How to Start Affiliate Marketing with Amazon: Step-by-Step to Your First Commission

Alston’s first Amazon commission was 67 cents. He’s told that story before and he’s proud of it, because it proved the machine worked. Not the amount, the fact that a stranger on the internet clicked a link, bought a security camera, and a tiny slice of that sale landed in his account while he was doing something else entirely. That is the promise of Amazon affiliate marketing, and this post breaks down exactly how to build it from scratch.

The system Alston teaches here grew out of his first YouTube channel, Security Camera Guy, which has only around 1,000 subscribers. One video on that channel, “How to install Ring doorbell without existing doorbell,” has pulled in over 219,000 views across three years. That channel funded his entry into affiliate marketing and proved a principle: you do not need a massive audience to earn real commissions. You need the right content in front of people who are already ready to buy. This guide will show you how to build exactly that.

What You’ll Walk Out With

A clear, step-by-step path to joining the Amazon Associates program today
How to install SiteStripe so grabbing affiliate links takes seconds instead of minutes
The five types of content that convert Amazon traffic, from unboxings to comparison videos
A full map of the content funnel, from top-of-funnel how-to content down to high-intent review videos
Why a $3/month website beats Linktree every time, and when that actually matters
How to become a credible subject-matter expert on products you have never owned
A ready-to-use research method that works whether you are covering cameras, stand mixers, or anything else on Amazon
Once you know what to promote, find out which skill you already have that the market will pay for at finder.platformproof.com

Step 1: Join the Amazon Affiliate Program

The Amazon affiliate program runs under the brand name Amazon Associates. There are two ways to sign up. The easy path: go to amazon.com, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, and click “Become an affiliate.” The more direct path: type affiliate-program.amazon.com into your browser and go straight to the sign-up form.

During sign-up, Amazon asks what kind of platform you will be using to promote products. Your choices include a blog or website, a mobile app, or a YouTube channel. Alston recommends getting a domain name and web hosting, even at this early stage. The cost runs about $3 per month, and most hosting providers will throw in the domain name free for the first year. We will talk about why that website matters in a moment, but for now, plan to register one.

The sign-up process itself takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Once you are through, you will have access to the Amazon Associates back office, where you can generate affiliate links, track clicks, and monitor your commissions. Amazon does require that you make at least three qualifying sales within 180 days of signing up, or your account will be closed. That is not a reason to panic; it is a reason to start creating content right away so the sales follow.

Step 2: Install SiteStripe

Once you are inside the Amazon Associates back office, hover over the Tools menu and click SiteStripe. SiteStripe is a browser tool that adds a small bar to the top of every Amazon product page you visit. With it installed, you can grab a formatted affiliate link for any product in seconds, directly from the product page itself.

Without SiteStripe, you have to go back to the Associates dashboard, search for the product, and manually generate a link. That extra friction adds up. Alston estimates SiteStripe saves five to ten minutes every single day. Over a year of consistent content creation, that is hours returned to you. Install it as soon as you have your account, before you do anything else.

Step 3: Pick Your Content Platform

The affiliate link strategy Alston teaches works across every major platform: YouTube, a blog, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook groups. The platform you choose should come down to where you feel most comfortable creating content. If you are comfortable on camera, YouTube is the strongest long-term play because your videos can rank in search and generate views for years. If you prefer writing, a blog can do the same thing through Google. If short-form video is your thing, TikTok and Instagram Reels can drive traffic quickly.

There is one important note about TikTok and Facebook groups specifically: both platforms are hostile to direct affiliate links in posts and bios. TikTok restricts them, and Facebook often flags or removes them outright. That is where having your own website becomes the practical solution. You put your Amazon affiliate links on your website, then drive traffic from TikTok or Facebook to that site. Your website becomes the landing page, the link hub, and the trust signal, all at once. Linktree can technically do the same job, but it crashes or returns errors regularly enough that Alston recommends against relying on it for your business.

The Content Funnel: Your Map to Amazon Commissions

Here is the core idea that separates affiliate marketers who make money from those who spin their wheels: not all content converts at the same rate. Buyers move through stages. Some people are still figuring out what their problem even is. Others already know exactly which product they want and just need one final push before pulling out a credit card. The content you create should match where your target buyer is in that journey.

Alston frames this as an inverted pyramid. At the very bottom of the pyramid is the smallest, most targeted group of people. These buyers know the problem and know the solution. They have basically already decided to buy; they just want confirmation. Content that speaks to them converts at the highest rate. At the very top of the pyramid is the widest group of people, those who know something is wrong but have no idea what product will fix it. Content for them drives the most traffic but the lowest immediate conversion. Both ends of the pyramid matter. The money flows from understanding where you are on it.

Review Videos: The Bottom of the Funnel

Review content sits at the bottom of the funnel because the viewer already knows which product they want. They are searching for the Canon EOS Rebel T6, for example, not “best camera.” When Alston searched “Canon Rebel T6 review” on YouTube, the top result had over one million views. Other results on the same page had 32,000 views and 23,000 views respectively. That is a steady, ongoing stream of people who are very close to making a purchase.

When you create a review video, the most important thing you can do is talk honestly about the downsides. Alston is direct about this: most review videos are just glowing endorsements, and viewers know it. The moment you acknowledge a real limitation, your credibility goes up. For the Canon T6, one honest downside is that the screen does not flip out, which makes it hard to see yourself when recording. Instead of leaving that as a negative, you can turn it into a sales moment: mention that connecting an HDMI cable to a small monitor solves the problem, and then include your affiliate links for both the monitor and the HDMI cable. You have just turned a weakness into two more commissions.

Review content works for any product on Amazon. The formula is the same: research what buyers actually care about, acknowledge the real drawbacks honestly, and show how those drawbacks can be managed or worked around. That combination builds trust and moves people toward the purchase.

Unboxing Videos: No Face Required

Unboxing content sits right alongside reviews at the bottom of the funnel. These videos work especially well for people who are just about to receive a product they ordered or are trying to verify what they will get before buying. When Alston searched for “Canon EOS Rebel T6 unboxing,” a premium kit unboxing and review from four years ago had 35,000 views. Another, titled “best camera for YouTube Canon Rebel T6 unboxing,” was from three years ago and still pulling traffic.

One practical advantage of unboxing content: you do not have to show your face. You can point the camera at the box, narrate what you are doing, and cover the relevant details: weight and feel when you first lift it out, everything included in the package, whether the packaging protected the product during shipping, and a quick flip through the printed manual. Those details matter to buyers. That kind of specific, grounded content is exactly what earns the click on your affiliate link.

Versus and Comparison Content

One step up from reviews and unboxings is comparison or “versus” content. When Alston searched “Canon T6 Rebel versus” on YouTube, buyers were comparing it to the iPhone 11 Pro, the Canon M50, and the Sony A6000. Each of those searches represents someone who has narrowed their choice down to two specific options and is trying to make a final decision. Results for those comparisons showed 17,000 views and 63,000 views, again from videos that had been live for years.

What makes comparison content especially valuable for affiliates is that you can earn commissions on both products. If you create a video comparing the Canon T6 to the Sony A6000, you can include your Amazon affiliate link for both cameras in the description. Whoever the viewer ends up choosing, you earn a commission either way. That doubles the earning potential of a single piece of content, without requiring you to write or record anything extra.

Comparison content also gives you more reach than pure reviews. The audience is wider because it captures everyone comparing those two products, not just people already sold on one specific model.

Best X for Y and Best X Under Y Lists

Moving further up the funnel, list-style content captures a broader group of buyers. Searches like “best camera for YouTube,” “best camera for vlogging,” “best DSLR for videography,” or “best DSLR under $1,000” all represent people who know what type of product they want but have not yet committed to a specific model. They are asking for your recommendation.

When Alston searched “best DSLR under a thousand dollars” on YouTube, the results showed 37,000 views, 45,000 views, and 9,000 views on individual videos. That is consistent, meaningful traffic for content that is genuinely useful to buyers. The format for this content is simple: make a list of the five or ten best options, explain what each one does well, include your Amazon affiliate links for every product in the description, and let viewers choose the one that fits their needs.

The “best X under Y” format works especially well because it respects the buyer’s budget. The viewer has already decided they want a DSLR camera. They just want one that fits what they can spend. By framing your content around a price ceiling, you are solving a real, specific constraint, and that specificity makes people more likely to act on your recommendations.

Not sure which skill or niche you should build your affiliate content around?

The Finder matches you to the right online income model based on the skills you already have. Check it at finder.platformproof.com.

Top-of-Funnel: How-To Content

At the very top of the content funnel is how-to content. These are the “who, what, when, where, how, and why” videos and articles that serve the widest possible audience. When Alston searched “how to make better YouTube videos,” the results showed an enormous group of people who know they have a problem but do not yet know which product will solve it. That is your opportunity to introduce the product naturally.

For example, “5 ways to make better YouTube videos” could include better lighting as one tip. That tip then leads naturally to a recommendation for a ring light or LED panel with your Amazon affiliate link. “5 ways to improve your camera footage” could recommend the Canon T6 as the budget-friendly option for beginners. The viewer came for general advice and leaves with a specific product recommendation that solves their exact problem.

Top-of-funnel content drives lower conversion rates than reviews or comparisons because the viewer is earlier in their buying journey. But the volume of traffic is significantly higher. Both matter. Alston recommends building content at every level of the funnel so you are capturing buyers wherever they are in the process.

The Step-by-Step Content Plan

Pick a product category where you have some genuine interest or curiosity. It does not have to be a passion. It just has to be something you are willing to research and talk about consistently.
Go to YouTube and type in the product name. Look at what people are already searching for: reviews, unboxings, tutorials, comparisons. That search autocomplete is your content calendar.
Start with a review video or unboxing. These convert the best because the audience is already close to buying. Getting your first commissions early keeps momentum going.
Add a comparison video once you have the review live. This doubles your affiliate link options and reaches a wider group of buyers.
Build out “best X for Y” and “best X under Y” content to capture the buyers who are still deciding what category of product they need.
Layer in how-to content at the top of the funnel to drive consistent new traffic from people at the start of their buyer journey.

How to Become a Subject Matter Expert Without Owning the Product

One of the most common questions Alston gets is some version of: “What if I don’t own the product? What if I don’t know which DSLR is best under $1,000?” His answer is that this is your opportunity to do real research and become what he calls a “local subject matter expert.”

Here is the method. Go to Amazon and look up the product. Read the product specs carefully. Then shift your attention to the customer reviews, both the positive ones and the critical ones. The reviews will tell you exactly what buyers actually care about: what surprised them, what disappointed them, what worked better than expected. When enough reviewers mention that a particular lens fogs up in certain lighting conditions after extended use, that is a real insight. You can include that detail in your content and you become the person who told them something the product page never would.

As an affiliate, you are not required to be the world’s leading expert on the product. What you are required to do is provide as much useful, accurate information as possible so the buyer can make a confident decision. Amazon customer reviews, combined with a close read of the product specs and a few hours of research on YouTube and relevant forums, are more than enough to get there. The work is in the research, not in owning every product you cover.

Honest Drawbacks of the Amazon Affiliate Approach

Amazon pays lower commission rates than many other affiliate programs. Depending on the product category, commissions range from 1% to 10%, with most physical products sitting toward the lower end of that range. On a $50 product with a 3% commission rate, you earn $1.50. That is not a criticism of the program; it is just the math you need to understand going in. The way to make the numbers work is through volume: enough content driving enough traffic that the commissions add up across hundreds or thousands of purchases per month.

Amazon also has a 24-hour cookie window, which is shorter than most other affiliate programs. That means if someone clicks your link today but waits two days to buy, you do not earn the commission. There are strategies to work around this, including driving traffic to your own website where visitors can bookmark or return to your links, but it is a real limitation to plan around.

Finally, Amazon can change its commission rates at any time. It did so in 2020, cutting rates across several major categories significantly. Affiliates who had built their entire business around one category felt that sharply. Diversifying the types of products you cover and building your own email list gives you some protection against those policy shifts.

Why You Need a Website, Not Just Linktree

Alston is straightforward about this: if you are in business to make money online, you need your own website. Not a Linktree. Not a profile page. An actual domain name and web hosting that you control.

Linktree crashes or returns errors often enough that it is a real problem for anyone relying on it to send buyers to their affiliate links. Alston describes clicking on Linktree links and finding them broken or unavailable. When your Linktree goes down, you lose every click that happens during that window. You cannot do anything about it because you do not own the platform.

A website you own does not go down because Linktree had a bad day. You also control the design, the messaging, and the user experience. You can build trust signals, add a contact form, write blog posts that rank in Google, and create a destination that looks like a real business because it is one. All of that for around $3 per month is not a cost; it is an investment in the foundation of your affiliate income.

For platforms like TikTok and Facebook groups specifically, where Amazon affiliate links get flagged or removed, your website becomes the bridge. You drive traffic from the social platform to your site, and your site sends them to Amazon with your affiliate links in place. You stay compliant with the platform’s rules while still earning your commissions.

Find Your X

Amazon affiliate marketing works for any product category, any platform, and any level of experience. The hard part is not the mechanics; those are learnable in an afternoon. The hard part is figuring out which niche or skill set is the right one for you to build around, one where your knowledge or curiosity gives you a genuine edge over generic content farms.

If you are not sure where to start, the Finder at finder.platformproof.com was built for exactly this moment. It takes what you already know, what you already do, and matches it to the online income model most likely to pay off for you. Go use it before you spend another hour second-guessing your niche.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to own the product to promote it on Amazon?

No. You can research products using Amazon’s own customer reviews, product specs, and publicly available comparison content. The goal is to provide accurate, useful information to buyers, and that is achievable through thorough research even if you have never held the product in your hands. Many successful Amazon affiliates cover dozens of product categories they have never personally used.

How long does it take to earn a commission after signing up?

That depends entirely on how quickly you create and publish content and whether it gets traffic. Alston’s first commission of 67 cents came from his security camera content on YouTube. Some affiliates earn within weeks; others take months. The variable is content output and whether the content targets buyers who are close to purchasing. Review and unboxing content near the bottom of the funnel tends to convert faster than how-to content at the top.

Can I use Amazon affiliate links on TikTok or Instagram?

Directly including Amazon affiliate links in TikTok posts or Instagram bios can get flagged or removed by those platforms. The workaround Alston recommends is driving traffic to your own website, where your affiliate links live. That way you comply with the platform’s rules while still converting viewers into buyers through your site.

What does SiteStripe do and why does it matter?

SiteStripe is a browser tool available through Amazon Associates that adds a toolbar to the top of every Amazon product page you visit. With it, you can generate your affiliate link for any product directly from that page without going back to the Associates dashboard. Alston estimates it saves five to ten minutes per day, which matters when you are building a content library across dozens or hundreds of products.

What is the Amazon Associates cookie window?

Amazon’s affiliate cookie lasts 24 hours. If someone clicks your link and buys within that window, you earn the commission. If they click but wait more than 24 hours to complete the purchase, you typically do not. That is shorter than many other affiliate programs. Driving traffic to a website where buyers can save and return to your links is one strategy that partially addresses this limitation.

Is YouTube or a blog better for Amazon affiliate marketing?

Both work well and for the same reason: search. YouTube videos rank on YouTube search and often on Google as well. Blog posts rank on Google. Alston’s single YouTube video on how to install a Ring doorbell has over 219,000 views from three years of being live. Both platforms allow content to compound over time without requiring ongoing promotion. The better choice comes down to your strengths: video or writing.

What kind of products work best for Amazon affiliate marketing?

Products that people actively research before buying tend to work best. Electronics, cameras, kitchen equipment, home improvement tools, outdoor gear, and fitness equipment all have large, active buyer communities who watch review and comparison content before purchasing. Higher-priced items generate larger commissions per sale even at lower percentage rates. Alston has earned commissions on security cameras, web hosting, sound bars, stand mixers, and online courses through this approach.

How do I know which content to create first?

Start by typing the product name into YouTube and watching the autocomplete suggestions. What people are already searching for is your content roadmap. Focus on the bottom of the funnel first: reviews, unboxings, and first impressions. These reach buyers closest to purchasing and give you the best chance of earning early commissions. Once you have that foundation, expand upward into comparisons, list content, and how-to articles to capture broader audiences at earlier stages of the buying journey.

Sources

Alston Godbolt, “Exposed: $200/Day With Amazon | How To Start Affiliate Marketing With Amazon | Make Money Online” on YouTube, youtu.be/wDKdy4LklZ4
Amazon Associates program: affiliate-program.amazon.com
SiteStripe tool: available inside Amazon Associates back office under Tools
Security Camera Guy YouTube channel, Alston’s first affiliate marketing channel, ~1,000 subscribers