How to Create an Amazon Affiliate Link

Amazon Associates links let you earn commissions when someone purchases through your link. Add your affiliate tag to any Amazon product URL to track referrals.

Basic Affiliate Link

Creating an Amazon affiliate link is straightforward. You take any Amazon product URL and add your affiliate tag as a query parameter. When someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.

<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N5WRWNW?tag=yourtag-20">
  Check Price on Amazon
</a>

This is the cleanest format for affiliate links. The /dp/ path with just the ASIN creates a short, professional-looking URL that is easy to share.

URL Format Options

Amazon accepts your affiliate tag on several URL formats. The table below shows your options and when to use each format.

Search result links are useful when you want to recommend a category rather than a specific product. The customer sees search results with your tag attached to any product they select.

Finding the ASIN

Every product on Amazon has a unique 10-character identifier called the ASIN. You need this identifier to create clean affiliate links that will not break when Amazon changes their URL structure.

The ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) is a 10-character product ID:

The ASIN always follows /dp/ or /gp/product/ in the URL. Everything else, including product names and referral codes, can be stripped out for cleaner links.

Building Links Dynamically

When managing many affiliate links or integrating with a content management system, you need a programmatic way to generate URLs. These functions handle the link construction for you.

function createAmazonAffiliateLink(options) {
  const { asin, tag, marketplace = 'com' } = options;

  return `https://www.amazon.${marketplace}/dp/${asin}?tag=${tag}`;
}

// Usage
const link = createAmazonAffiliateLink({
  asin: 'B08N5WRWNW',
  tag: 'mysite-20'
});

// For search links
function createAmazonSearchLink(options) {
  const { keyword, tag, marketplace = 'com' } = options;

  const url = new URL(`https://www.amazon.${marketplace}/s`);
  url.searchParams.set('k', keyword);
  url.searchParams.set('tag', tag);

  return url.toString();
}

const searchLink = createAmazonSearchLink({
  keyword: 'wireless headphones',
  tag: 'mysite-20'
});

The marketplace parameter defaults to the US store but can be changed for international Amazon sites. Use these functions in your publishing workflow to ensure consistent affiliate tagging.

International Marketplaces

Amazon operates separate affiliate programs for each country. If your audience is international, you need accounts in multiple marketplaces to earn commissions from all your readers.

React Component

If you are building a website with React, this component simplifies creating affiliate links with proper attributes for SEO compliance and security.

interface AmazonLinkProps {
  asin: string;
  tag: string;
  marketplace?: string;
  children: React.ReactNode;
  className?: string;
}

function AmazonLink({
  asin,
  tag,
  marketplace = 'com',
  children,
  className
}: AmazonLinkProps) {
  const href = `https://www.amazon.${marketplace}/dp/${asin}?tag=${tag}`;

  return (
    <a
      href={href}
      target="_blank"
      rel="noopener noreferrer sponsored"
      className={className}
    >
      {children}
    </a>
  );
}

// Usage
<AmazonLink asin="B08N5WRWNW" tag="mysite-20">
  Check Price on Amazon
</AmazonLink>

The component includes rel="sponsored" automatically, which is required for affiliate links under Google's guidelines. The noopener noreferrer attributes provide security when opening external links.

FTC Disclosure Requirements

The Federal Trade Commission requires you to clearly disclose your affiliate relationships to readers. Failure to disclose can result in penalties and damage your credibility with your audience.

The FTC requires clear disclosure of affiliate relationships:

<!-- Near your affiliate links -->
<p class="affiliate-disclosure">
  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
</p>

<!-- Or more detailed -->
<p class="affiliate-disclosure">
  This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links,
  I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
</p>

Place your disclosure near the affiliate links, not buried in a footer. The standard Amazon disclosure text is accepted by the FTC and Amazon's Associates Program.

Best Practices

Following these practices keeps your account in good standing with Amazon and helps you build trust with your audience. Violating Amazon's terms can result in account termination.

With these fundamentals in place, you can build a sustainable affiliate revenue stream. The FAQ below addresses common questions about the Amazon Associates Program.

Try the URL Builder

Use our Amazon Product template to build affiliate links interactively.