Are you wondering how to make money on Amazon?
In this guide, I will share with you 9 methods that work great right now (in 2019).
The best part?
All these methods are already working for many young entrepreneurs just like you.
In short: if you want to generate new income through Amazon, this guide is a must-read.
Ready? Then let’s dive right in!
Table of Contents
Method #1: Become an Amazon Affiliate
This is the first tip I have for you.
Becoming an Amazon Affiliate is a great way to generate extra revenue.
With the Amazon Affiliate Program, you can earn up to 10% in advertising fees by promoting Amazon’s products.
Do you want to know how you can achieve that?
Just keep reading.
How to become an Amazon affiliate
Many people wonder how they can become an Amazon affiliate.
Before I delve any further, I need to make one thing clear:
To become an Amazon Affiliate—or Amazon Associate, as Amazon calls it—you have to follow three steps:
If you want to become an affiliate for Amazon, you first need to join the Program.
To do that, you need to sign up to Amazon.
After the approval process, you can choose “from over a million products to advertise to your customers.”
People who become affiliates with Amazon usually have a following (i.e. social following or website traffic) already.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t join the Program if you don’t already have a huge following.
It just means that having a following will most likely help you earn more money by referring customers to Amazon.
What do you need to become an Amazon affiliate?
Amazon affiliates—or affiliate marketers as they are often called—are usually people who have a relevant audience to whom they can advertise products.
Becoming an Amazon affiliate is easy.
Making money from it is not.
Why?
There are two main reasons:
- You have to have a big audience that you influence
- Your audience has to be relevant and able to buy the products you advertise
A great example of an Amazon affiliate website is ThisIsWhyImBroke.com:
It’s a website that writes reviews on Amazon products and then prompts its visitors to visit Amazon to buy these products.
Of course, building and growing such a website is NOT easy.
Here at Startupbros we have a resource page full of the business tools we use every day.
There are affiliate links there and we make a small commission when someone clicks on the links and purchases one of the tools we recommend.
Luckily, there are other ways you can advertise Amazon products as an affiliate.
Can you become an Amazon affiliate without a website?
A big question arises here: can you become an Amazon affiliate without a website?
I’ll be honest; it’s difficult to become an Amazon affiliate without a website.
But, there is a solution.
Enter: YouTube
There are many ways to promote Amazon products on YouTube. For example:
- You can add a link in the description of your video, AND
- You can add a CTA (Call-to-action) video overlay
Here’s what an affiliate link in a video description looks like:
Every time someone clicks on your links and makes a purchase, you get a commission from Amazon.
Plain and simple.
Are you wondering how to become an Amazon affiliate on YouTube?
You have to create stellar content, plus you need to add value to your subscribers and viewers.
Let’s move on to the second method available.
Method #2: Work for Amazon Customer Service From Home
Can you work as Amazon customer service rep and work from home?
Then Amazon Customer Service might be an excellent choice for you.
Work at home for Amazon customer service
According to Amazon, a Customer Service Associate:
“Is a critical part of our mission to deliver timely, accurate and professional customer service to all Amazon customers.”
The good thing is that there are always job openings for Amazon Customer Service Associates:
How do you apply as a customer service representative?
Applying as a customer service representative at Amazon
All you need to do to apply is to find an opening that fits your needs or skills and hit the “Apply now” button:
Before you do, you might want to check reviews from people who worked as Amazon customer service reps.
On this site, you can find some reviews from people who have already worked for Amazon customer service from home:
Let’s move on to the next one!
Method #3: Make Money Driving for Amazon Flex
Did you know that you can make $18-$25 per hour driving for Amazon Flex?
This means that you can:
- Be your own boss
- Set your own schedule
- Have more time to chase your goals
Sounds good, right?
How do you become an Amazon Flex driver?
The process to become an Amazon Flex driver is simple.
All you need to do is visit the Amazon Flex page for your country and hit the “Get Started” button:
Next, you need to choose your preferred location or join the waitlist if there are no current openings in your city.
After you finish the application, you only need to wait until your application is reviewed.
I know you are wondering how much Amazon drivers get paid.
Simply put, the more you work, the more you earn.
So is there an average Amazon Flex salary?
The answer is a resounding “NO.”
The good thing about Amazon Flex is that you can do it on the side to support your dreams until you find something better.
Sound good?
Let’s move on to the next method!
Method #4: Join the Amazon Influencer Program
As you can see, more and more people are interested in influencers:
Why is that?
Because there is a natural tendency to follow others; often, people who have a huge following online.
Amazon knows that and is why it introduced its Influencer Program back in April 2017.
What is an Amazon Influencer?
An Amazon Influencer is a person who has joined the Amazon Influencer Program, has been accepted and is accepting a referral fee for promoting Amazon.
How do you qualify for Amazon Influencer program?
- You need to have an active account on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook
- You need to have a big following on one of the above social media
So, one of the main requirements to become an Amazon Influencer is that you have a big social following.
In fact, this is the very first thing Amazon sees when they review your application.
