Amazon affiliate links can be a good idea. Google loves content that is regularly kept up to date, and adding links in a resourceful manner can help you avoid raising spam department alarms.
Here are some post topic suggestions that are best for Amazon links:
- Product reviews with videos
- Product comparison posts
- Recommended list posts
Creating a sense of familiarity with the Buy Now button can help increase conversions. This is especially true if you're using the yellow Amazon Buy Now button, which is already familiar to many people.
Promote Related Products
Promoting related products is a great way to increase conversions and revenue. In fact, 99% of my conversions have come from links to Amazon from within blog posts about the products themselves.
Contextual links within blog posts work best, not just any old widget or button. Experiment with Amazon's widgets and buttons, but don't be surprised if you don't see much success.
One great way to get ideas for related products is to look at the stats/reports that Amazon gives you to see which products readers are buying. After a while, you'll start to notice trends that could signal other products worth promoting.
You can see this in action by looking at the orders on my Amazon account. The #1 electronic item sold was a Canon 50mm lens, but the next most popular item was a Tiffen 52mm UV filter, which I never promoted directly.
Knowing which items people buy without your prompting is like finding gold. It's a great way to discover new products to promote and increase revenue.
Think about relevancy and usefulness when adding your Amazon affiliate links. Don't just promote any old rubbish you find on Amazon.
17. Pre-Orders
Pre-Orders can be a game-changer for product promotion. I've found that Amazon sometimes creates pages for new products before they're even available for purchase.
Promoting the ability to Pre-Order products on Amazon can lead to sales. For example, I generated 10 sales of the Canon EOS 50D DSLR before it was even available in stores.
Pre-Order pages are usually available for high-end products. The Canon EOS 50D DSLR was a $1000+ product, and I still managed to sell 8 of them.
Pre-Ordering can be a win-win for both the seller and the customer. The customer gets to secure the product before it's available in stores, and the seller gets to make sales before the product is even released.
It's essential to check Amazon first to see if they've already created a page for the product. This will help you determine if Pre-Ordering is an option.
Small Items Add Up
Small items add up, and I've seen it firsthand. Yesterday, I earned $506.03 from Amazon, with the highest commission being just $21.34.
The majority of my sales came from promoting books on my photography list, which we recently shared on social media. These smaller ticket items may not seem like much on their own, but they can add up quickly.
As I refer more items, my commission tier increases. Here's how it works:
By referring enough small ticket items, I can double my commissions. This is a great way to earn more from Amazon, even if it's not from big-ticket items.
Big Ticket Items Are the Best
Big ticket items can give your revenue a real boost when they do sell. They contribute a significant amount to the total earnings of the month.
In my experience, they don't convert anywhere near as well as cheaper items, but the ones that do sell can be very profitable. For example, I've had single commissions in the hundreds of dollars range.
The Nikon D800 36.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) is a great example of a big ticket item that can generate a significant commission. It sells for over $2700 and generated me a $111 commission last month.
Big ticket items like this can make a big difference in your earnings, even if they don't sell as frequently as cheaper items.
Product Reviews and Comparisons
Product reviews and comparisons are a crucial part of promoting products on Amazon. Writing detailed product reviews can help you generate more affiliate sales. Here's an interesting statistic: a great strategy to help you generate more affiliate sales using Amazon is to write detailed product reviews.
Product comparison posts offer an even greater opportunity to sell because if the visitor decides one product isn’t for them, you’re offering them several alternatives to choose from. It’s a win-win all around and a sure way to drive more referrals toward Amazon. This approach gives you the opportunity to link to the products you’re reviewing, which can lead to high-intent sales.
If you have some thin content on your blog, perhaps a bunch of short-form articles, then there’s no real value in adding any affiliate links to those posts. Instead, focus on adding affiliate links to pages and posts with lots of valuable content, such as product reviews with videos, product comparison posts, and recommended list posts. These types of posts are best for Amazon links because they provide value to your readers and can drive more referrals to Amazon.
To write effective product reviews, it’s essential to be genuine and unbiased. Review links work well because it’s usually people who are considering buying a product who really read reviews. This is especially true for products that have a high purchase intent, such as books, cameras, and software products.
Here are some post topic suggestions that are best for Amazon links:
- Product reviews with videos
- Product comparison posts
- Recommended list posts (like this one)
By incorporating these strategies into your product promotion efforts, you can increase your chances of driving more referrals to Amazon and earning more commissions.
Share Promo Codes
Sharing promo codes can be a great way to inspire a sense of urgency and encourage people to make a purchase. This can be especially effective on Amazon, where promo codes can be searched by category to find deals that align with your niche.
Amazon has a vast array of products with listed discounts, with some books offering as much as 30% off the recommended retail price. You can share these discounts with your audience to make them feel like they're getting a good deal.
Sharing promo codes can also be a great way to promote products on social media. For example, you can create an engaging Facebook post showcasing a product and include a promo code in the caption. This will make your audience feel like they're getting a special offer.
On Instagram, you can use the link sticker to share promo codes and save the post on highlights for easier accessibility. This is especially useful for products that are on sale, like cameras which were recently discounted on Amazon.
To use the promo code tool on Amazon effectively, you need to search for active and upcoming codes by category to find deals that align with your niche. This will help you promote products that are relevant to your audience and increase your chances of making sales.
Tips and Best Practices
I've written numerous Problogger posts on making money with the Amazon Affiliate Program, and I've compiled some of the most powerful tips based on my experience of working with Amazon's program over the last 10 years.
Over the years, I've shared my ultimate guide to making money with the Amazon Affiliate Program, which includes a compilation of tips and principles I've found helpful when making money with Amazon's Affiliate program.
To make money with the Amazon Affiliate Program, you need to have a good understanding of the program, and I've updated my tips to make them as relevant as possible for 2013.
I'd LOVE to hear your tips and experience of using Amazon's Affiliate Program in comments below, as I'm certain there is a lot more that I could learn!
The key to success with the Amazon Affiliate Program is to create valuable content that attracts and engages your audience, and I've shared 10 more general, overarching tips and principles I've found helpful when making money with Amazon's Affiliate program.
If you want to make money with the Amazon Affiliate Program, you need to be willing to share your own tips and experience, and I've asked readers to share their tips to add to my ultimate guide.
I've shared everything that I've tried, but what about you? Got any tips to add?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Amazon affiliates get paid?
Amazon affiliates earn commissions ranging from 1% to 20% per sale, depending on the product category. Learn more about the commission rates and how to maximize your earnings as an Amazon affiliate.
How to make money with Amazon affiliate links?
To earn money with Amazon affiliate links, create a unique Associate ID and generate links through the Amazon portal, then share them with potential customers. When someone clicks and makes a purchase, you'll earn a commission on the sale.
Sources
- https://problogger.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-making-money-with-the-amazon-affiliate-program/
- https://magnet4blogging.net/amazon-affiliate-links/
- https://www.getresponse.com/blog/how-to-promote-affiliate-links
- https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/amazon-affiliate
- https://www.wptasty.com/amazon-affiliate-links-on-pinterest
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