Amazon Affiliate Program 2024: Latest News & Review

This article is all about joining the Amazon affiliate program and earning commissions by promoting them online. What will you learn from this article?

This article shares:

• Recent news, 
• Statistics, 
• Opportunities & challenges, 
• Different programs to make money on Amazon
• My Earnings Report, 
• Pros and cons,
• Commission rates,
• Sign-up process,
• Alternatives,
• FAQs

Recent Amazon News Update

• Amazon is facing scrutiny for labor law violations in one of its warehouses in Delhi. (Source: Al Jazeera)
• Looking at the growing commerce industry and players like Blinkit, and Zepto, Amazon advances Tez; its quick commerce delivery code. (Source: The Economic Times)

Important Statistics 

• Number of affiliates: Amazon is reported to have registered over 900,000 affiliates in 2021 but the numbers have declined. This is due to the rise of other affiliate networks such as ShareASale having over 70000 affiliates, Awin, CJ Affiliate, Rakuten, Impact Radius, etc. (Source: Statista)
• Highest-selling category: In 2023, the sports and entertainment category of Amazon reported 78.4% of spending in the US. (Source: Statista) In the same year, the Electronics category accounted for 31% of sales in France and Spain. (Source: Statista)

Opportunities and Challenges For Affiliate Marketers

Challenges:

• Return of goods after sales does not entitle affiliates to a commission.
• Commission rates are lower compared to other affiliate program niches.
• Picking up the right product needs some research.
• Organic traffic via Google is not easy due to recent Google core updates. Need to switch to ads that require investment.

Opportunities:

• High sales opportunities on Prime Day and Black Friday.
• Promote any product with prices starting from low to high.
• Promote anywhere including blogs, forums, social media platforms, and emails.

Overview of Amazon’s Affiliate and Influencer Programs

Amazon offers multiple programs tailored for every blogger, creator, influencer, and affiliate marketer. Let’s delve into the money-making opportunities offered by this giant marketplace:

Amazon Associates Program:

Any website owner, blogger, or content creator can join the Associates program. This program allows participants to earn commissions by promoting Amazon products. To get your account approved, you need to make at least 3 sales in the first 6 months.

You can reapply if your account gets rejected after not making the required sales in the specified time duration.

Amazon Influencer Program:

The influencer program is made for YouTubers and social media influencers. The program can be joined only if the influencer has a minimum of 1000 followers on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or TikTok.

Amazon Bounty Program:

Apart from the associates and influencer program, creators can earn by promoting Amazon Prime, Audible, seller, or Kindle Unlimited. This is a fixed commission program with commissions up to $15 or INR 400.

My Earnings Report

I started promoting Amazon products and was lucky to make some money, but stopped it. This is because of the low commission rate and too much competition.

If you are serious, you should first pick up a category and then write on topics related to it. Focus on SEO, insert your affiliate links smartly, and get your affiliate earnings to soar. 

Amazon affiliate marketing program commission rates in India and the USA

Amazon Affiliate Program India:

Amazon Affiliate Program USA:

How do you sign up for the Amazon Affiliate Program and Influencer Programs?

Amazon Associates Program:

Step 1: Visit the Amazon Associates website and choose the country. Click on the signup button.

Step 2: Enter your email address or mobile number and click on the Continue button. If you are a new user, click on Create your Amazon account. An OTP will be sent to your email or mobile whichever you use for registration.

Step 3: Complete your address details, add the list of websites, and apps where you will promote the products, and complete your profile. Click on Finish, and you will have access to the Associates Central dashboard.

Amazon Influencers Program:

Step 1: Visit the Amazon Influencers Program page. Select the country and click on Signup. 

Step 2: Log in using your existing account or create a new one.

Step 3: Select one of your social media profiles with the most number of followers.

If your profile meets the criteria, your influencer account gets approved. You can now set up your storefront and start promoting.

Pros and Cons of the Amazon Affiliate Program

👍 Pros:

• Tens of thousands of products to promote in various categories.
• (CTR) The click-through rate is maximum as users trust Amazon.
• Easy to share affiliate links tool. Links can be shared directly on social media platforms.
• Not only physical products, but affiliates can earn commissions on Prime membership, Audible membership, seller account registration, etc.
• Not limited to affiliate programs, creators can earn through the Influencer program also.

👎 Cons:

• Low commission rates in high-selling categories, such as electronics (1-3%).
• The cookie duration is only 24 hours.
• Cannot promote affiliate links via WhatsApp or chat.
• Policies keep changing which can affect affiliate marketer’s earnings.
• The influencer program has a stringent criteria of 1000 followers on Instagram or YouTube.

Amazon Affiliate Program Alternatives

For those seeking alternatives with higher commission rates or longer cookie durations, consider the following programs:

1. TikTok: The best place for creators to upload short videos receive high engagement.
2. Impact Radius: I have joined numerous brands on Impact in multiple verticals.
3. Rank Math: The only SEO plugin you need for your WordPress site. I have made $400 with Rank Math. Check out my real earnings.
4. ShareASale: A marketplace with access to various brands and niches. You can find brands like FlexClip and more.
5. CJ Affiliate: One of the largest affiliate networks after Amazon.

Conclusion

If there’s an affiliate program that is easy to join and promote, it is undoubtedly an Amazon affiliate program. Although it is easy, it has some downsides, too, like its low commission rate and cookie duration.

To the best of my knowledge, all the details shared in this article are true. I recommend joining the Associates program if you are a beginner or an influencer with a large following.

🌟 FAQs | Amazon Affiliate Program