Simply put, this is the most important Amazon Influencer Program qualification.
How does the Amazon Influencer Program work?
According to Amazon, the Amazon Influencer Program:
“Allows you to get your own page on Amazon with an exclusive vanity URL to showcase the products you recommend to your followers.”
The more you promote your URL and the more your followers buy from Amazon, the more money you make.
It’s as simple as that.
Now, let me tell you how you can make money with Amazon Handmade.
Method #5: Apply to Amazon Handmade
The next tip I have for you is to apply to Amazon Handmade.
According to Amazon, with Amazon Handmade you can:
“Reach millions of customers.”
What is an Amazon Handmade seller?
An Amazon Handmade seller is a person who has joined the Amazon Handmade Program by Amazon and sells their own handcrafted goods online.
To apply for the program, all you need to do is fill in the Amazon Handmade application form, which looks like this:
The process is fairly simple, even for someone who is not business-savvy.
After your application is approved, you can start selling your products in the marketplace.
Is it worth it to sell on Amazon Handmade?
Opinions differ as to whether or not it is worth it to sell on Amazon Handmade.
To make a choice, you need to consider a variety of factors such as:
- The cost of selling on Amazon Handmade
- The overall expenses you’ll have on a monthly basis
- If you have any better alternatives/options (i.e. Etsy)
- What kind of products you’ll sell (i.e. pricing and profit margin)
How much does it cost to sell on Amazon Handmade?
The main Amazon Handmade fees include:
- A Professional Seller account: $39.99 per month
- A 12% referral fee on the total sales price (with a minimum of $1.00 fee)
On the plus side, Amazon doesn’t charge listing fees and your listings on Amazon Handmade never expire.
If you are an artisan, I highly recommend checking this option out.
Method #6: Self Publish a Book on Amazon
The next tip I have for you is to self publish a book on Amazon.
Now, you may be wondering:
How can I self publish a book on Amazon?
To self publish a book on Amazon, you first need to write a GREAT book.
What does that actually entail?
Either you need to be an expert in something or else be a great storyteller.
You also need to be ready to promote your book, as you won’t have an agent or publisher who will do it for you.
This means you’ll need to get out of your comfort zone and start “selling.”
Meredith Wild is a great example of a self published author who truly found success with her books:
Besides writing a great book, you also have to consider things like:
- Your “Look Inside” material
- End material
- eBook cover
- Book website
Last but not least, you have to be aware of the Amazon publishing submission guidelines and self publishing royalties.
If you are interested in Amazon self publishing, I highly recommend reading this guide to self publishing on Amazon.
How much does it cost to self publish a book on Amazon?
The cost of self publishing on Amazon is not high.
Roughly speaking, the costs you should consider are:
- The cost of the editor and proofreader
- Designer cost
- Promotional cost (i.e. Facebook Ads)
- Cost of building a website
If you want to know more about the cost of self publishing a book on Amazon, I highly recommend taking a look at this guide.
So, can you make money selling books on Amazon?
The answer is a definite “Yes.”
Selling books on Amazon may not be easy, but it’s something anyone can achieve if they’re willing to put in the work.
Method #7: Make Money With Amazon FBA
Amazon FBA stands for Fulfilment by Amazon.
It’s one of the most popular ways to make money on Amazon.
What is an Amazon FBA Business?
I’m sure you’ve purchased products from Amazon at least once or twice.
With Amazon FBA, you can become a third-party seller for Amazon.
What does that mean?
You can have Amazon look after your stock and ship it to your customers without you having to worry about anything.
Here is what an FBA product page looks like:
With Amazon FBA, you can sell your products directly on Amazon, just as with other marketplaces like eBay.
It’s a win-win situation for both you and Amazon.
The best part?
You don’t need to deal with customer service or returns.
In fact, customers can’t really tell the difference between buying from an Amazon FBA seller and buying directly from Amazon.
Is Amazon FBA really profitable?
I’ll be honest with you.
When Amazon first introduced its FBA Program back in 2006, it was groundbreaking.
Many eCommerce entrepreneurs made a lot of money selling on Amazon.
Does Amazon FBA still work?
While the answer is “Yes,” there are some factors to keep in mind.
Simply put, Amazon FBA isn’t as easy anymore.
You have to find amazing products and understand the needs of potential customers on a deeper level.
You also have to be able to market your product effectively by using:
- Your own properties
- Amazon Influencers, OR
- Amazon Associates
You can actually set up an Amazon FBA business pretty easily.
Some things to consider when it comes to starting an Amazon FBA business:
- Manufacturing and transportation costs
- FBA storage fees
- Shipping Costs for Amazon FBA
- Handling International Shipping
- Costs to sell with Amazon FBA
- Paying taxes on earnings
You can use this Amazon FBA calculator to evaluate your FBA business:
Before we move on to the next method, I recommend that you read Amazon FBA success stories and case studies before taking any action.
You can even jump into calls with people who have tried what you are planning to try.
All in all, do your research before making any investment or commitment toward setting up an Amazon FBA business.
Method #8: Create an Amazon Course
One of the best ways to make money with Amazon is by creating an online course for people who want to make money on Amazon.
Cool, right?
There are many such courses out there, mainly for Amazon FBA:
The best thing about these courses is that they don’t require your time or presence.
Once you create and upload a course like this, it can sell indefinitely.
This means that creating an Amazon course is a scalable way to make money.
Of course, creating such a course requires time and expertise, but once you do it, the outcome can be truly rewarding.
Here are some important steps to keep in mind:
- Find a topic that has many enthusiasts (i.e. Amazon FBA)
- Find all the courses on that topic
- Make a list of their pros and cons
- Create a better version of these courses
- Distribute it and promote it to online micro-communities
If you want to learn what it takes to create a good online course, make sure to check our proven courses on E-commerce.
Let’s move on to the last method.
Method #9: Make Money With Merch by Amazon
This is the last method I have for you.
Merch by Amazon is a great way to generate extra revenue right now.
Let’s dive a bit deeper.
What is Merch by Amazon?
Merch by Amazon helps you sell your designs as Amazon products with no upfront investment to you.
Cool, right?
Here is how Merch by Amazon works in 7 simple steps:
- Create a Merch by Amazon account
- Upload your artwork
- Set a list price
- Choose a product type and color
- Amazon prints what is sold
- Your products get to Amazon customer with Amazon Prime
- You earn royalties for every product sold
Here is an example of how a Merch by Amazon product looks like:
Even though there are many T-shirt printing solutions out there, Merch by Amazon is unique in many ways.
Not only you get in front of hundreds of millions of customers, but also you get to sell your products with no investment whatsoever.
Is Merch by Amazon free?
As stated in Amazon’s Merch by Amazon page: “there are no upfront investment or costs to you.”
So “yes,” Merch by Amazon is free as Amazon is paid only when your products are sold to customers.
Can you make money with Merch by Amazon?
You can definitely make money with Merch by Amazon.
The question is: how can you take the most out of it?
Merch by Amazon tips
Here are some tips I have for you:
1) Make sure your designs are solid
Let’s face it: no one is going to buy your products if the design isn’t good.
This means that you have to try really hard to make a difference.
To do that, you have to find some Merch by Amazon best sellers and compare your designs to them:
Just type “merch by Amazon best sellers” and you are ready to go.
This way, you’ll know if you have chances of making a difference.
2) Find what customers are looking for
Before you apply for a Merch by Amazon account, you’d want to take a look at what Amazon visitors are looking for.
To do that, you can use a tool like Keywords Everywhere.
Once you install the Chrome Extension, you’ll be able to see how many monthly searches a keyword have on Amazon:
It doesn’t work every time, but it will give you an idea of what people search for and want.
3) Work hard on your Merch by Amazon approval
Because of the overwhelming response from interested content creators, Merch by Amazon has an invite-only system.
So to be considered, you have to fill in an application form through your Amazon account.
My suggestion here is to look for online communities and Merch by Amazon forums with tips and advice on how to get accepted.
One of the best online communities around Merch by Amazon is on Reddit.
Merch by Amazon Reddit
Here is how Merch by Amazon subreddit looks like:
It is the “number #1 sub for Merch by Amazon discussion.”
Inside, you’ll find useful information about Merch by Amazon.
So I highly recommend that you join the community before sending an application on Amazon.
Before You Go!
So there you have it.
Now you know what the best ways are to make money on Amazon in 2019.
Before I leave you, I want to be very clear about something:
There are no silver bullets or quick wins here.
To make money on Amazon—or any other platform—you need to be willing to work hard.
Work hard and results will come.
Now I turn it over to you.
Which of these strategies are you going to use first? Are you going to create an Amazon course, or maybe you want to become an Amazon Associate?
Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below!
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Thank you so for your detailed information on the Amazon platform!!!. I am soooo interested in the Merch by Amazon opportunity but I am not an artist by all means but with your recommendations and info I know I can do this!! I have a yard sale site non Face Book with over 16,000 people. So I was wondering if that counts as having a large following or not like you described as well?? I have 6 other Facebook groups also of different sorts.
Of Not as many people in those groups tho. Any info would be appreciated as well. Thank you again!! Love it !! ❣️
Thank you, for telling it straight. I’m just getting into this and I am in love with all the potential of it. Not just the potential of making allot of money ,it’s actually more the flexibility of it. I am a little daunted by the tech side of this, I am probably more suited for the homemade category. Today I learned I don’t even know all the things I don’t know.
Hey Christopher, thank you so much for checking out the article! There is so much potential in this business and I know it’s possible for anyone to start. We cover every single thing you need to know step by step to start a physical product business in our Amazon course. I would also love to answer any questions you might have about the process and maybe help you not feel overwhelmed. You can email me will@startupbros(dot)com
Very good read, and your approach to make sure readers know Amazon isn’t a get rich quick scheme is refreshing.
Hey Michael, thanks for checking out the article! Yea it might be hard but it not impossible, I like being as honest as possible.