How to Become an Amazon Affiliate in 2025 — A Guide for Sellers
In 2025, the Amazon marketplace is more competitive than ever. Sellers are exploring every possible way to drive additional revenue, reach customers beyond the Amazon search bar, and reduce reliance on a single channel. One of the most overlooked tools for doing this is the Amazon Associates Program — better known as the Amazon Affiliate Program.
For new affiliates, it’s a straightforward way to earn commissions on products sold through Amazon links. For sellers, it’s much more than that: it’s a strategy to monetize content, capture value from off-Amazon traffic, and promote complementary products that increase your brand’s authority.
This guide explains how to become an Amazon affiliate, why it’s worth considering even if you’re already selling on Amazon, and the exact steps to get started. You’ll also see practical ways to integrate affiliate marketing into your broader e-commerce strategy.
For new affiliates, it’s a straightforward way to earn commissions on products sold through Amazon links. For sellers, it’s much more than that: it’s a strategy to monetize content, capture value from off-Amazon traffic, and promote complementary products that increase your brand’s authority.
This guide explains how to become an Amazon affiliate, why it’s worth considering even if you’re already selling on Amazon, and the exact steps to get started. You’ll also see practical ways to integrate affiliate marketing into your broader e-commerce strategy.
What Is the Amazon Affiliate Program?
The Amazon Affiliate Program — officially called Amazon Associates — allows individuals and businesses to earn a commission by referring customers to Amazon via special tracking links. When someone clicks your affiliate link and makes a purchase, you earn a percentage of the sale. Here’s the key difference from being a seller:
- Affiliates don’t manage inventory, handle shipping, or provide customer service. They simply send traffic to Amazon and collect a commission.
- Sellers handle the full sales process (or use FBA) and profit from product margins.
For most affiliates, monetization happens through content: blog posts, YouTube reviews, TikTok product features, Pinterest boards, email newsletters, and niche product sites.
In 2025, affiliate marketing is also being shaped by short-form video, influencer-driven product discovery, and AI-optimized content creation. Amazon itself has leaned into this trend with Amazon Inspire and shoppable video ads, creating more opportunities for affiliate content to drive conversions.
In 2025, affiliate marketing is also being shaped by short-form video, influencer-driven product discovery, and AI-optimized content creation. Amazon itself has leaned into this trend with Amazon Inspire and shoppable video ads, creating more opportunities for affiliate content to drive conversions.
How Amazon Sellers Can Use Affiliate Links Strategically
For sellers, joining the Amazon Affiliate Program isn’t just about earning extra side income. It’s about building an ecosystem around your brand that works both on and off Amazon. Here are strategic uses that make sense in 2025:
- Driving off-Amazon traffic to your own listings
- Promoting complementary items
- Building content assets
- Creating gift guides and bundles
This approach works well for sellers who want to diversify revenue without adding new SKUs or taking on more operational complexity.
How to Become an Amazon Affiliate in 2025 — Step-by-Step
The process is simple, but the details matter — especially if you want to stay compliant and start earning quickly.
1. Go to the official Amazon Associates portal
Visit https://affiliate-program.amazon.com . This is the central hub for applications, reporting, and link creation.
2. Sign in with your Amazon account
You can use your existing seller account credentials or create a separate account for affiliate activities.
3. Add your content platforms
Amazon requires at least one approved traffic source — a website, blog, YouTube channel, or social profile. You’ll need to describe how you plan to use links.
4. Choose your niche
Your niche should align with both your audience and your content strategy. This could be travel gear, kitchen gadgets, home décor, or even industry-specific B2B products.
5. Submit your application
Approval usually happens within 24–48 hours. You can start creating links immediately, but you must generate at least three qualifying sales within 180 days to remain in the program.
6. Create affiliate links
Once approved, use the SiteStripe toolbar (visible when logged into Amazon) or the Associates Central dashboard to create links. These track clicks and sales back to your account.
7. Stay compliant
Amazon requires affiliates to disclose their relationship (e.g., “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases”) and follow guidelines on link placement.
Visit https://affiliate-program.amazon.com . This is the central hub for applications, reporting, and link creation.
2. Sign in with your Amazon account
You can use your existing seller account credentials or create a separate account for affiliate activities.
3. Add your content platforms
Amazon requires at least one approved traffic source — a website, blog, YouTube channel, or social profile. You’ll need to describe how you plan to use links.
4. Choose your niche
Your niche should align with both your audience and your content strategy. This could be travel gear, kitchen gadgets, home décor, or even industry-specific B2B products.
5. Submit your application
Approval usually happens within 24–48 hours. You can start creating links immediately, but you must generate at least three qualifying sales within 180 days to remain in the program.
6. Create affiliate links
Once approved, use the SiteStripe toolbar (visible when logged into Amazon) or the Associates Central dashboard to create links. These track clicks and sales back to your account.
7. Stay compliant
Amazon requires affiliates to disclose their relationship (e.g., “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases”) and follow guidelines on link placement.
Tools That Help You Track & Optimize Affiliate Revenue
While Amazon provides its own analytics, you can improve results by adding external tools. Together, they help you monitor click-through rates, conversion trends, and traffic sources.
Using amazon sales analytics tools like these not only helps you track affiliate revenue but also shows which content types deliver the best ROI.
Use Case Examples for Sellers
Real-world examples make the potential clear:
- Travel gear seller: Publishes a “Top 15 Travel Essentials” blog post featuring their own carry-on suitcase plus Amazon-linked accessories like packing cubes and luggage tags. Commissions flow in whether readers buy the carry-on or just the accessories.
- Kitchenware brand: Produces TikTok recipes using their own cookware and linking to other kitchen gadgets on Amazon. The audience gets inspiration, the brand gets sales and affiliate revenue.
- Gift shop owner: Creates a Pinterest board of “Holiday Gift Ideas” with direct affiliate links to Amazon products, mixing their own listings with other items that match their brand’s style.
Pros & Cons of Using Amazon Affiliate as a Seller
Like any strategy, this one has trade-offs.
The key is to view affiliate marketing not as a replacement for sales but as a complementary channel that adds resilience to your business.
Conclusion
Knowing how to become an Amazon affiliate opens up an additional revenue stream and gives you more control over how you connect with customers. Whether you’re figuring out how to become an affiliate for Amazon from scratch or exploring how to become an Amazon affiliate without a website, the core process is accessible — and the strategic opportunities for sellers are bigger than many realize.
In 2025, with the growth of influencer marketing, shoppable media, and AI-driven product discovery, combining selling with affiliate marketing is a smart hedge against the unpredictable nature of marketplace algorithms. If you can build content that resonates, use affiliate links to guide buyers, and track performance with the right tools, you’ll be in a stronger position — both to grow your brand and to earn commission on Amazon sales you might have otherwise missed.
In 2025, with the growth of influencer marketing, shoppable media, and AI-driven product discovery, combining selling with affiliate marketing is a smart hedge against the unpredictable nature of marketplace algorithms. If you can build content that resonates, use affiliate links to guide buyers, and track performance with the right tools, you’ll be in a stronger position — both to grow your brand and to earn commission on Amazon sales you might have otherwise missed.
