Best Guide to Making Money with the Amazon Affiliate Program
My personal Begin with Utilizing Amazons Affiliate marketer Plan
We very first learned about Amazon’s Affiliate marketer plan within 04 2003. I'd already been running a blog with regard to six months as well as had been starting to understand this brand new pastime associated with my own would price me personally just a little cash (with regard to web hosting, style and so on).
We had been recently hitched at that time as well as on the really restricted spending budget. We realized when I needed to maintain running a blog, We required to locate a method for my personal weblogs to cover on their own. Therefore started my personal search for methods to perform that.
We started to test out 2 ways of earning money through my personal weblogs – Google’s AdSense plan as well as Amazon’s Affiliate marketer plan.
From the 2, AdSense offers definitely gained much more cash – nevertheless, Amazon’s Affiliate marketer plan has additionally already been an essential earnings flow.
ten years as well as $420, 000 later…
I’d adore every single child determine just how much I’ve gained through Amazon . com for the reason that period however their own present confirming program just dates back so far as 08.
Nevertheless – following performing a few rebuilding associated with my personal income I’ve come up with the next graph associated with (the actual many years 2003-2007 tend to be based on income amounts pointed out within prior articles right here upon ProBlogger however aren't precise).
This particular many years income turn to end up being monitoring together from round the exact same price since the final 2, for that exact same stage within the 12 months.
General We estimation my personal Amazon . com income, because 2003, remain the actual $420, 000 tag (UNITED STATES DOLLAR) – even though, as possible observe, the majority of it's been within the last 5-6 many years.
Therefore whilst it’s nowhere fast close to my personal #1 earnings flow Amazon’s Affiliate marketer plan offers definitely already been vital that you me personally.
We reveal these types of outcomes not really simply because I’m the largest Amazon . com Affiliate marketer on offer. I've without doubt I’m in the center of the actual load up which there are plenty larger than me*. We reveal these types of outcomes simply because, through the years, I’ve noticed numerous numerous writers create from the Amazon . com Affiliate marketer plan because not really becoming really worth time.
*I get this to presumption based on the truth that I’ve never already been approached through Amazon . com straight as well as I understand additional affiliate marketers who've normal connection with Amazon . com as well as who’ve already been designated accounts supervisors through the years simply because they achieve this nicely in the plan.
The reason why Lots of people Don’t Make use of the Amazon . com Affiliate marketer Plan (as well as The reason why I ACTUALLY DO)
The typical factors We listen to individuals providing with regard to not really as an Amazon . com affiliate marketer consist of:
The actual profits tend to be as well little. These people begin from 4% as well as for many items may proceed up to 8% based upon the number of items the thing is offered.
Simply because many people upon Amazon . com purchase inexpensive items such as publications, therefore 4% of the $10 item doesn’t equal to an advisable fee.
Simply because individuals possess to create a invest in a person inside twenty four hours or else your own affiliate marketer dessert halts operating.
The above mentioned factors are legitimate. You will find other available choices which spend greater profits (while not a lot of with regard to the kind of items Amazon . com offers), you are able to market greater worth items as well as you will find applications which have lengthier cookies… however there's also a few points I love regarding Amazon . com.
Within 2007 We authored the publish entitled 9 Explanations why I'M a good Amazon . com Affiliate marketer even though the actual publish is actually aged, the majority of the factors nevertheless tend to be appropriate these days.
The primary factors We nevertheless 'm a good Amazon . com Affiliate marketer (in addition to the apparent proven fact that this changes personally) tend to be:
Amazon . com is really a trustworthy manufacturer – everybody knows Amazon . com. In the event that somebody had been likely to purchase on the internet, Amazon . com would need to end up being among the most secure choices.
Profits upon greater worth items – whilst 4% on the guide isn’t a higher fee, should you market a higher worth item (just like a digital camera) the actual fee could be good.
Individuals purchase several product at any given time – whenever you deliver anyone to Amazon . com a person generate the fee upon what ever these people purchase, whether or not they wind up purchasing that which you delivered these phones or even not really. Lots of people stock up their own trolley along with several products therefore profits may accumulate.
Simple integration – Amazon . com offers good quality resources as well as widgets that will help you incorporate the actual product sales funnel in to your site.
Vacations tend to be growth occasions – Amazon . com operates good quality periodic product sales. Thanksgiving holiday in order to Xmas could be a especially lucrative time for you to market.
Amazon . com offers several items – Amazon . com is actually a lot more compared to publications nowadays. You will find a lot of marketing choices that many markets could possibly discover some thing highly relevant to their own target audience.
Certainly I’ll in no way dispute which Amazon’s Affiliate marketer plan (or even every other earnings flow for instance) is ideal for each and every weblog – however I actually do believe it is worth taking into consideration.
20 Useful Ideas to Earn money using the Amazon . com Affiliate marketer Plan
Through the years, I’ve created several Problogger articles upon earning money using the Amazon’s Affiliate marketer Plan.
Beneath is really a collection associated with a few of these most effective ideas – based on my personal connection with dealing with Amazon’s plan more than final ten years. I’ve up-to-date these phones make sure they are because appropriate when i may with regard to 2013.
