Make Money on Amazon (No Selling): A Beginner’s Guide
Step 1: Understand Amazon’s Non-Selling Opportunities
Explore Amazon Associates (Affiliate Marketing)
Amazon Associates is one of the oldest and most popular affiliate marketing programs. As an Associate, you earn a commission by promoting products sold on Amazon.com. When someone clicks on your unique affiliate link and makes a qualifying purchase within 24 hours, you receive a percentage of that sale. You don’t need to stock inventory, handle shipping, or manage customer service. Your role is purely promotional: driving traffic to Amazon’s product pages through your website, blog, social media, or other digital channels. Commission rates vary by product category, ranging from 1% to 10% or more for certain programs like Amazon Games.
Investigate Amazon Mechanical Turk (Micro-Tasks)
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing marketplace where individuals or businesses (Requesters) can outsource simple, repetitive tasks (Human Intelligence Tasks, or HITs) that computers currently struggle with. As a Worker, you complete these small tasks for a fee. Examples of HITs include transcribing audio, identifying objects in images, categorizing data, or answering survey questions. The pay per HIT is typically low, ranging from a few cents to a few dollars, but by completing many tasks efficiently, you can accumulate earnings. MTurk is suitable for those looking for flexible, task-based work without needing specialized skills beyond basic computer literacy and attention to detail.
Step 2: Set Up Your Accounts and Tools
Create an Amazon Associate Account
To begin, navigate to the Amazon Associates program website (affiliate-program.amazon.com). Click “Sign Up” and log in with your existing Amazon customer account credentials, or create a new one. You will be asked to provide information about your website(s) or mobile app(s) where you intend to display Amazon links. Be prepared to describe your content, how you will drive traffic, and how you currently generate income from your sites. Amazon will review your application, which typically takes 12-24 hours. Once approved, you’ll gain access to your Associates Central dashboard, where you can generate links, track earnings, and view reports.
Register for an Amazon Mechanical Turk Worker Account
Visit the Amazon Mechanical Turk website (worker.mturk.com) and click “Get Started with Amazon Mechanical Turk.” Select “I am a Worker” and then “Sign in with your Amazon account.” You will need to provide additional information, including your full name, address, and social security number (for tax purposes, as MTurk reports earnings to the IRS). Amazon will review your application, which can take anywhere from a few hours to several days, and acceptance is not guaranteed for all regions or applicants. Upon approval, you’ll be able to browse and accept HITs from the MTurk dashboard.
Step 3: Strategize Your Approach for Earning
Identify Niche Products for Affiliate Promotion
Success in Amazon Associates hinges on promoting products that resonate with your audience and have a good conversion rate. Instead of broadly promoting popular items, focus on specific niches. For example, if you have a blog about hiking, promote specific hiking boots, backpacks, or camping gear. Research products with high ratings and reviews, competitive pricing, and relevance to your content. Use Amazon’s best-seller lists and product categories to identify trends. Consider seasonal products or items that solve a specific problem for your target audience. The more targeted your recommendations, the more likely your audience will click and purchase.
Select High-Paying and Repetitive HITs on Mechanical Turk
When browsing HITs on MTurk, don’t just pick the first ones you see. Filter by “Reward” (highest first) to identify better-paying tasks. Look for HITs from Requesters with high approval ratings (95% or above) to minimize the risk of your work being rejected, which means you won’t get paid. Prioritize HITs that are part of a larger batch, allowing you to complete many similar tasks quickly once you understand the instructions. Some Requesters offer “Qualifications” – short tests that, once passed, unlock access to higher-paying or exclusive HITs. Completing these can significantly increase your earning potential.
Step 4: Optimize and Scale Your Earnings
Drive Traffic to Your Affiliate Links
Generating clicks on your Amazon affiliate links requires a robust traffic strategy. If you have a blog, create high-quality, keyword-rich content (e.g., “Best [Product Category] for [Specific Use]”) that naturally incorporates product recommendations. Use clear call-to-action buttons. For social media, share engaging content related to the products and include your affiliate links in posts or your bio. Consider email marketing if you have a subscriber list, sending out curated product recommendations. Diversify your traffic sources and continuously analyze your Amazon Associates reports to see which links and content perform best, then double down on those strategies.
Improve Your Qualification Scores on Mechanical Turk
Many of the best-paying HITs on MTurk require specific qualifications. Regularly check the “Qualifications” tab on your Worker dashboard and attempt any relevant tests. Some qualifications are automatically granted after you successfully complete a certain number of tasks for a Requester. Focus on maintaining a high approval rating (aim for 99% or higher) by carefully reading instructions and submitting accurate work. A consistently high approval rating makes you eligible for more tasks and builds trust with Requesters, potentially leading to private batches or higher-paying opportunities. Treat each HIT as a small job to ensure quality and maximize your long-term earning potential.
FAQs
Q1: How long does it take to start earning significant money with Amazon Associates?
A1: Earning significant money with Amazon Associates can take several months to a year, or even longer, depending on your traffic generation efforts and niche. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. Building an audience, creating valuable content, and optimizing your affiliate strategy requires consistent effort. Initial earnings may be modest, but they can grow substantially as your traffic and conversion rates improve.
Q2: Are there any upfront costs to join Amazon Associates or Mechanical Turk?
A2: No, there are no direct upfront costs to join either the Amazon Associates program or to register as a Worker on Amazon Mechanical Turk. Both programs are free to sign up for. However, if you plan to drive traffic to your Amazon affiliate links through a website or blog, you may incur costs for domain registration, web hosting, or content creation tools.
Q3: Can I do Amazon Mechanical Turk from any country?
A3: While Amazon Mechanical Turk aims to be a global platform, worker registration is not open to all countries. Eligibility can change, and it often depends on Amazon’s operational and legal requirements in specific regions. You will typically need to have a valid Amazon.com account and be in a country that is currently supported for Worker registration. It’s best to attempt registration to see if your country is currently accepted.
Q4: What’s the best way to track my earnings and performance for Amazon Associates?
A4: Amazon Associates provides a comprehensive dashboard called “Associates Central.” Here, you can access detailed reports on your clicks, ordered items, shipped items, and earnings. You can filter reports by date range, tracking ID, and product category. Regularly reviewing these reports is crucial for understanding what content and products are performing best, allowing you to optimize your strategy for higher commissions.
