How to Become an Amazon Affiliate in 2025

Introduction

Imagine you wake up in the morning, you open your phone, you got a notification from an email, it says you’ve made $65 from a product you shared yesterday on your Instagram story. Someone just bought the product 2 hours ago from the referral link you shared, and you earned a 10% commission. That’s the power of Amazon’s affiliate program, also known as Amazon Associates.

This is one of the easiest ways to start making passive income online. You have the opportunity to promote millions of products without needing to handle the inventory and the ability to earn commissions on anything if someone buys it through your referral link. It’s a great opportunity for beginners.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to become an Amazon affiliate and start earning your commissions even while you sleep.

1. What is the Amazon Affiliate Program?

Amazon Associates is an affiliate marketing program where you earn a commission every time someone makes a purchase through your referral link.

Let’s say you have a YouTube channel with a following where you talk about cooking. You can use the Amazon affiliate program to recommend products like the cooking pan you use to your audience. You can list the links in your description or in the comments, and whenever someone buys through your referral link, you get paid for it.

How It Works:

• First, you sign up for the Amazon Associates program.
• Then, you choose products to promote based on your niche.
• You share your affiliate links through Pinterest, blog posts, YouTube, or social media like TikTok, Instagram, or X.
• When someone clicks your link and buys that item on Amazon, you earn a commission.

Example: You write a blog post about the best wireless headphones and include Amazon affiliate links. If someone clicks your referral link and buys within 30 days, you get 10% from the sale.

2. How to Sign Up for the Amazon Affiliate Program

I’ve known about this affiliate program for a long time, but I only signed up 2 years ago because I always thought it was complicated. But actually, it’s not at all. In fact, I finished everything in less than 10 minutes and immediately got my Amazon Associates account.

Getting started is simple, and signing up is free. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Create an Amazon Associates Account

• Go to the Amazon Associates website and click "Sign Up."
• Log in with your existing Amazon account or create a new one.

Step 2: Enter Your Website or Social Media

• You’ll need either a social media page like TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, or X, or a website, blog, or YouTube channel where you share content and build an audience.
• Amazon will review your site to ensure it meets their requirements.

Step 3: Choose a Niche and Start Finding Products

• Pick products related to your content (tech gadgets, home decor, fitness gear, etc.).
• Use Amazon’s Product Linking Tool to generate unique affiliate links.

Tip: I’d suggest you start with a social media account like TikTok or Instagram. It’s easier to grow an audience there than on a blog or YouTube channel. Then you can add affiliate links to your bio.

3. How Much Can You Earn as an Amazon Affiliate?

Amazon pays commissions ranging from 1% to 10% depending on the product category.

Average Commission Rates (2025):

• Luxury Beauty & Amazon Coins: 10%
• Furniture, Home, and Outdoor: 8%
• Tech & Electronics: 3-5%
• Amazon Devices (Kindle, Echo, etc.): 4%

Example: If someone buys a $1,000 treadmill through your link and the commission is 5%, you’ll earn $50 from that one sale.

4. Best Ways to Promote Amazon Affiliate Links

Traffic = commissions. The more people click your links, the more money you make. That’s why I mentioned before—grow your audience first. The easiest way is to start with a short-form social media page. Along the way, you can also grow long-form content like YouTube or a blog because long-form converts higher than short-form content.

Free Traffic Methods (Best for Beginners):

• SEO Blogging: Write product reviews, comparison articles, and “best of” lists.
• YouTube Videos: Do unboxings, reviews, and tutorials with affiliate links in the description.
• Social Media Marketing: Use Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok to showcase products.

Paid Traffic Methods (For Faster Results):

• Google Ads: Target people actively searching for products.
• Facebook & Instagram Ads: Retarget interested buyers.

Tip: I suggest starting with free organic traffic first to build momentum before investing in paid ads. This way, you’ll know which content or products convert well.

5. Amazon Affiliate Rules & How to Avoid Getting Banned

I would suggest that before you start the program, you read the guidelines. Amazon has strict rules, and if you overlook them and accidentally break any, you could lose your account.

Key Rules to Follow:

Disclose that you’re an affiliate (e.g., “This page contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.”)

Do not spam affiliate links on forums, emails, or paid ads.

Avoid misleading claims —be honest about the products you promote.

Make at least three sales in 180 days to stay active in the program.

Pro Tip: Also be aware that Amazon doesn’t allow direct affiliate links on social media ads—always link to a landing page or website first.

Final Thoughts

If you want to start making passive income in 2025, becoming an Amazon affiliate is one of the best and easiest ways to do it. You don’t need any investment to make this happen.

But to make this really work, I suggest you follow the guide: choose a niche, create high-quality content, post your short-form or long-form content consistently, and drive traffic to your referral links. This way, you can turn it into a steady income stream.

So many people have done this, but the key is to be patient, stay consistent, and focus on bringing value. Then the commissions will follow.