How to Make Money Online with Amazon - BloggersBond
What You'll Learn: How to Make Money Online with Amazon
Amazon isn't just a shopping site. It's a massive money-making machine with multiple ways to earn. Whether you want to sell physical products, publish books, or earn commissions from home, Amazon has a method for you. This guide shows 9 beginner-friendly ways to start making money with Amazon today, with zero investment options available.
- 9 Amazon money-making methods (including zero-cost options)
- Step-by-step instructions for absolute beginners
- Realistic earnings (month 1: $50-200, month 6: $500-3000)
- 30-day action plan for Amazon beginners
Amazon Affiliate Marketing (Amazon Associates)
What it is: Get paid commissions when people buy products through your unique affiliate links. You don't need a website – share links on social media, Pinterest, or WhatsApp groups.
Step-by-Step:
- Sign up free at Amazon Associates
- Choose products you actually like (under $20 is best for beginners)
- Get your unique affiliate link from the product page
- Share on social media: "Found this amazing water bottle – keeps ice cold for 12 hours! Link below if interested"
- Post on Pinterest with a photo and link
- Earn 1-10% commission on every sale
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP – Publish eBooks)
What it is: Write and publish eBooks on Amazon. No inventory, no shipping. You earn 70% royalty on sales. You don't need to be a professional writer – use AI tools or publish low-content books like journals and planners.
Step-by-Step:
- Sign up free at KDP.amazon.com
- Option A: Write a short eBook (30 pages) using ChatGPT. "50 Ways to Save Money" or "Beginner's Guide to Houseplants"
- Option B: Create a low-content book like a gratitude journal or password log
- Design cover using Canva (free)
- Upload manuscript and cover to KDP
- Set price at $2.99 – you earn about $2 per sale
Sell Used Books (Amazon FBA – Small scale)
What it is: Find used books at garage sales, thrift stores, or library sales. Sell them on Amazon FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon). Amazon stores and ships them for you.
Step-by-Step:
- Download Amazon Seller app on your phone (free)
- Go to thrift stores, library sales, garage sales
- Scan book barcodes with the app – it shows selling price
- If selling price is $10+ and rank is under 1 million, buy it
- List on Amazon, send books to Amazon warehouse
- Amazon stores, ships, and handles customer service
Amazon Merch on Demand (Print on Demand)
What it is: Upload t-shirt designs to Amazon. They print and ship when someone buys. No inventory, no upfront cost. Amazon handles everything.
Step-by-Step:
- Apply at merch.amazon.com (free, but waitlist can take weeks)
- While waiting, create designs using Canva or Leonardo.ai
- Start with simple text designs: "Cat Mom", "Gym Life", "Coffee First"
- Once approved, upload 10 designs to start
- Amazon shows your t-shirts to millions of shoppers
- Earn $3-8 per t-shirt sold
Retail Arbitrage (Buy Low, Sell High on Amazon)
What it is: Find discounted products at stores like Walmart, Target, or clearance racks. Sell them for profit on Amazon. Amazon handles shipping (FBA).
Step-by-Step:
- Download Amazon Seller app
- Visit clearance sections at Walmart, Target, Home Depot, CVS
- Scan barcodes with app – check selling price and rank
- If you can buy for $5 and sell for $15 (after fees), buy it
- Send products to Amazon warehouse (free shipping with FBA)
- Amazon stores, ships, and handles returns
Amazon Influencer Program (Video Reviews)
What it is: Create short video reviews of products you own. Amazon pays you commissions when people watch your videos and buy. No followers needed – Amazon shows your videos on product pages.
Step-by-Step:
- Sign up for Amazon Influencer Program (free, requires social media account)
- Get approved (usually within 1 week)
- Choose 10 products you own (phone, coffee maker, headphones)
- Record 30-60 second videos using your phone
- "Hey, I love this water bottle because it keeps ice cold for 12 hours. Link below."
- Amazon places your videos on product pages
- Earn commissions when people buy after watching your video
Mechanical Turk (MTurk – Microtasks)
What it is: Amazon's microtask platform. Get paid for small tasks: data entry, surveys, image categorization, content moderation. No skills needed.
Step-by-Step:
- Sign up at mturk.com (free, approval takes 1-2 days)
- Complete your profile
- Look for HITs (tasks) paying $0.50-5 each
- Start with data entry or surveys – they're easiest
- Complete 10 tasks daily (2-3 hours)
- Withdraw earnings to Amazon gift card or bank account
Amazon Handmade (Sell Crafts You Make)
What it is: Sell handmade crafts, jewelry, candles, art, or personalized items on Amazon Handmade. No monthly fee – Amazon charges a referral fee only when you sell.
Step-by-Step:
- Apply at Amazon Handmade (free application)
- Take clear photos of your products (use natural lighting)
- List each product with detailed description
- Price your items – check similar products for pricing ideas
- When someone buys, you ship directly to customer
- Or use FBA – Amazon stores and ships for you (extra fee)
Amazon Audible (Narrate Audiobooks)
What it is: Narrate audiobooks for Amazon's Audible platform. You don't need a professional studio – a quiet room and a USB microphone work. Authors pay you to narrate their books.
