In this article,
- I'll introduce you to the affiliate marketing through the easiest and the most well known affiliate program and
- I'll walk you through the Amazon Associates sign up process and
- help you to create your first affiliate link to your blog or website.
It doesn't cost you anything (but just a little bit of your time) and it is very easy as I'll show you next.
Preface
For this tutorial, we choose the easiest and the most versatile affiliate program there is, Amazon Associates. Amazon Associates is a great service to "train" affiliate marketing, and in the long run it might make you some money. And that makes it perfect first affiliate program to join and try.
For introduction to affiliate marketing, you can also read my previous article: Affiliate Marketing Explained, but in short:
You're doing affiliate marketing when you recommend or refer your friend, mother, blog reader or anyone to a product or service that is sold and provided by someone else (for example, Amazon).
The easiest way to "send" referral to the seller's site is through links on your blog, or through email, Twitter, etc. The key is not to over-do it - nobody likes SPAM, right?.
When someone clicks to your link and is taken to the product page, like a book from Amazon, and that person happens to buy the book - you get a bonus.
Just to give you an example, when mentioning a book you read or movie you watched from DVD on your blog, you can place a link to that book or movie that takes your reader to Amazon.
When you talk about a book, movie, new software, new jeans you bought or the great new song you just downloaded - you place a link to whatever you're talking about on your post, right? With affiliate marketing there's a chance to earn little money on the side. It's not any harder than that and there is nothing "shady" about it.
There are people online making doing affiliate marketing for a living and earning good money with it, but that is not the point of this article.
Why You Should Join Amazon Associates?
Joining Amazon Associates, like most affiliate programs, is free and there is no risk (unless you go and spend money on promoting, but that's another topic).
If in doubt, you can read why Darren Rowse at Problogger is Amazon Associate and how he earns four figures with it each month: ProBlogger.net: 9 Reasons Why I AM An Amazon Affiliate.
The reasons Darren lists are also the reasons why I'm Amazon Associate and why I suggest you join it too, especially as your first affiliate program. To pick a few from Darrens list, here are some good reasons to join and try Amazon Associates out:
- Amazon is a trusted Brand
- Easily Integrated
- Wide Array of Products
Think about it, browse through Amazon a bit. Even if you first think "books" when you hear Amazon, take a look around. There is everything in there, starting from books - yes - but continuing to music, electronic goods, jeans, shoes, and so on.
There something for everyone in Amazon, and because of that, it is very likely that there's something you can try to promote through your blog.
And if someone buys what you promoted, you get paid small amount and those add up, if someone buys more from Amazon at the same time, you get paid for those purchases too.
And people often do buy more than one item from Amazon, you know "while I'm here, I might get this and that for the same shipping" = more money to you.
- Do your write about books? Promote a book.
- Do you write about digital photography, promote cameras.
- Hell, just promote your favorite movies and music.
Amazon Associates is very easy to use and you can promote any product and products you want, it makes a perfect first affiliate program you join.
Here we go!
How To Join Amazon Associates
- Go to Amazon Associates
- Click "Join now for FREE"
- Enter you credentials and website/blog information
- For "Briefly describe your site, including the type of items you intend to list.", enter some products you will most likely promote, e.g. books, music, etc. This doesn't matter much, but it will fasten the approval of your account.
- For "Primary method for generating referrals", choose Blog if you're a blogger or other option that best describes your plans. Again, don't worry too much this, it is mostly for the approval process and maybe some Amazon statistics.
- Accept the "Associates Operating Agreement" (In addition to the "terms and conditions", itt explains the whole program, how you get payed etc, in addition to the terms and conditions.)
- click finish when done.
You're taken into a "Thank you for applying to the Amazon.com Associates Program" -page.
There are two most important things on this page!
Your unique Associates ID is... write this down, memorize it. it is your Amazon Associates ID.
- Click on the Select Payment Method Now
- (You can change this at any time from your account settings, but let's set it now to get started)
- Choose Your Payment Method:
- Pay me by Amazon.com gift certificate/card
- Pay me by direct deposit
- Pay me by check
Direct deposit is the easiest way in the long run, so choose that -or- choose gift certificate/card FOR NOW, if you are likely to buy something from Amazon yourself.
Just remember to go check payment method on direct deposit or check when you start to make so much money you can't buy enough.
Done! You are now in your Amazon Associates account.
In theory, your account approval is still pending at this point, but you can start looking for things to promote and add them to your blog already.
If you're not familiar with Amazon Associates, I suggest you check the "Get Started Now" information (the button on the left, below your account ID and tracking code information).
After checking the Getting Started Tour, it's time for us to
Create Your First Affiliate Link
The most easy way to do this is to add the "Site Stripe" to your Amazon.
What this does, is add kind of toolbar to the top of the Amazon store. And when you find any product you want to promote, you can click on the toolbar/stripe and instantly create a link to that product.
- Click on the "Links and Banners" tab on top of the Amazon Associates account
- Scroll/look at the end of the page where you see "Site Stripe" and Click on the picture or "learn more"
- Turn on the stripe
- Stripe will be on the top of the window when you enter Amazon store
Now go to the Amazon store and find your favorite book, movie, song, or whatever you want.
Found a product? Great.
- Take a look at the top of the screen, there is the "Site Stripe" we just activated.
- On the top left, you see "link to this page" option - click on it.
- You get taken to a "Customize and Get HTML" screen:
- Choose a link type (Text, Image or Text&Image)
- Highlight and copy the code that is automatically generated.
- Place that link to your post (HTML side, not the Visual WYSIWYG editor)
- Now you have a referral link on your post!
- Publish or update your post.
That was easy, wasn't it?
Now you can find more products that could fit to your older posts and add links to them or write a new post, review or anything and create Amazon Associates referral link the same way we did it above and place it on your blog.
You can add affiliate links anywhere on your blog, not just your posts. For example, create "books I've read" -list on your blog's sidebar or create new page for it. Possibilities are endless.
That's It, You Are Now a Affiliate Marketer!
Word of warning thou, it is possible, or even very likely, that you won't make any affiliate sales with your first attempts to promote something. Some topics or niches are harder to reach with affiliate marketing than others, but just keep on trying and don't give up.
Amazon Associates is perfect for trying out what affiliate marketing feels like, and you'll notice it's easy, fun and it just makes sense to create a affiliate link to a product you would link anyway.
Congratulations, you have taken the first leap by starting out and joining your first affiliate program. Chances are, if you decide to go deeper into the wonderful world of affiliate marketing, you'll join many affiliate programs more.
Here's to your success and all the money I hope you make!
If you have any questions about affiliate marketing or how to make the most out your blog with affiliate sales, send me your questions and queries through the contact form and I'll be happy to help you or leave a comment right here on this article.
p.s. There are several other affiliate programs out there, Amazon Associates is just an example. All kinds of products can be marketed and sold through affiliate marketing, it is just a matter of selecting the right products and affiliate programs for your topic and business. When choosing products to promote use the affiliate program checklist.
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These are good tips for those interested to join an affiliate program just apply these steps and for sure you are now part of an affiliate marketing.