I’d Like to listen to your own ideas as well as connection with utilizing Amazon’s Affiliate marketer Plan within remarks beneath, because I’m particular there's a much more which i might discover!
1. Traffic Traffic Traffic
Let’s start with the most obvious point – one of the biggest factors in the upward swing in my Amazon Affiliate earnings (in the chart above) has been the corresponding upward swing in traffic.
As with most methods of making money from blogging, the more eyeballs that see your affiliate promotions – the better chance you have of them converting. Of course, this is a generalisation as not all kinds of traffic converts – but more of that in the next point.
Does that mean it’s not worth experimenting with Amazon’s Affiliate program if you don’t get much traffic?
I think it’s definitely worth using early on. While you won’t earn a heap, you will learn a lot and earning a few dollars (or cents) is better than none.
In the first 3 months of using Amazon I earned a whopping $31.80 (around 30 cents a day). Sure, it wasn’t much but I often wonder what would have happened if I’d let that minuscule amount discourage me and stop my from trying!?
So yes, experiment early but if you’re just starting out your main focus needs to be on creating great content and building traffic to your blog. In the long run, that is what will help you earn more from Amazon (and other income streams).
2. Loyalty and Trust Convert
Another major factor in the increase in earnings has been the type of readership I’ve gathered on my blogs.
While I do get a fair bit of search engine traffic, I’ve found that in most cases (and there is an exception below) search visitors don’t sign up to the affiliate programs on my blogs. Loyal and repeat readers do.
The main reason for this is that readers who connect with you on a daily basis, over the long haul, begin to trust you (and your blog). When you make a recommendation, or do a review, they’re more likely to take that advice that someone who has give arrived from a search engine link.
3. The Intent of Readers Matters
Another big factor in the equation of Amazon Affiliate conversions is the intent your readers have when they visit your blog.
Why are they there and where are they in the ‘buying cycle’?
I began to understand this in the early days of Digital Photography School. I looked at the growing traffic to the site but realised that my Amazon affiliate earnings weren’t keeping up with the traffic growth I was experiencing.
I realised that DPS was a blog that largely shared ‘tips on how to use a camera’. As a result, it wasn’t really attracting readers who were in a ‘buying mood’. In fact, I ran a survey and found that many of my readers had recently purchased a camera and were on my site because they wanted to learn how to use it.
So I began to add to the mix of content on the site with more articles relevant to people buying a digital camera. I wrote tips with advice on buying cameras, reviews of digital cameras and equipment etc. This culminated in a whole new section devoted to ‘cameras and gear‘.
Slowly this has attracted a new type of reader to the blog: readers who are researching their next camera purchase, readers who are more likely to click a link to Amazon and who, once there, are more likely to make a purchase.
If you want to attract search traffic that is more likely to convert, consider creating content that attracts people in a ‘buying mood’.
4. Relevancy Matters
This is another common sense tip that many of us mess up. The more relevant your products are to your audience, the better chance you’ll have of converting.
- Promoting iPods on a blog that largely talks about spirituality and you’re unlikely to make a lot of sales (believe me, I tried). Try promoting relevant books, CDs and DVDs instead.
- Rather than promoting perfume on your travel blog try travel books, luggage and other travel products.
5. Get People in the Door then Let Amazon Do What They’re Good At
Among the advantages of Amazon . com is actually that it's a website individuals understand as well as believe in as well as they’re excellent from transforming site visitors in to purchasers. Amazon . com offers perfected their own website to provide individuals with items highly relevant to all of them (based on prior browsing and purchasing routines) as well as more than several years they've modified their own website therefore changes very well.Consequently, We discover that if you're able to individuals to go to the Amazon . com website (virtually for just about any cause) a portion of these may normally wind up purchasing some thing. The actual awesome point is actually which whether or not they purchase the point a person associated with or even not really – a person nevertheless generate the fee!
I've discovered that certain dimension doesn’t match just about all. Instead, particular kinds campaigns associated with specific items work nicely along with Amazon . com. I've additionally experienced a few achievement through obtaining individuals within the Amazon . com doorway with regard to additional factors. For instance I’ve played around with once or twice upon dPS along with managing a articles which offered visitors the hypothetical $1000 to invest upon pictures equipment as well as requested these phones browse close to Amazon . com as well as select exactly what these people desired to purchase. The end result had been 350 remarks (an enjoyable neighborhood creating physical exercise) as well as a number of product sales as well as profits!
Whilst the ‘get individuals within the door’ technique may appear in order to grate just a little along with my personal ‘Relevancy’ suggestion over – the important thing would be to obtain individuals within the doorway inside a appropriate method. During my situation, We had been obtaining my personal pictures visitors to visit window-shopping upon Amazon . com, with regard to digital cameras.
After they exist, the actual buys these people help to make is probably not ‘relevant’ for your weblog however their own inspiration to go to ought to be.
6. Interpersonal Evidence Advertising 1 – Greatest Vendor Listings
Individuals are much more prepared to create a buy when they really feel, they’re not by yourself – which other people possess and therefore are purchasing together. I’m certain there's a good informative mental reason behind this particular however through exactly where We sit down, purchasing has be a public exercise.
