How to Choose Links for the Amazon Affiliate Program

The Amazon Affiliate Program is a marketing program that lets those who build websites link Amazon products and services. The program is more than 10 years old and one of the best known. Specially formatted links send Internet traffic to Amazon with the potential to share a percentage of the profit from resulting purchases. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Add specific links that are relevant to the website's content. Recommend specific books or products, then link directly to those items for a potentially higher referral fee.
2. Know the site's demographic. Link U.S. audiences to Amazon U.S. and visitors from the U.K. to the U.K.-based Amazon site to shop there. Provide dual links for items directed at more than one audience.
3. Set up links for highly searched items that relate to the website. Provide a photo and description of the item from the Amazon site.
4. Peruse the Amazon site for products that visitors would be interested in purchasing. Consider related books, music, accessories and equipment.
5. Choose "Product Preview" links that allow visitors to view product information without clicking through to Amazon. Set up this feature that allows visitors to add items to the Amazon shopping carts without leaving the host website until checkout.
6. Select "Recommended Product" links to add regularly updated offerings in specific categories to appear on the site. Choose these links, specify the product category, and let Amazon do the rest.
7. Log onto "Associates Central" to see earnings and traffic reports. Search posted news items and opportunities that are available through the program.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid the basic Amazon banner. Studies show that this generates little or no commission for affiliates.