How to Become an Amazon Affiliate: 2025 Step-By-Step Guide

Ever wondered if you could earn money just by recommending products you already use?

Whether you run a blog, a YouTube channel, or even just have a strong following on social media, Amazon's affiliate program, called Amazon Associates, makes it possible to turn those everyday product mentions into real income.

You don’t need to be a marketing expert. You don’t need a massive audience. You just need a platform and a strategy.

This step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to become an Amazon affiliate in 2025, how it works, and what it takes to actually earn with it. If you’ve been looking for a beginner-friendly way to start making passive income online, this is one of the best places to start.

What Is the Amazon Affiliate Program?

The Amazon Associates Program is Amazon’s official affiliate marketing platform. It allows you to share special tracking links to millions of products on Amazon, and if someone clicks your link and buys something (even if it’s not the item you linked to), you earn a commission.

It's one of the most popular affiliate programs for good reason:

• It’s free to join
• There are millions of products to promote
• You’re partnering with one of the most trusted retailers in the world

Whether you're reviewing tech gadgets, recommending home decor, or curating fitness gear, chances are, the products you're talking about are already on Amazon.

Why So Many People Join Amazon Associates

There are countless affiliate programs out there, but here’s why Amazon stands out, especially if you’re just getting started:

• People already shop on Amazon: You don’t have to convince them to trust a new website.
• Commissions from all products: You get paid even if the buyer ends up purchasing something else.
• Beginner-friendly tools: Amazon gives you everything you need to start linking right away.
• Low barrier to entry: You don’t need to be an influencer with thousands of followers.

How to Become an Amazon Affiliate (Step-by-Step)

Here’s exactly what you need to do to get started, from sign-up to your first sale.

Step 1: Create a Platform

Before you apply, Amazon wants to see that you have a live, public platform where you’ll share affiliate links. This could be:

• A blog or niche website
• A YouTube channel
• A public Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook page
• Even a mobile app (if you’re a developer)

Your content should already be up and running, not under construction.

Tip: If you don’t have anything live yet, starting a simple blog or product review site can be a great first step. WordPress and Wix are solid beginner-friendly options.

Step 2: Sign Up at the Amazon Associates Site

Go to affiliate-program.amazon.com and click “Sign Up.” You’ll either log in with your existing Amazon account or create a new one just for your affiliate work.

Step 3: Add Your Website or Social Media Information

You’ll be asked to list every site or social media profile where you plan to promote Amazon links. These must be publicly accessible, private pages won’t be approved.

Make sure your content complies with Amazon’s guidelines and doesn’t contain prohibited material like adult content or copyrighted material.

Step 4: Build Your Affiliate Profile

This is where you create your unique tracking ID (like “yourblogname-20”) and share a bit more about your content.

Amazon will ask questions like:

• What’s your site about?
• What types of products do you want to promote?
• How do you plan to drive traffic? (Search engines, social media, paid ads, etc.)

Answer honestly; it won’t affect your chances of getting approved.

Step 5: Get Your Affiliate Links

Once your account is set up, you can start creating links to Amazon products right away. Just:

1. Browse Amazon while logged in to your affiliate account.
2. Use the “SiteStripe” bar (at the top of product pages) to get a sharable link.
3. Copy and paste that link into your content: blog post, video description, etc.

Every time someone clicks your link and buys something, you earn a commission.

Step 6: Make a Sale Within 180 Days

Here’s the catch: you need to make at least one sale within your first 180 days or your account will be deactivated. If that happens, you can reapply, but ideally, you’ll plan to start promoting right away.

Pro Tip: Don’t wait for a perfect post. Add links to your top-performing content or product recommendations you already share.

How Much Can You Earn as an Amazon Affiliate?

Amazon’s commission rates range from about 1% to 10%, depending on the product category. Some examples:

• Luxury beauty – Up to 10%
• Furniture & home – Around 8%
• Electronics – Typically 3-4%
• Video games & consoles – About 1%

While the percentages may seem low, remember: if someone clicks your link and adds multiple items to their cart, you earn commissions on the entire order.

Tips to Succeed with Amazon Affiliate Marketing

If you want to turn this into a meaningful income stream, here are a few things that help:

• Focus on evergreen content: Product reviews, gift guides, how-to articles, and tutorials tend to perform well over time.
• Use SEO to get traffic: Learn basic keyword research and on-page SEO to attract search engine visitors.
• Don’t spam links: Make sure your recommendations feel genuine and helpful.
• Disclose your affiliate relationship: Legally, you must let readers know you may earn a commission.

Final Thoughts

Becoming an Amazon affiliate in 2025 is one of the simplest ways to start making money online; no inventory, no customer service, and no upfront cost.

While it won’t make you rich overnight, it’s a low-risk way to generate income from content you’re already creating, or content you can start building today with minimal time and effort.

With the right strategy, consistency, and trust with your audience, Amazon affiliate marketing can grow into a reliable source of passive income.

FAQs About How to Become an Amazon Affiliate

1. Is it free to become an Amazon affiliate?

Yes, joining the Amazon Associates Program is completely free. There are no upfront costs, subscription fees, or hidden charges to sign up or start promoting products.

2. How much can you make as an Amazon affiliate?

Earnings vary widely depending on your traffic, niche, and how effectively you promote products. Some affiliates earn a few dollars a month, while others make thousands. Amazon pays a percentage of each sale, typically ranging from 1% to 10% depending on the product category.

3. Do I need a website to join the Amazon Affiliate Program?

Not necessarily. While most affiliates use a website or blog, you can also join with a YouTube channel, mobile app, or public social media page, as long as it meets Amazon’s content and traffic guidelines.

4. How does Amazon track my affiliate sales?

When you generate a product link through your Amazon Associates account, it includes a unique tracking ID tied to your account. Any qualifying purchases made through that link (within a 24-hour cookie window) are credited to you.

5. What happens if I don’t make a sale in 180 days?

If you don’t generate at least one sale within 180 days of signing up, your account will be closed. However, you can reapply once you’re ready to start promoting products more actively.