Probably the most effective interpersonal evidence advertising methods I’ve utilized, whenever advertising Amazon . com affiliate marketer hyperlinks, is actually making ‘Best Seller’ kind listings with regard to visitors. These types of listings display visitors what's presently well-liked, when it comes to buys within our neighborhood.
Among this method for action is actually my personal Well-liked Digital camera models as well as Equipment web page upon DPS. We revise this site each and every couple of months as well as conspicuously connect to this about the weblog. Individuals 2 measures collectively, transform visitors in order to purchasers very well.
To create the actual checklist, I merely feel the Amazon . com affiliate marketer reports/stats in order to find that items can sell the very best through inside my personal neighborhood. When i categorise individuals outcomes through item as well as ‘Waahlaaa’ – we now have the greatest vendor checklist which exhibits exactly what visitors associated with my personal website tend to be purchasing within the last couple of months.
Bestseller listings transform nicely simply because visitors realize that other people within their neighborhood tend to be purchasing these items as well. I suppose it’s Knowledge from the Group attitude however it functions!
An additional fast instance of the had been the publish, twenty three Pictures Guide Evaluations [Ranked], exactly where We rated the very best promoting pictures publications so as associated with product sales. We furthermore connected every guide in order to evaluations we’d carried out about the weblog.
Be aware: the important thing with one of these ‘best seller’ listings would be to generate visitors for them. 2 methods to get this done would be to conspicuously connect to these types of webpages through in your weblog in addition connecting for them through inside additional articles. This particular 2nd technique indicates your own publish doesn’t simply transform for any day time or even 2.
Additionally make sure to market all of them via social networking stations simply because these types of listings associated with what's warm in many cases are discussed nicely.
An additional Be aware: An additional method to produce a bestseller checklist is actually to check out those that Amazon . com produces. For each class upon Amazon . com, you are able to position items depending on that they can sell (recognition).
For instance – here’s the actual Digital camera as well as Picture top selling web page (affiliate marketer hyperlink) which rates the very best promoting digital cameras as well as equipment. You may also exercise lower additional to check out top selling Digital slrs, Sensations as well as Contacts.
These types of listings provide you with suggestions in regards to what items tend to be warm to advertise however, you might very easily draw all of them collectively in to a summary of items in order to function by yourself website.
7. Interpersonal Evidence Advertising two – Readers Evaluations
We accustomed to evaluation all of the pictures publications showcased upon DPS. It had been due to the fact We couldn’t discover other people to complete this as well as partially simply because I’m the manage fanatic.
Nevertheless, eventually I'd the readers provide to create the guide evaluation personally. We understood the actual readers and so i had been assured the actual evaluation will be OKAY to create. Just like just about all my personal evaluations, this experienced a joint venture partner connect to Amazon . com inside it. We had been just a little suspicious regarding if the evaluation might transform. We believed my personal visitors may not react too to some stranger’s overview of the actual guide. We had been incorrect.
The actual evaluation not just transformed in addition to my personal regular evaluations – this do better still compared to regular!
This particular might have been for a lot of factors however 1 cause We believe arrived to perform had been the way in which We launched the actual reviewer. We didn’t construct all of them as much as end up being a good “expert”. We launched all of them like a ‘DPS reader’, a normal readers that desired to reveal a few ideas on the guide which experienced assisted all of them.
We believe the actual interpersonal evidence idea arrived to perform just a little right here. Visitors noticed an additional readers suggesting some thing inside a real method as well as desired to obtain a duplicate with regard to on their own.
Be aware: oddly enough Amazon . com on their own utilizes readers evaluations like a pretty main function of the website. The reason why? These people function!
8. Real Suggestions as well as Evaluations
Aside from my personal ‘best vendor lists’ mentioned previously, you will find 2 primary methods We market Amazon . com affiliate marketer hyperlinks.
The foremost is within ‘Reviews’ with regard to items (the 2nd I’ll include beneath within the next stage). These types of hyperlinks tend to be exactly where We, or even among my personal authors, may truly check an item and provide this the actual as soon as more than.
We demand my personal authors really browse the publications, check the actual digital cameras as well as make use of the software program items they're critiquing. We cause them to become end up being because real as well as impartial as you possibly can, to indicate both benefits and drawbacks from the item. Whilst there’s a few enticement in order to hoopla upward an item in support of discuss it's good factors, a genuine evaluation can help your own readers romantic relationship within the long term as well as We discover really assists market product sales.
Evaluation hyperlinks work nicely simply because it’s generally those who are thinking about purchasing a item that truly study evaluations. This returns in order to recording visitors using the purchasing mood/intent pointed out within stage #3.
9. Educational Hyperlinks
Another kind of Amazon . com affiliate marketer hyperlink I personally use is actually whenever I’m talking about an item within moving and/or a brand new item is actually introduced. For instance, whenever Nikon introduced the actual Nikon D300s all of us instantly submitted concerning the information since it had been the significant as well as expected digital camera statement. The actual digital camera wasn't however obtainable in shops as well as all of us had been unable to obtain a evaluation test however – however it had been readily available for Pre-Order upon Amazon . com therefore all of us associated with this.
