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Amazon Affiliate for Authors: A Guide to the Associates Program
As an author, you’re constantly directing readers to your book’s page on Amazon. But what if you could earn an extra commission every time you did? This is the powerful advantage of using the Amazon affiliate program for authors, also known as Amazon Associates.
The Amazon Associates program is a free affiliate marketing program that allows you to create special, trackable links to any product on Amazon. When a customer clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a small commission on that sale. For an author, this is a must-use tool. It allows you to earn your normal KDP royalty plus an affiliate commission on your own book, and on any other products your readers buy.
Key Takeaways & Summary
Earn an Extra Commission: The Amazon Associates program allows you to earn an affiliate commission (typically 4-5% for books) on sales generated through your special links.
A Free and Essential Tool: It is completely free to join and is an essential marketing tool for any author with a website or an email list.
The “SiteStripe” is Your Main Tool: Once you’re an Associate, a toolbar called SiteStripe appears at the top of Amazon, allowing you to instantly generate affiliate links for any page.
Earn on More Than Just Your Book: You earn a commission on any qualifying purchase a customer makes on Amazon within 24 hours of clicking your link, not just on your book.
Why Every Author Should Be an Amazon Affiliate
Joining the Associates program is a strategic business decision for several key reasons.
Double-Dip on Your Own Book Sales: When a reader buys your book through your affiliate link, you get your standard KDP royalty and an extra affiliate commission on the sale.
Earn from the “24-Hour Cookie”: This is the most powerful feature. When someone clicks your link, a “cookie” is placed in their browser. You will then earn a commission on everything they buy on Amazon for the next 24 hours. If they buy your book, then go on to buy a new TV, you get a commission on the TV as well.
Create Professional Book Links: The program’s SiteStripe tool allows you to create beautiful, professional-looking image boxes and “Text+Image” widgets for your website, which look far better than a simple text link. This is the modern replacement for the old Amazon book widgets.
Recommend Other Books: You can create affiliate links for books you recommend to your readers (like books by authors in your genre) and earn a commission when they buy them. This is a great way to provide value to your audience and generate extra income.
How to Get Started with the Amazon Associates Program
Sign Up for a Free Account: Go to the Amazon Associates homepage and sign up. You will need to provide information about your website or social media platform where you intend to share the links. The approval process is usually quick.
Enable the SiteStripe Tool: Once your account is approved, go to your Associates dashboard and ensure the “SiteStripe” toolbar is enabled in your account settings.
Navigate to Your Book’s Page: Go to your book’s sales page on the regular Amazon website. You will now see the gray SiteStripe toolbar at the very top of the page.
Generate Your Affiliate Link: Use the SiteStripe toolbar to instantly create a “Text,” “Image,” or “Text+Image” link.
Share Your Link: Copy the generated link or HTML code and paste it into your author website, blog posts, email newsletter, or social media.
Best Practices for Using Affiliate Links
Be Transparent (Disclosure is Required): You are legally required to disclose that you are using affiliate links. A simple statement like, “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases,” in the footer of your website is standard practice. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has clear guidelines on affiliate disclosure.
Use it on Your Author Website: Your “Books” page should use these links exclusively.
Use it in Your Email Newsletter: When you announce a new release or a promotion, always use your affiliate link.
Joining the Amazon Associates program is a key part of a professional Amazon book marketing strategy that helps you maximize the income from the traffic you are already generating.
Short FAQ
Q: Does it cost anything to join the Amazon Associates program?
A: No, it is 100% free to join and use.
Q: Can I use my affiliate links in the back of my KDP book?
A: No. Amazon’s terms of service prohibit the use of affiliate links inside your Kindle ebook file. Affiliate links are for use on your external platforms, like your website, blog, and social media.
Q: Do I need a separate Associates account for each country?
A: Yes. The US Associates program (.com) is separate from the UK program (.co.uk), and so on. If you have a large international audience, you may want to sign up for the programs in your top-selling countries. There are also third-party tools that can create “universal” links that direct readers to their local Amazon store.
