Amazon.com Associates Central - Resource Center - The Amazon Bounty Program 101: A Guide for Associates

You are well aware of the win-win nature of being an Amazon Associate. The vast Amazon product catalog and robust affiliate system make sharing your favorite products a snap—and make shopping those recommendations a snap for your audience. Plus, you earn commissions on qualifying sales!

Definitely max out your opportunities with product recommendations —optimize your website, create great Idea Lists, plan out your promotions, refine your strategy as you go—but don’t stop there! There is much more to offer and gain when it comes to Amazon affiliate opportunities. Say hello to the Amazon Bounty Program! Got questions? We’ve got answers.

What is it?

A simple way to think about the bounty program is that it’s essentially the same setup as product recommendations—but instead of products, it’s for Amazon services and programs. And instead of commissions on product sales, you earn fixed commissions—“bounties”—on certain actions taken on specific offers, such as activating a free trial or signing up for a program. So basically, the bounty program is an additional way to earn affiliate income by suggesting and driving actions on Amazon services and programs your readers may be interested in.

What are the “services and programs”?

Think Audible. Think Amazon Music. Think Amazon Prime. Think the wide world of cool things you can access through Amazon that aren’t physical products. The bounty program includes tons of promotions and incentives on beloved offerings like these and many more. The promotions are both limited-time and evergreen, so you’ll always have fresh and relevant deals to share. Check often to see what’s available!

Why should I be excited about it?

Three reasons (that are probably already obvious but just in case):

It’s another way to be a reliable resource to your audience through recommending valuable and interesting programs and services.
It’s another fruitful way to earn affiliate income.
It’s a unique way to spark conversation on social media. Get acquainted with eligible Amazon Programs and Services and weave them into the conversation with your followers. Beyond recommending a product, a bounty can be a tool you use on a recurring basis.

How can I get started with (or get better at) promoting bounties?

Explore the Bounty Program page on Associates Central: Check out the Integration Tools & Tips section, and get yourself up to speed on the basics.
Browse available bounties: Take a look through the possibilities to get a feel for what you can expect from the program.
Select offers based on your topics and your audience’s interests: Choose the programs and services you know will fit well with your brand and content, and of course, that your audience will find intriguing. Tip: It may help to filter options by category or date.
Learn the display and linking how-tos: It’s as simple as clicking the Get Banner or Get Link button and following the prompts. This will feel familiar, as it’s a similar experience to product promotions.
Add banners and links to existing content: You’re probably already thinking of articles or places that make sense for your chosen offers—add them now!
Work bounty promotions into your editorial and social media planning: As you map out content plans, make note of opportunities to naturally present bounty offers; you could even plan some pieces around the programs/services themselves. The built-in link shortener (accessible via the Get Link button) is great for generating shareable links for social media!
Establish a routine for checking for new offers: As mentioned, deals are added and updated constantly, so make a bounties check-in part of your regular affiliate to-do list.
Refine your approach based on reporting: You can find out how you’re doing with bounties just as you would for earnings on product recommendations. Review often and adjust accordingly!

What are some examples of good ways to work in bounty offers?

Here’s a general framework for where and what to feature for bounty promotions.

Where: Headers, and footers on your site
What: Banners for evergreen and brand-relevant offers

Where: Blog articles and dynamic sidebars, headers, and footers
What: Banners or in-line display ads or text links for contextually relevant offers

Where: Social media posts
What: Shortened links for limited-time offers

You’re all set! With the info above, you’ve got everything you need to be successful with the Amazon Bounty Program. Here’s to more great offers for your community, and more great earning opportunities for you!