There is absolutely no suggestion or even evaluation mounted on the hyperlink however it had been another hyperlink with regard to visitors that desired to learn more (cost, specifications, photos and so on). A few visitors actually pre-ordered the actual digital cameras through which hyperlink.
Likewise, in the event that we’re currently talking about Photoshop or even an additional pictures post-production software program we’ll generally incorporate a connect to the program. Once again it’s not really a evaluation hyperlink but instead a good informational/contextual kind hyperlink.
These types of don’t often transform too when it comes to product sales however they perform obtain individuals ‘in the actual door’ from Amazon . com that will help along with product sales every once in awhile.
10. Contextual Advertising is actually Full
One of the greatest factors my personal preliminary efforts along with Amazon . com merely didn’t transform had been which i believed it’d be sufficient in order to punch the switch upon my personal sidebar, having a item or even Amazon . com.
Amazon . com provides marketers many of these kind banners or even widgets however in spite of attempting the majority of all of them, I'd little if any achievement along with with them. Rather – 99% associated with my personal conversion rates came through hyperlinks in order to Amazon . com through inside blogs concerning the items on their own.
Go ahead and test out the actual widgets as well as control keys Amazon . com provides you with. When they perform transform, after that much more capacity to a person however each and every doodlekit I’ve spoken to that particular has already established achievement along with Amazon . com informs me which contextual hyperlinks, through inside blogs, function greatest.
11. Market Special offers, Campaigns as well as Discount rates
Amazon . com offers extremely little items which don’t possess a detailed low cost. The majority of publications tend to be around 30% from the suggested list cost as well as from various occasions throughout the 12 months, Amazon . com operates additional discount rates as well as campaigns upon various items or even item groups.
Look out with regard to such campaigns simply because they may be really worth advertising (in the event that highly relevant to your own audience). Actually, final period Amazon . com experienced digital cameras upon unique, We marketed the actual purchase in order to my personal e-newsletter visitors as well as experienced visitors contacting me personally in order to say thanks to me personally with regard to allowing them to learn about this.
An additional associated suggestion is actually that after you’re composing an item evaluation as well as Amazon . com includes a detailed low cost – incorporate a be aware concerning the low cost. For instance, with this current pictures guide evaluation We hyperlink at the end in order to Amazon . com as well as be aware that it's presently 36% away.
11. Several Hyperlinks For each Publish
After i accustomed to create product critiques, We accustomed to consist of only one affiliate marketer hyperlink. For whatever reason, We believed that the solitary hyperlink will be sufficient as well as We didn’t wish to operate the danger associated with irritating visitors with increased hyperlinks. Nevertheless, eventually this hit me personally how the evaluations We had been composing had been very lengthy as well as through the period individuals reached the finish of these, the hyperlink in order to Amazon . com had been no more noticeable.
At this time We began to test out a hyperlink at the very top as well as butt from the evaluation. Used to do a few warmth chart monitoring to determine that hyperlinks had been probably the most clickable as well as utilized Amazon’s monitoring rules to determine which might ‘convert’ to some purchase more regularly.
The outcomes had been fascinating:
Each affiliate marketer hyperlinks had been clicked on a great deal however the hyperlink underneath the post had been clicked on somewhat a lot more than the hyperlink at the very top (in spite of becoming underneath the collapse)
The hyperlink at the conclusion from the evaluation led to much more conversion rates compared to hyperlink at the very top
The folks that clicked on on top hyperlink nevertheless bought (while not as numerous) however oddly enough this wasn’t usually the merchandise We examined. It had been frequently associated items
We figured getting study an item evaluation, individuals experienced much more knowledgeable to create a buying choice. Consequently, when they do click on a hyperlink following reading through the actual evaluation these were prone to purchase the item. Individuals clicking on on top hyperlink appeared to be much more inside a ‘surfing’ setting. These people clicked on about the hyperlink much less simply because they desired to purchase this however much more from curiosity for more information. A few purchased the merchandise plus some purchased additional items after they had been ‘in the actual door’ from Amazon . com.
Nowadays We usually (although not usually) make use of 2 hyperlinks for each evaluation publish.
The very first hyperlink is generally upon the very first time I personally use the merchandise title
The 2nd hyperlink generally includes a more powerful proactive approach at the. grams. ‘check this on Amazon’ or even ‘get a cost upon XXXX’ or even ‘buy your personal duplicate associated with XXXX here’.
Reside Instance: Allow me to demonstrate this having a fast movie (through a couple of years back) which additionally accumulates my personal following stage.
12. Hyperlink Pictures in order to Amazon . com
Whilst performing a few warmth chart monitoring associated with exactly where everyone was hitting my personal evaluations We found that there is a substantial amount of ‘click activity’ upon pictures from the items, even if individuals pictures weren't associated with something.
Be aware: I personally use CrazyEgg with regard to making heatmaps – it's the possibility in order to monitor mouse clicks upon every area of the web page, actually exactly where there’s absolutely no connect to click on.