Step-by-Step:
- Sign up at acx.com (Amazon's audiobook platform)
- Create a profile with a voice sample (30 seconds)
- Browse books needing narrators (thousands available)
- Audition for books you like (record 2-3 pages)
- Get hired, narrate the book using free software (Audacity)
- Earn $100-500 per finished hour or 20% royalty
Monthly Earnings Expectations for Amazon Methods
| Method | Startup Cost | Expected Month 1 | Expected Month 6 | Passive Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $0-30 | $100-500 | Low | |
| $0 | $0-20 | $200-800 | High | |
| $20-50 | $100-200 | $500-2000 | Medium | |
| $0 | $0-50 | $200-800 | High | |
| $50-100 | $200-400 | $1000-3000 | Low | |
| $0 | $20-50 | $200-800 | High | |
| $0 | $50-200 | $100-500 | Low | |
| $0 | $50-200 | $500-2000 | Medium | |
| $0 | $100-300 | $1000-3000 | Medium |
30-Day Action Plan for Amazon Beginners
- Week 1 (Setup): Sign up for Amazon Associates (free) and KDP (free). Create 3 affiliate social media posts. Publish 1 low-content journal on KDP.
- Week 2 (First Sales): Add 10 more affiliate links to Pinterest. Create 2 more KDP books (coloring books or planners). Aim for first sale.
- Week 3 (Expand): Apply for Merch on Demand. Create 5 t-shirt designs. Go to thrift store and scan 50 books – buy the best 5.
- Week 4 (Scale): Send your books to Amazon FBA. Create 10 influencer videos. Total listings: 20 affiliate links, 5 KDP books, 5 FBA products.
Beginner tip: Start with Amazon Associates (zero cost) or KDP (zero cost). Both have no risk and can generate passive income.
Scan products in stores – shows profit and rank
Keyword research for Kindle books (paid, but free trial)
Product research tool (paid – for serious sellers)
Amazon Income Tracker (Print or Copy)
| Date | Method | Products/Listings | Sales | Revenue | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Track each method separately to see what works best | |||||
Tip: Amazon pays out 30-60 days after sale. Keep track of pending payments.
Troubleshooting Guide - "My Amazon Income Isn't Growing"
- No affiliate sales? Share links where people actually shop – Pinterest groups, Reddit threads, niche Facebook groups. Don't just post on your personal page.
- KDP books not selling? Your cover or keywords need work. Search for similar books and copy what they do. Improve cover image.
- FBA products not selling? Your price is too high or rank is bad. Lower price by $1-2 to get first sales and reviews.
- Feeling stuck? Pick ONE method and master it. Don't try all 9 at once. Amazon Associates is easiest to start.
Amazon Success Roadmap (Realistic Timeline)
Earn $50-200. Learn Amazon Associates and KDP. Get first sales.
Earn $200-800. Add FBA or Merch. Build recurring income.
Earn $800-2000. Scale what works. Outsource design or research.
Earn $2000-5000+ monthly. Passive income from KDP, Merch, and affiliate links.
This Week's Amazon Challenge for Beginners
Challenge: Sign up for Amazon Associates. Choose 5 products you own and love. Create 5 Pinterest pins (use Canva free) with your affiliate links. Post 1 pin per day this week.
🔥 Extra credit: Publish 1 low-content journal on KDP (gratitude journal or budget tracker). Takes 1 hour, sells for years.
Frequently Asked Questions about Amazon Money Making
Do I need a lot of money to start selling on Amazon?
No. Amazon Associates, KDP, Merch on Demand, MTurk, and Influencer Program all cost $0 to start. Only FBA and retail arbitrage need $50-100 to begin.
What's the fastest way to make money on Amazon?
Amazon Associates (affiliate marketing) and MTurk (microtasks). Both can earn you money within 1-2 weeks with zero investment.
Can I do this from outside the US?
Yes. Amazon Associates and KDP work worldwide. FBA requires US address but there are services that provide one. MTurk has limited availability outside US.
How much can I realistically earn in my first month?
With consistent effort (10 hours/week): $100-300 from a combination of Associates, KDP, and MTurk. Don't expect thousands immediately.
Which method is most passive?
KDP (Kindle books) and Merch on Demand. Create once, sell forever. After initial work, they generate income with no ongoing effort.
Your Action Plan - Start with Amazon Today (No Investment Needed)
- Sign up for Amazon Associates right now (free, takes 5 minutes)
- Find 3 products you already own and love
- Get your affiliate links and share them on your social media
- Tomorrow, sign up for KDP and create a simple journal (takes 1 hour)
- Publish it and wait for your first sale
Remember for beginners: You don't need inventory, a warehouse, or thousands of dollars. Start with the free methods. Your first Amazon commission or book sale will prove that this works. Then scale from there.