Amazon is one of the leading retailers globally. In the U.S alone, Amazon accounts for almost 40% of all online sales. The good news is, you can also enjoy a share of this retailer giant’s profits, through the Amazon Associates program.
So, what exactly is the Amazon Associates program? Also known as the Amazon affiliate program, the Amazon Associates program allows affiliate marketers to monetize their blogs, websites, or even social media platforms.
Through this program, the affiliates will insert links into their blogs, websites or social media platforms. And if a customer completes a purchase through these links, then the affiliate marketer will receive a commission from the sale.
In this article, we will answer all the questions that you may have about the Amazon Associates program. And by the time you finish reading this guide, you will have all the information you need to decide whether to join the Amazon Associates program or not.
What is a Good Conversion Rate for Amazon Associates?
Amazon offers different commissions for different products. The commission rate is usually between 1% and 20%. So, what will be a good conversion rate for Amazon Associates? A good conversion rate would be approximately between 10% and 15%. So, if you are looking to succeed as an Amazon Affiliate marketer, then you should target a conversion rate within this range.
If your conversion rate is below the above-mentioned range, you can increase it by performing keyword research and picking the right keywords. You also need to come up with powerful product descriptions, which will convince the visitor to purchase the product via your link. Also, ensure you use high-quality images. And most importantly, highlight the benefits with bullet points.
How Often Does Amazon Associates Update?
Amazon Associates updates happen every 24 hours. However, system glitches may delay the updates once in a while. But, such issues don’t happen frequently. It’s also worth mentioning that Sundays and public holidays don’t count. So, your earnings from Saturday will be updated on Monday. At the same time, the reports for a public holiday will update the following day. The exact time that the update will happen will depend on your time zone or locality.
How Often Does Amazon Associates Pay?
Amazon pays its associates two months after the conclusion of the current month’s sales. Following this approach, payments for January’s sales will be made in March. Payments for February will come in around April. The other months will also follow the same approach.
All payments are made via direct deposit. To receive the payment, Amazon will need to have your current tax information. Amazon affiliates officially earn commissions once an order has been shipped. So, if a customer decides to cancel an order before it’s shipped, Amazon will not pay you commission for that order.
You should also note that if a buyer returns a product after buying it, Amazon will also deduct that commission from your earnings.
Can Amazon Associates Buy From Themselves?
Yes, Amazon Associates can buy products from themselves. But, you shouldn’t expect to receive a commission if you buy products through your own email or Amazon account.
So, if you are planning to buy products through your own links, then you should use another phone, laptop or device that isn’t linked to your Gmail account, Amazon account, phone number or billing address.
And if you are caught buying products through your own links and earning commissions in the process, there’s a high chance that your Amazon Associates account will be suspended or banned permanently.
Does Amazon Associates Have an App?
Amazon Associates has a mobile app, known as the Mobile GetLink. This mobile app enables Amazon affiliates to create affiliate links directly from their mobile devices. Once you’ve installed this link on your mobile device, you no longer have to visit your Associates Central through the desktop.
You will find the Mobile GetLink in the Amazon mobile shopping app. And from there, you can download it, install it on your mobile device, and then log into your Associates account using your credentials.
Once you’ve installed and logged in, you can then visit any product page and copy the link.
Amazon Mobile GetLink is available to all Amazon affiliates, apart from the Amazon affiliate stores in China. Also, it’s available both on Android and iOS phones.
Why Does Amazon Associates Close Your Account?
Amazon Associates can close or suspend your account for several reasons. First, if you place Amazon affiliate links on third-party websites, they will likely suspend your account. According to the Amazon Associates Operating Agreement, you should only place Amazon affiliate links on your own website or blog.
Second, Amazon Associates may close your account if you place Amazon affiliate links in newsletters or personal emails. Again, you should only place affiliate links on your own blog or website.
Third, operating more than one Amazon Associates accounts can also lead to closure. Amazon only allows affiliates to operate a single Amazon Associates account. So, if Amazon’s systems detect you are running more than one account, you may be banned from the platform permanently.
Shortening Amazon affiliate URLs may also lead to closure. When you shorten the URLs, it may not be clear to the user that they are being directed to the Amazon site. And this may appear deceiving.
Also, you must disclose on your website or blog that you are participating in the Amazon Associates program. Failure to provide this disclosure on your blog or website may lead to a suspension.
Overall, account closures are quite common in the Amazon Associates program. And in most cases, they happen due to the affiliate’s lack of attention to detail, carelessness, or attempting to bypass the Amazon Associates Operating Agreement. As long as you follow the rules, then you may never face an account closure or suspension.
Does Amazon Associates Pay for Clicks?
Unlike some of the other affiliate programs out there, Amazon Associates doesn’t pay for clicks. Simply, put it’s not a pay-per-click affiliate program. With the Amazon Associates program, you will only earn commissions if you manage to generate a sale.
Hence, regardless of how many clicks that your product listings get, they will not earn you anything, if the buyer doesn’t complete the purchase.
However, as much as Amazon Associates will not pay you for clicks, you can still manage to generate a sale indirectly. This method will work if the buyer completes the purchase within 24 hours – which is the program’s cookie duration.
Can You Use Amazon Associates on Facebook?
Yes, you can use Amazon Associates on Facebook. However, if you will be posting raw Amazon affiliate links on Facebook, there’s a high chance that either Amazon or Facebook will penalize you since your posts appear spammy.
Instead of posting naked links, you should instead post with the link from your blog or website. This way, your links will not appear spammy. Furthermore, it will make it easier for your friends, family or Facebook followers to interact with the post and share it with their social circles, thus increasing your reach further. And the higher the level of engagement, the higher the chances of converting leads to sales.
Can You Use Amazon Associates on Instagram?
Yes, you can use Amazon Associates on Instagram. But again, you cannot post the links directly on the platform, since Instagram doesn’t allow users to paste links in the captions.
To get around this, you can paste the link in your bio and then post great Insta stories. Once you do this, you will convince some users to click on the link. And they will be redirected to Amazon. And once they land there, there’s a high chance that some leads will convert.
How Long Does It take to Get Approved on Amazon Associates?
After you sign up for the Amazon Associates program, they will first review your application. And if your application goes through, you will have up to 180 days to register three sales.
If you fail to register at least three sales within 180 days, Amazon Associates will not approve your application. Also, your blog or website should have original content and at least 10, recent posts.
Furthermore, all the content on your blog or website should be publicly available, and not hidden behind a paywall.
Is the Amazon Associates Affiliate Program a Scam?
The Amazon Associates affiliate program is not a scam in any way or form. It’s a legitimate means of earning money online for affiliate marketers. As long as you adhere to the platform’s Operating Agreement, you will always receive your earnings, after every two months.
Closing Remarks
If you already have an active blog or website with sizeable monthly traffic, then you should consider joining the Amazon Associates program. It can provide a great means of earning passive income. You simply need to keep creating relevant, fresh and great content on your blog or website, do product roundups, and insert the Amazon affiliate link. And for every sale that goes through via your blog or website will earn you a commission.
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