There’s some thing regarding a picture that individuals tend to be interested in which can make all of them click on. We started to test out connecting pictures in order to Amazon . com along with my personal affiliate marketer hyperlinks, establishing the monitoring signal to try whether or not they transformed. Whilst these people didn’t transform in addition to textual content hyperlinks, these people do transform sometimes as well as even today We nevertheless make use of this method more often than not..
13. Buy Now Buttons
This is a technique I’ve heard others having real success with but one I need to experiment with more.
It basically involves using a ‘buy now’ button in your post. I suggest placing it below a review as a starting point. I’ve written more about the technique here but the first time I heard this being applied, the blogger actually used the yellow Amazon Buy Now button in his posts. The familiarity of the button seemed to help increase conversions.
Again – it’s not something I’ve done much of but it could be worth a try!
14. Multiple Promotions Per Campaign
I’ve talked about using multiple links in a post but another way to increase conversions on a particularly hot product is to promote it more than once, over time. I only do this on very popular or highly anticipated products but it certainly works well.The key is to find a number of different ways to talk about the product over a few weeks (or longer). I wouldn’t do all of the following for a single product but here’s a few ways I’ve done it on occasion in the past.
- If a highly anticipated camera is announced by one of the manufacturers, I immediately publish a post announcing it. Amazon often has advance notice of these announcements and will usually have a page up for it where it can be pre-ordered on the same day it’s announced. I link to it immediately in my announcement post.
- A few days later I might post a post asking readers what they think about the camera or one of its features. For example, I recently wrote a post asking readers what they think about the idea of a camera with an inbuilt projector after the release of the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj.
- When the camera hits stores, I might post a short post announcing that it’s available.
- When we get a review product, we’ll post a review of it with our recommendations.
- We might, at some point, post some other reader reviews of the product if enough of our readers have it.
- We might also compile a list of quotes from other sites that have also reviewed the product.
- We might pull in and embed some videos from YouTube that show the products features.
You know your readership best so tune in to where they’re at and whether you’ve posted too much on the same product. You don’t want to over do it but if it’s a product your readers are discussing and are interested in there’s plenty of ways to bring it up (and promote it on Amazon) more than once.
15. Focus Upon the Holidays
Should you take a look at this particular We discussed right here upon ProBlogger in '09 you’ll observe that the actual annual fourth groups had been generally larger than individuals continuing all of them. This is because easy – Xmas as well as Thanksgiving holiday.
The only real Dec which i noticed the downswing had been whenever Search engines briefly de-indexed my personal very first website for some days. Almost every other 12 months there's been wholesome increases for that later on 1 / 2 of The fall of as well as all Dec (the previous few Decembers happen to be substantial).
The actual upswing within product sales close to Xmas is actually partially organic because individuals are much more inside a ‘buying mood’ in those days associated with 12 months. I love to make the most of this particular through making content material that's particular towards the holidays.
Content material for example purchasing instructions, readers queries obtaining individuals referring to exactly what they’re looking to purchase or even want to obtain with regard to Xmas, listings associated with popular/recommended items and so on.
sixteen. Market Associated Items
Among the problems We arrived facing whenever currently talking about digital cameras frequently had been which whilst a particular portion associated with my personal visitors had been positively buying a brand new digital camera, numerous visitors currently possessed 1. Actually, composing the ‘photography tips’ weblog indicates a person appeal to much more individuals attempting to learn to make use of a digital camera they currently personal, instead of purchasing a brand new 1.
Consequently, We frequently perform much more campaigns upon ‘related products’ compared to digital cameras on their own. Which means advertising contacts, sensations, storage credit cards along with other photo taking add-ons in addition to pictures publications (that is tightly related to in order to my personal primary ‘tips’ concentrate).
1 good way to obtain suggestions with regard to associated items to advertise is actually to check out the actual stats/reports which Amazon . com provides you with to determine that items visitors tend to be purchasing. Before long you’ll begin to observe that they’re not just purchasing the items a person straight market however additional items too. A few is going to be totally unimportant for your market – however often developments may arise that may transmission additional items which it may be really worth advertising.
Let’s take a look at a good example of this particular. Subsequent is really a display catch of the little the main purchases upon my personal Amazon . com accounts some time back again. I've organized all of them so as associated with the number of had been offered.
What you can see in this screen grab is that the #1 electronic item sold in the period was a Canon 50mm lens. You can see that in the ‘product Link Clicks column’ that people came to Amazon directly through a link from my site to this item – it’s something I promoted on DPS.
However look at the next most popular item (the Tiffen 52mm UV filter). You can see in the ‘Product Link Clicks’ column that there is a ‘0’ figure. I never promoted this product directly on DPS – yet 44 people bought it.
The next two items were things I promoted but the next 8 were things that people bought in number by themselves without me promoting them at all. To me, knowing which items people buy without my prompting is GOLD!
It’s possible that Amazon is promoting them heavily or that one person is buying a lot of the one product, or they just could be great products that almost sell themselves for one reason or another.
Whatever the reason, I’ll look into them further and see if they could be products I should be promoting somehow.
