1. Not signing up for Amazon Associates.
If you are not signed up for Amazon Associates, you will not earn Amazon referral Commissions.
Signing up for Amazon Associates is a great way to start earning commission from the products sold on Amazon.
All you need to do is create an account, set up your profile, and start linking to the products you want to feature on your site.
Here’s a guide to joining Amazon Associates: https://services.amazon.com/services/join-now.html
2. Not using an Amazon tracking ID (Amazon Store ID).
An Amazon tracking ID is a unique code you can use to track the sales and conversions associated with your Amazon affiliate account.
It’s important to use a tracking ID because it allows you to see the results of your marketing efforts and make changes accordingly.
To set up your tracking ID, head to your Amazon Associates dashboard and select the Settings tab. You can also set up Amazon preferred associates ID’s.
If your Amazon affiliate links do not have your correct Amazon Store ID, you will not receive your Amazon referral commissions. If you have someone else’s Amazon Store ID’s in your affiliate links, they will get the commission.
It is a good idea to check this as soon as possible for an instant revenue boost.
Every single link on your Amazon affiliate site that goes to Amazon should have your Amazon tracking ID in the link.
This includes links to Amazon searches and other areas of Amazon.
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3 Not targeting the right audience with Affialite content.
Understanding your audience—and targeting them with the right content—is a key part of a successful Amazon affiliates program.
You should consider the demographics of your website visitors, the type of products you’re promoting, and how you are reaching out to potential customers.
This will help you create content that appeals to the right audience and is more likely to lead to conversions.
An example of not targeting the right audience would be creating articles about indoor kitchen cookware on an outdoor hiking affiliate site.
Your Amazon Affiliate Links need to be checked and fixed Monthly.
4. Not providing accurate product descriptions.
Accurate product descriptions are essential for converting potential customers into buyers.
Make sure to include detailed information about the product you are featuring in your Amazon affiliate links.
Additionally, ensure that the description is up-to-date and correct, so the customer knows exactly what they are buying before they click on the link.
Accurate product descriptions raise buyers’ trust in information on our site and lower bounce rates.
5. Using the wrong link format.
When creating Amazon affiliate links, you should always use the relevant deep link format for the product or page you are trying to promote.
Amazon offers different link types for affiliate links, so make sure you are using the right one. You can find more information about the different link types here: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/help/operating/linking.
The two link formats Amazon offers are AMZN.to short links and standard Amazon affiliate links.
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6. Linking to irrelevant products.
Customers have a lot of different options when they shop on Amazon, so make sure the products you are featuring as an affiliate are relevant to your website.
Similar to #4 above, linking to products that are unrelated or not of interest to your site’s visitors will not lead to conversions.
An example of linking to irrelevant products would be adding an Amazon affiliate table full of bicycle upgrades inside an article about “Best Indoor Lamps”.
7. Not placing Amazon affiliate links on relevant pages.
The placement of Amazon affiliate links is key to ensuring the success of your affiliate program.
Make sure the products you are featuring are placed on pages that correspond to their content or site.
For example, if you are trying to promote a backpack, make sure the link is placed on a page about backpacks.
8. Not featuring Amazon affiliate links prominently.
Amazon affiliate links should be prominently featured on your website so that visitors can easily find them.
It’s best to place these links near images and descriptions of the products you are promoting, as well as any related content.
Here is an example of well placed Amazon affiliate links:
9. Using outdated or expired Amazon affiliate links.
It’s important to keep your Amazon affiliate links up-to-date.
Outdated or expired links will not lead to any commission, so make sure to check your links regularly and replace them with the most recent ones.
If your site has a bunch of outdated, expired, and or broken affiliate links, customers will lose trust in your site.
Linkmoney will check and fix most broken affiliate links. Here is an article called “Linkmoney App Reports Link Errors (all detectable link errors explained)” that explains all the different affiliate link errors Linkmoney detects and fixes.
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10. Not including a disclaimer about affiliate links.
It’s important to be transparent when using Amazon affiliate links.
Make sure to include a disclaimer on your website to let visitors know that you may receive a commission when they purchase a product through your link.
This will help build trust with your readers and ensure compliance with Amazon’s terms of service.
Here is an article from Amazon called “Why do I have to identify myself as an Associate? How should I do this on social media?” that explains how to be Amazon compliant with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations.
11. Not providing enough context for why customers should click an Amazon affiliate link.
When you are promoting a product, make sure to provide enough context for potential customers.
