Affiliate/Sheet

How the Amazon Associates Program Works

A walkthrough of the Amazon Associates program from application to payout, based on what its own published terms say.

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Amazon Associates
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What the Amazon Associates program is

Amazon Associates is Amazon's own affiliate program. The agreement lets you put links to Amazon on your website or social media. Apps and Alexa skills can carry them too. If a reader follows one of those links and then buys, that sale can earn you commission.

The agreement also says Amazon does not promise any traffic or commission income. Either side may end the agreement at any time by giving written notice.

Applying, and what Amazon wants to see

Amazon's Associates policies say you must submit an application, and Amazon will accept or reject it. Your site needs original content. Anyone must be able to see it. Sites aimed at children are not eligible.

Was your site rejected for unsuitable content? The policies say you can apply again.

The policies say a qualifying purchase starts with a click. A customer clicks a Special Link on your site and lands on Amazon.

Your Associates ID or tag must be a parameter in the URL of each link to Amazon.

How long tracking lasts

The policies say a link session ends after 24 hours or when the customer places an order, whichever comes first. The policies add a rule for carts. A cart purchase counts if the order is completed within 89 days of the first click.

For how other programs handle this, read about the cookie window.

What the fee statement pays by category

Amazon's fee statement lists fixed rates by product category. Here are some of them, as the statement lists them.

  • Luxury Beauty pays a fixed rate of 10.00%. The same rate applies to Luxury Stores Beauty and Amazon Explore.
  • Pets Products, Headphones and Beauty pay 3.00%.
  • Grocery, Amazon Fresh, and Health and Personal Care pay 1.00%.
  • Gift Cards pay 0.00%. So do Wireless Service Plans and Alcoholic Beverages.

The rates differ a lot by category. Check the fee statement for the categories you plan to link to.

Amazon's Associates policies also define Qualifying Revenue, which leaves out shipping, gift-wrapping, handling, taxes and service charges.

How and when Amazon pays

Under the policies, commission is paid roughly 60 days after each calendar month closes. You can be paid by direct deposit, by Amazon gift card, or by check.

Commission may be held back until it hits the minimum shown in Amazon's payment chart.

For how other programs send payouts, read about how affiliate payouts are sent.

The operating agreement names a required statement. You must post this statement: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Want the wider rules on telling readers about affiliate links? Read the FTC affiliate disclosure requirements.

The agreement also says that if you break it, Amazon may stop paying all commission income owed to you. Read the full agreement and the policies before you start.

Is Amazon Associates legit?

The program publishes its own agreement and policies. They cover how to apply, how links track, the rates, and when payment comes. You can read them yourself on the Associates Central site.

The agreement says Amazon does not promise any traffic or commission income. So treat it as a program with published terms, not a promise of income.

Where to learn more

For other programs you can look at, see affiliate programs for bloggers and creators. For more on this one, see the Amazon affiliate program page.

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