If you want to make money with your Instagram profile, you can hardly avoid affiliate marketing. The decisive question then is: Where do you even sign up, and which program fits your profile? In this guide, I walk you step by step through registering for the Amazon Associates program. You'll learn how to create an affiliate link and integrate it into your profile. Afterwards, I'll introduce the most important alternatives, which often offer significantly more in terms of commission.
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Key Takeaways
- Amazon is the best-known and easiest entry-level program, because nearly everyone is already a customer there.
- Signing up for the Amazon Partner Network is free. Afterwards, you have to be approved as a partner.
- Commissions at Amazon are usually very low and are mainly worthwhile with high sales volumes.
- Specialized networks such as Awin, Rakuten Marketing, Adcell or Affilinet generally offer better commissions.
- Applications to providers like Udemy and direct inquiries to manufacturers are realistic paths to lucrative partnerships.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Find and Register for the Amazon Associates Program
Open your search engine and enter "Amazon Partnernet". The right page carries the addition "Amazon Partnerprogramm – Geld verdienen mit Links". There you can register for free. If you already have an Amazon account, simply log in with your existing credentials and then complete the details for your profile.
Step 2: Wait for Approval and Get to Know the Dashboard
After registration, your application is reviewed. Once you have been approved, your partner area opens with an overview of statistics, earnings and other features. Take your time to familiarize yourself with the layout. From here, you manage all of your links and keep track of the results.
Step 3: Understand the Tracking ID and Create Product Links
In the partner area, you'll find the section "Create partner links". Select the option "Product links" there. At the top of the form, you enter your tracking ID. This ID is crucial, because Amazon uses it to recognize which site or profile a purchase came through. If you run multiple websites or profiles, create a separate tracking ID for each channel. That way you keep your reporting neatly separated.
Step 4: Choose the Right Product
Enter the term for the product you want to promote in the search field. In the tutorial's example, it's an inflatable flamingo. Amazon then shows you numerous similar items. Look at the offers closely, compare appearance, reviews and popularity, and choose the product that best fits your target audience. In the video, the choice fell on an especially large flamingo.
Step 5: Customize and Shorten the Affiliate Link
For the chosen product, you'll find the option to customize the affiliate link. There you can also shorten the link. A short, clear link looks significantly more trustworthy in descriptions and stories than a long address with lots of parameters. Then copy the finished link to your clipboard.
Step 6: Insert the Link into Your Instagram Profile
In the Instagram app, open your profile and tap "Edit profile". The website field is located there. Paste in your affiliate link and save the changes. Additionally, add a short invitation to your bio, for example "Get your flamingo". Then your visitors know right away what to click on.
Step 7: Track Sales via the Link
As soon as visitors shop through your link, the purchase is recorded via the tracking ID. In the partner area, you can check whether your recommendation actually led to an order. The link in your profile acts as a so-called referral link. Check regularly that it is set up correctly, because only then will sales be reliably attributed.
Step 8: Assessing Realistic Commissions
Amazon often pays only a few euros per item sold. For the flamingo in the example, it would probably be one to two euros. That only pays off if a great many people buy through your link. Otherwise, the effort of building reach and creating content is often out of proportion to the return. Therefore, consider Amazon a starting point and look for programs with better terms in parallel.
Step 9: Using Specialized Affiliate Networks
Besides Amazon, there are affiliate networks that bundle the programs of many merchants. These include Awin, Rakuten Marketing, and Adcell. Affilinet is also one of the well-known providers. There you can apply for individual programs, which often pay significantly higher commissions than Amazon. Take your time comparing the offers before you decide on a network.
Step 10: Applying to Course Providers Like Udemy
If you are active in a niche where people like to learn something, for example with tips on WordPress, software, or coaching topics, you can promote online courses. Udemy offers an affiliate program for this. You apply there as an affiliate, and the team checks whether to accept you. If you are accepted, you can then sign up for various courses and create your personal links.
Step 11: Approaching Manufacturers and Companies Directly
Many manufacturers run their own affiliate programs. If you really use and appreciate a product, you can contact the company directly and ask about a collaboration. Describe how many people read your blog posts or follow your Instagram profile. With your own link for your community, your chances are good. As your reach grows, companies from areas such as hosting or software often even approach you on their own. Incidentally, many affiliate programs are nowadays self-managed, so you can also build such structures yourself with modern software.
Summary – Finding Affiliate Programs: How to Sign Up with Amazon and Others
The easiest way to get started with affiliate marketing is through the Amazon Associates program (Partnernet). You register for free, wait for approval, and then create product links with your tracking ID. You insert the finished link into your Instagram profile and track sales in the partner area. Since Amazon commissions are usually low, you should additionally use networks such as Awin, Rakuten Marketing, Adcell, or Affilinet. Applications to course providers like Udemy and direct inquiries to manufacturers also open up worthwhile opportunities for you.
FAQ
Is signing up for the Amazon Partnernet free?Yes, registration is free. However, afterwards you still have to be approved as a partner.
Why do I need a tracking ID?The tracking ID assigns purchases to your respective website or profile so that commissions are attributed correctly.
Is the Amazon affiliate program worthwhile for small profiles?It is well suited as a starting point, but it usually only pays off once many people buy through your link.
Which affiliate networks can I use?Well-known networks include Awin, Rakuten Marketing, Adcell, and Affilinet.
Can I become an affiliate partner without a large blog?Yes, even an Instagram profile with an engaged community can convince manufacturers and platforms.
How do I apply to Udemy?You apply through Udemy's affiliate program, and the team then checks whether to accept you.