Explain why the product is a good choice, how it can benefit them, or any other information that will help them decide if the product is right for them.
It is also a good idea to include “Pros and Cons” for each product. A great way to get Pros and Cons is to look at the reviews of the product.
This will increase the chance of converting potential customers into buyers.
12. Using confusing link text.
Using clear and concise link text is important when creating Amazon affiliate links.
Make sure the words you use clearly relate to the product you are trying to promote.
This will make it easier for potential customers to find the right product and click your link.
An good example of this would be:
“Venture Pal 40L Lightweight Packable Travel Hiking Backpack Daypack”
A bad example would be:
“Backpack A27346q”
13. Not properly placing Amazon affiliate links in emails.
When including Amazon affiliate links in emails, it’s important to make sure the link is placed in the body of the message so that readers can easily see and click it.
Don’t forget to also make sure the link text is direct and clear so it’s easy for readers to identify the product being linked to.
If you haven’t begun collecting emails, it is a good idea to start.
Sending out relevant email drips to your subscribers is a great way to interact with your customers while earning more Amazon referral commissions.
14. Not making use of basic link optimization tactics.
Using basic link optimization tactics can make a big difference when promoting products through Amazon affiliate links.
Make sure your links are easy to read, and use clear Alt Text for your Amazon links. It’s not a good idea to use exposed links as this will create customer distrust.
Here is an example of proper Amazon affilaite link optimization:
The Venture Pal 40L Lightweight Packable Travel Hiking Backpack Daypack offers a user-friendly design with a waterproof wet pocket added to the main compartment, allowing for easy separation of sweaty items for convenience after sports or swimming activities.
Here is an example of bad Amazon affiliate link optimization:
The Venture Pal 40L Lightweight Packable Travel Hiking Backpack Daypack offers a user-friendly design with a waterproof wet pocket added to the main compartment, allowing for easy separation of sweaty items for convenience after sports or swimming activities. You can see it here.
15. Not featuring Amazon Affiliate Links on social media.
Social media is a great way to reach out to potential customers and promote your Amazon affiliate links.
Make sure to include relevant product links in your social media posts, so viewers can easily find the products they are interested in.
16. Not adjusting links for mobile devices.
Many customers use their mobile phones to shop online.
When creating Amazon affiliate links, make sure to include mobile friendly versions. Make sure there is enough space between links so they are easy to tap.
You can also use responsive tables and images with Amazon affiliate links to make sure the customer can clearly tap the product they are interested in.
This will make it easier for customers to find and tap the product they are looking for.
You can use Google Search Console to test your Live Pages to ensure they are mobile-friendly.
Here is a Google article called “URL Inspection Tool” to understand how to test your mobile pages.
17. Making your Amazon affiliate links too long.
Long Amazon affiliate URLs can be off-putting for customers. Use a URL shortener to create shorter and more manageable links that customers can read and click on without any difficulty.
‘Linkmoney will clean and shorten all your Amazon affiliate links into perfect-sized affiliate links.
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18. Not using a proper URL shortener or standard link format.
When using a URL shortener to create shorter Amazon affiliate links, make sure to use a trusted service provider.
There are so many scams today that customers are very aware of links they do not recognize.
This will ensure that the links are secure and reduce the chance of misdirecting customers to the wrong page.
It’s best to only use the AMZN.to format, or the standard Amazon affiliate link format.
19. Not sorting products or offerings before linking.
It’s important to sort the products or offerings you are promoting as an Amazon affiliate.
Sorting products or offerings before linking means organizing products or services in order before establishing any connections or relationships between them.
This can be done by considering various criteria such as pricing, features, quality, and availability, and then making sure that only the relevant products or offerings are linked together.
This will make it easier for customers to find the products they want and will also help you track performance more effectively.
20. Not keeping up with Amazon’s constantly changing terms of service.
It’s important to keep up with any changes so that your account is always compliant.
Here is the Associates Program Operating Agreement for you to view.
Check in regularly with their terms of service page to stay up to date.
What are the most common Amazon Affiliate Link mistakes?
Summary
In utilizing Amazon’s affiliate links, it is important to sign up for Amazon Associates, track IDs, properly target the right audience, use the correct link formats, link to relevant products and include a disclaimer.
Additionally, optimizing links for mobile devices, sorting products/offerings before linking, prominently featuring links, and staying up to date with Amazon’s terms of service are key for a successful program.
With the right precautions, Amazon’s affiliate links can be used effectively.
