You Made Your First Three Amazon Associate Sales - Now What?

No Quick Fix To Making Those First Three Sales

Hey just a quick shout out to the brand newbie bloggers – if you’re here from Google or Pinterest because you’re desperately trying to make those first three sales before your 180 day window closes and scouring the internet for information I’m so sorry to have to tell you – there really is no quick fix.

I know all the creators you’re watching on YouTube make it seem like it’s going to be easy but unless you already have a following on social media etc when you start your blog it’s going to be really REALLY hard. And most of us have to do it a couple of times (and go back and fix ALL the links etc every time) so don’t feel so bad. No course or magic solution I’m afraid, just keep writing good solid clickable content and you WILL get there.

And check out THIS POST for tips on how to supercharge your affiliate sales in your first year.

AAWP is the best WordPress Plugin for Amazon Affiliates

A Beginner’s Guide to Enhancing Your Affiliate Marketing Strategy with AAWP

Congratulations! You’ve crossed an essential milestone in your affiliate marketing journey by making your first three Amazon Associate affiliate sales. Not only is this a fantastic achievement, but it also opens up new opportunities for you as a blogger, such as gaining access to Amazon’s API. With this tool at your disposal, you can significantly enhance the clickability of your posts and, in turn, potentially increase your affiliate earnings.

However, you may be wondering: What’s the best way to leverage this new capability? The answer lies in using an affiliate plugin to streamline your process, manage your links, and make your content more appealing to your readers. While there are many options out there, one plugin stands out for its affordability, usability, and reliability—AAWP (Amazon Affiliate WordPress Plugin). This is the plugin I use on my site to make creating lists and using the product photos easier. You can check it out in the link below from the AAWP website:

[ad] check out the aawp plugin for affiliate links!

So let’s get in to why I chose AAWP and why I think it is THE ideal choice for new bloggers, how it can simplify your affiliate marketing efforts, and why investing in a tool like AAWP is a smart move as you grow your blog.

AAWP can generate comparison tables for your recommendations (image courtesy of AAWP)

The Manual Embedding Challenge: Why Plugins Are Essential

As a new blogger, it’s entirely possible to start your affiliate marketing journey by manually embedding links into your posts. Initially, this approach works fine. You might only have a few posts, so managing links and ensuring they are correct seems manageable. However, as your blog grows, this task can quickly become overwhelming.

Here are a few challenges you might face with manual link embedding:

• Tracking Links: As the number of posts increases, keeping track of all your affiliate links becomes difficult. You may forget where you’ve placed links or which products you’ve linked to in the past.

• Link Maintenance: Over time, product links can change, products can go out of stock, or Amazon can alter their URLs. Manually checking and updating each link across all your posts is time-consuming and error-prone.

• Legal Compliance: Amazon has strict guidelines for how their affiliate links must be displayed, including proper disclosure and correct use of images and pricing information. Staying compliant without automated tools can be a challenge.

At some point, perhaps after you’ve written your first 10 blog posts, you’ll likely find that managing these aspects manually is no longer sustainable. This is where affiliate plugins come in, providing automation, ease of use, and peace of mind.

AAWP can generate Data Fields for your recommended products. (image courtesy of AAWP)

Beware of Expensive Plugins: Start with AAWP

It’s important to acknowledge that there are a plethora of affiliate plugins available, each promising to make your blogging life easier. However, it’s also worth noting that many of these tools come with hefty price tags. Some successful bloggers—who have been in the game for years and make substantial incomes from affiliate marketing (or just teaching about it – watch out for the those!) —might recommend these expensive tools.

While these plugins might be effective, they’re often overkill for someone just starting out. Remember, your scenario is likely different from those seasoned bloggers. You’re at the beginning of your journey, and while you should aim for long-term sustainability, splurging on high-end tools might not be necessary—or wise—at this stage.

This is where AAWP shines. It’s a plugin designed to give you everything you need to succeed in affiliate marketing without breaking the bank. It’s the perfect balance of functionality, usability, and cost, making it the go-to choice for new bloggers.

AAWP generates clickable product boxes for your recommended products. (image courtesy of AAWP)

Why AAWP is the Best Affiliate Plugin for New Bloggers

1. Affordability

For new bloggers, budget is often a concern. It was for me. AAWP offers pricing plans that are accessible, even if you’re just starting out. You don’t need to invest hundreds of dollars upfront. AAWP provides you with a cost-effective way to get started with affiliate marketing, ensuring you can grow your blog without financial strain.