You can bet there will be a post on dPS soon that highlights some of these ‘hot/best selling accessories’ among our readers!
17. Promote Pre-Orders
I’ve already mentioned this one above but one of the things that I do is promote the ability to Pre-Order products on Amazon.It doesn’t happen for every product but I find that Amazon will sometimes create pages for new products before they’re even available for purchase.
When I post an article announcing a new camera I always check Amazon first to see if they’ve already created a page for that product. If they have, I make sure to mention that the product is already available for pre-ordering on Amazon.
For example a couple of years ago when Canon Released the Canon EOS 50D DSLR I used this technique. This post generated 10 sales of the camera before it was even available in stores. While two of them cancelled their orders later 8 sales of a $1000+ product certainly add up!
18. Track Your Campaigns
Until a bit over a year ago, I just promoted every single Amazon affiliate link with the one tracking code. I was lazy and while I saw which products were selling, I never really knew what links on my blog were converting and what ones were not.Eventually I decided that I needed to know more about what was working for me so I started tracking campaigns. Amazon allows you to create 100 tracking ids (once logged into Amazon Associates you manage them at this link).
I didn’t realize there was a limit until a few years back when I hit the maximum. I wish Amazon would increase it! To be honest, I find their tracking system pretty messy and think it needs an overhaul however, it is great for testing what works and what doesn’t. Most of what I’ve written about in other tips in these articles was learned through tracking.
Because there’s a 100 tracking code limit, I suggest creating a few general tracking codes, one for each blog and perhaps one for each category on your blog. Then use other codes for major promotions that you’re doing. This way not every Amazon link will be tracked but important ones will.
Note: I’m told that Amazon do give more tracking codes if you email them but it’s a bit of a drawn out process. If you need more it’s worth a try (I know I’ll be trying).
19. Small Ticket Items Add Up
One of the most common criticisms I hear about the Amazon’s Affiliate program is that there are just too many small commissions. Getting a commission of a small percentage on a $15 book just doesn’t cut it for many people. Some people use this to justify not using Amazon at all while others just promote big-ticket items.While I agree that these small commissions are not much on their own – they do add up.
Yesterday I earned $506.03 from Amazon. It was actually a pretty good day, higher than average. One might think the higher than normal figure came from selling some big ticket items but that wasn’t the case. The highest commission for the day was a $21.34 commission. The vast majority of the sales were books sold from my list of photography books, which we promoted on social media recently.
The other beauty of getting lots of smaller ticket sales is that they go towards increasing the commission tier you’re on. The more items you sell (not the more $’s you refer – but item numbers) the higher % commission you make from Amazon.
In the screen capture above you can see that when you go past 6 items referred, you move from a 4% commission to a 6% commission. If you keep referring more, the commission increases. The only category of product not included in this is consumer electronics (frustrating for a camera guy!).
This means that if you refer enough small ticket items you can double your commissions.
Note: Amazon lets you choose two types of payment structures – ‘Classic’ and ‘Performance’. The classic one has a 4% flat commission – while the ‘performance’ one has the tiers. I’m not sure why anyone would select ‘classic’ so make sure you choose ‘Performance’!
20. Big Ticket Items are the Cream on Top
While I strongly advise promoting small ticket items to help boost your sale numbers and commission figures, it’s also worth targeting some bigger ticket promotions too.In my experience, they don’t convert anywhere near as well as cheaper items but when they do, they can give your revenue a real boost. As someone promoting cameras that can sell for several thousand dollars, I’ve had single commissions in the hundreds of dollars range (even when the commission is limited to 4% on consumer electronics).
For example, last month I saw the sale of the Nikon D800 36.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) (yes that IS an affiliate link). It sells for over $2700 and generated me a $111 commission.
Here are a few more smaller but still significant ones from the last week:
While these bigger ticket items are certainly not selling in as great a number as books – they contribute a significant amount to the total earnings of the month.
10 More Tips on Using the Amazon Affiliate Program
To finish off this ultimate guide I want to share 10 more general, overarching tips and principles I’ve found helpful when making money with Amazon’s Affiliate program.1. Time is a Major Factor
As I mentioned at the start of this guide, the $420,000+ that I’ve earned from Amazon has come over 10 years.While the last 5 years seen me earn over $50,000 per year from Amazon, it took 5 years of building to get it to that level – with the first 3 years really not earning much at all.
That was partly due to increasing traffic. It was partly due to my regular inclusion of affiliate links in my posts. I don’t promote Amazon in every post but in an average week I’d say I link to Amazon in at least 4-5 posts. That adds up to 200-250 posts per year and around over 2000 posts in the last 10 years.
These posts act as a doorway to the Amazon site. As the number of posts has increased, my blogs have begun to rank higher in Google and my loyal reader numbers have grown, the number of people going through these ‘doorways’ has increase– hence the escalation in earnings.
2. Start Early
I recommend that bloggers start to use Amazon’s Affiliate Program early. In doing so, you’ll be populating your blog with links into the store that may not convert brilliantly early on but which can potentially convert for years to come as your blog grows in popularity.The other good thing about starting early is that you’ll learn a lot about affiliate marketing. Most of the lessons and tips that I’ve shared in this series of posts have come directly from my own experimenting with Amazon’s Affiliate program.
I knew so little in the early days and I made a lot of mistakes but each time I messed up I learned another lesson that has helped me to grow my Amazon earnings into a more significant part of my own business.
3. Experiment with Widgets and aStore
I’ve already mentioned that I largely rely upon contextual links to promote Amazon products. I find these offer the best conversion however, I do know of a few bloggers who’ve successfully incorporated a variety of the widgets that Amazon gives their affiliates to use.
Likewise – I understand a few visitors that perform pretty much along with aStore, the industry device where a person produce your personal small online shop utilizing Amazon’s technologies.
I’ve attempted to make use of this particular once or twice and also have experienced just a little achievement along with my personal pictures as well as ProBlogger bookstores however understand I have to perform much more by using it to consider this to another degree.
I suppose this boils down in order to tinkering with the various tools as well as viewing exactly what is most effective together with your target audience. In the event that you’ve utilized a few of these widgets I’d like to observe types of exactly where you’ve experienced all of them meet your needs – make sure you reveal hyperlinks within remarks beneath therefore we are able to just about all discover!
four. Openness along with Visitors
There's always discussion regarding the main topic of openness whenever internet affiliate marketing pops up. In the event you reveal that the hyperlinks tend to be affiliate marketer hyperlinks or even if you don't?
The solution for this may partially rely on where you are. In the event that you’re in america, the actual FCC takes a disclosure – however in other areas from the globe you aren't needed to do this.
Every doodlekit may eventually possess their very own position about this as well as it’s essential to sort out exactly what rests nicely with your personal integrity, the actual circulation of the website and also the regulation.
Becoming within Sydney, I’m not necessary to complete something through the regulation (even though We listen to speak which there might be modifications for this). We don’t reveal each and every Amazon . com hyperlink upon my personal pictures weblog inside a immediate method however will i possess a disclaimer/disclosure web page about the weblog. Whenever I’m carrying out a ‘best vendor list’ usually incorporate a please note upon individuals articles since the entire web page is actually full of affiliate marketer hyperlinks. I've additionally created several occasions upon DPS about how exactly the actual hyperlinks in order to Amazon . com generate all of us cash as well as assist the website to maintain developing and become free of charge.
We had been anxious the very first time We pointed out this particular in order to visitors as well as anticipated the backlash nevertheless, exactly what I discovered had been that many visitors not just recognized this, these people urged all of us.
Actually, some of the visitors inform me personally when they’re likely to help to make some type of buy from Amazon . com they usually arrived at DPS in order to click among the hyperlinks to do this! Openness isn’t because frightening because you may think (even though this may rely on your own target audience just a little).
Right here upon ProBlogger We reveal Amazon . com affiliate marketer hyperlinks. That’s due to the fact you will find less of these as well as simply because my personal visitors listed here are much more experienced along with the thought of affiliate marketer applications (We don’t need to clarify exactly what a joint venture partner hyperlink is actually each time We point out 1).
5. Don’t Hoopla – Place Your own Visitors Very first
Whenever you participate in any kind of internet affiliate marketing, keep your own readers’ needs in mind.
I’ve already been critiqued to take this particular look at through the years through categories of writers that appear to place the actual concern upon ‘making cash whatsoever costs’. As you definitely could make cash with no concentrate on high quality content material or even creating neighborhood as well as through marketing upward things that a person market – my personal strategy happens to be to place the actual readers very first.
I actually do this particular simply because I wish to develop a strong status along with a faithful audience of individuals that believe in me personally. I’d instead help to make less cash but still possess a readers compared to help to make a lot of money and not begin to see the readers once again. Personally, this particular arrives not just through my personal integrity however my personal perception which in the long run creating a great user profile as well as status results in additional possibilities with regard to revenue.
The issue along with hoopla is actually that you simply arranged visitors upward along with anticipation which are past exactly what the merchandise you’re suggesting may provide. This particular could trigger the purchase it results in frustration as well as frustration – losing visitors – broken status and so on.
6. Choose Top quality Items
This particular comes after upon in the final stage however may be worth saying by itself. The actual achievement (or even failing) of the Amazon . com Affiliate marketer Plan depends on these products you select.
Whenever you market high quality, it's easier to become each real inside your evaluations as well as suggestions that leads in order to conversion rates as well as profits.
Where ever you are able to, check these products a person suggest to make sure their own high quality (or even discover somebody who are able to get it done for you personally).
7. End up being Daring
Among the repeating styles We listen to through visitors is actually they be worried about utilizing Amazon . com hyperlinks an excessive amount of, requesting “Won’t visitors break the rules? ”
I've usually discussed this particular issue however because you’ve most likely acquired right now, the actual readers break the rules may be nearly non-existent.
Possibly the reason being We very carefully pick the items We market or even simply because We frequently market these types of hyperlinks within articles based on readers suggestions. I will think about under 10 events whenever I’ve experienced individuals upon my personal pictures website query the actual hyperlinks. Actually, when i stated over, I’ve experienced much more individuals provide good suggestions regarding all of them compared to something.
I suppose presently there might arrive a place exactly where an excessive amount of marketing might obtain a damaging response therefore you need to be considered a small delicate regarding your own marketing however in common, I believe visitors are designed for a lot more than we may believe they are able to.
Be aware: I believe the actual collection exactly where visitors may break the rules will probably change from weblog in order to weblog based upon their own audience. For instance right here upon ProBlogger We obtain a bit more damaging suggestions through visitors upon affiliate marketer campaigns. We believe ProBlogger visitors tend to be a bit more tuned to the concern as well as dubious associated with a few of the internet affiliate marketing which continues round the internet.
8. Local Viewers? Attempt Nearby Amazons
An additional remark which occasionally arrives is actually which Amazon.com doesn’t work brilliantly for blogs and sites with traffic from countries outside the USA.
A few insights about this:
First of all – it’s not really totally accurate. We formerly experienced the weblog along with nearly totally Aussie visitors also it transformed fairly nicely along with Amazon . com. Amazon . com will deliver a few items in order to Sydney along with other nations (publications, Compact disks and so on) therefore in the event that you’re advertising individuals items it may function.
Obviously I usually skipped on the larger solution digital items which didn’t deliver away from UNITED STATES. It was the main cause We relocated my personal initiatives in order to beginning Photography College, with a much more worldwide target audience.
Next – in case your visitors is actually local to some nation using its personal Amazon . com shop, sign up for the actual affiliate marketer plan for your shop as well as market this. I understand among the UNITED KINGDOM pictures websites will perfectly through advertising the united kingdom edition associated with Amazon . com. We additionally understand 1 weblog which provides 2 hyperlinks in order to each and every publish he or she will – 1 using the ALL OF US and something using the UNITED KINGDOM shop.
I’ve additionally noticed which many people make use of geo-targeting resources to check out the place where a readers is actually through as well as helping all of them the local hyperlink on their behalf.
9. Subjects Transform In a different way
1 discussion board I stumbled upon had been talking about my personal prior content articles as well as numerous people documented which Amazon . com didn’t focus on their own websites (questioning regardless of whether We had been informing the facts regarding my personal income). After i delved just a little much deeper, as well as looked over their own websites, the reason behind their own insufficient achievement along with Amazon . com grew to become obvious – their own subjects.
A few subjects may normally match Amazon . com much better than other people. Ultimately, this boils down in order to the truth that Amazon . com is really a item associated affiliate marketer plan therefore it just functions whenever individuals purchase things. In case your weblog is actually on the subject which doesn’t possess any kind of organic link with individuals purchasing things it will end up being a good uphill fight.
In my opinion, it’s product-related weblogs which often perform greatest along with Amazon . com. The majority of weblogs most likely possess a minimum of a few options (for instance right here upon ProBlogger We from time to time connect to the guide which applies or perhaps a pc or even digital device which i believe may be helpful to writers) however the truth is this weblog won't ever transform too upon Amazon . com because my personal pictures website.
10. Keep close track of Amazon . com
My personal final suggestion would be to keep close track of exactly what Amazon . com does. I am talking about this particular within 2 methods:
1. Study from All of them – be considered a normal person associated with Amazon . com. A person don’t need to be an energetic purchaser however browse the website frequently as well as spend specific focus on the way in which that they're advertising items on the website.
Amazon . com offers invested many years mastering the actual artwork associated with on the internet promoting as well as you’ll discover a great deal regarding internet marketing through watching that they get it done. These people continuously check various ways associated with advertising items and also have developed their own website quite a bit through the years. Observe exactly what widgets these people make use of to advertise associated items, view that they make use of readers evaluations, and find out the way in which they explain items.
You’ll additionally maintain a much better placement in order to pre-sell these products a person suggest should you consider the web page you’re delivering individuals to before you decide to get it done.
two. Watch out for Possibilities – previously with this manual We pointed out you could make use of numerous campaigns Amazon . com on the website. A few of these tend to be market straight to their own affiliate marketers. For instance, these people send e-mail in order to affiliate marketers semi-regularly, advertising their own most recent campaigns. They likewise have the weblog exactly where these people perform similarly.
Should you browse the weblog and obtain the actual e-mail you’ll observe campaigns exactly where they're providing discount rates in order to visitors but additionally exactly where they’re providing reward profits for many products or even types of items. Not really them all may connect with your own market however with time a few may.
Nevertheless, you will find additional possibilities these people don’t market in order to all of us because affiliate marketers however which you'll nevertheless make use of. For instance, these days We had been browsing upon Amazon . com as well as discovered their own Digital camera Offers web page.
The actual web page is really a web page advertising any kind of offers which they’re operating upon digital camera models. About the web page tend to be a few fairly good offers which are really worth advertising upon my personal pictures weblog.
This really is one of numerous campaigns which Amazon . com is definitely operating on the website. Look out on the website with regard to exactly what they’re performing which pertains to your own market as well as you’ll discover good quality things to advertise.
The greater a person keep close track of exactly how Amazon . com tend to be advertising items for their visitors the greater knowledgeable you’ll end up being regarding ways to perform the same.
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