2. User-Friendly Interface

One of AAWP’s strongest selling points is its user-friendly interface. Even if you’re not a tech-savvy individual, you’ll find that setting up and using AAWP is straightforward. The plugin integrates seamlessly with WordPress, and its intuitive design means you can start enhancing your posts right away without a steep learning curve.

3. Dynamic Product Displays

AAWP allows you to create dynamic product displays that can significantly improve the visual appeal of your posts. These displays are customizable and can include product images, descriptions, prices, and more. They are designed to be responsive, meaning they look great on all devices, from desktops to mobile phones. The more attractive and engaging your content is, the higher the chances that your readers will click on your affiliate links.

4. Automatic Updates and Link Management

One of the biggest headaches for affiliate marketers is managing links. AAWP automatically updates product information, such as pricing and availability, ensuring your links are always accurate. This feature alone can save you countless hours and help you avoid potential issues with outdated or broken links. Additionally, if a product becomes unavailable, AAWP can automatically remove the link or suggest an alternative, keeping your content fresh and relevant.

5. Legal Compliance

Staying compliant with Amazon’s affiliate guidelines is crucial. AAWP helps you adhere to these rules by automatically including the necessary disclosures and ensuring that your product data (like prices) is up-to-date and compliant. This reduces the risk of inadvertently violating Amazon’s policies, which could result in losing your affiliate account.

6. SEO Benefits

AAWP not only helps you with link management but also enhances your site’s SEO. By using shortcodes and customizing your affiliate links, you can improve the way search engines index your pages. Better SEO means more organic traffic, which can translate to higher affiliate sales over time.

AAWP can generate New Releases lists. (image courtesy of AAWP)

Pricing Plans: AAWP Offers Flexibility

AAWP offers several pricing plans, making it accessible no matter what stage your blog is at. Here’s a quick overview of their pricing options:

• Personal Plan: This plan is ideal for one website. It’s the most affordable option, perfect for those who are just getting started. This is the plan I’m signed up for and it’s working great for me.

• Plus Plan: If you have multiple websites or plan to expand in the future, the Plus plan allows you to use AAWP on up to three sites.

• Pro Plan: For more established bloggers or those who manage several sites, the Pro plan offers support for up to 10 websites.

Each plan includes all of AAWP’s core features, so even with the basic plan, you’re not missing out on any essential tools. You can always upgrade as your blog grows and your needs evolve.

How AAWP Keeps You Legally Compliant

AAWP takes the guesswork out of legal compliance, particularly when it comes to Amazon’s strict affiliate marketing rules. The plugin automatically handles the following:

• Price Updates: Amazon requires that affiliate sites display accurate and up-to-date pricing. AAWP fetches the latest product prices directly from Amazon, ensuring you remain compliant.

• Proper Disclosures: Amazon mandates that affiliates disclose their relationship with the retailer. AAWP allows you to easily insert these disclosures into your posts.

• Image Compliance: Using unauthorized images can get your affiliate account banned. AAWP only uses images directly from Amazon’s API, ensuring they are always compliant with Amazon’s terms of service.

AAWP can generate Bestseller Lists for your recommendations. — AAWP can generate Bestseller Lists for your recommendations (image courtesy of AAWP).

Other Advantages of Using AAWP

In addition to the features mentioned above, AAWP offers several other advantages that make it the ideal plugin for new bloggers:

• Shortcodes and Widgets: AAWP comes with a range of shortcodes and widgets that allow you to customize how and where you display your affiliate links. This flexibility ensures that you can tailor your content to meet the needs of your audience.

• Geotargeting: AAWP supports Amazon’s OneLink, which allows you to redirect international visitors to their respective Amazon stores. This feature ensures that you don’t miss out on potential sales from global traffic.

• Increased Click-Through Rates: The attractive product displays and tables you can create with AAWP are designed to increase click-through rates, helping you generate more affiliate sales.

The Takeaway – you can’t afford not to have AAWP!

In the early stages of blogging, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the myriad of tools and plugins available, especially when it comes to affiliate marketing. However, investing in the right tools—like AAWP—can set the foundation for long-term success without the hefty price tag.

While it’s possible to go it alone and invest hours of time a week going through embedding links or checking old links still work etc, using a plugin like AAWP simplifies the process, saves you time, and helps you stay compliant with Amazon’s rules. This allows you to focus on what really matters: creating valuable content, driving traffic to your blog and growing your audience.

So, if you’re looking for a reliable, affordable, and easy-to-use affiliate plugin, AAWP is the way to go. It’s the perfect tool to help you take your affiliate marketing efforts to the next level.

Ready to get started with AAWP? Check out my link below from the AAWP website: