Make Extra Income with Affiliate Marketing: Amazon, eBay, Shopify & TikTok

Earn extra income with affiliate marketing on Amazon, eBay, Shopify & TikTok

A plain-English breakdown of the four most popular affiliate programs: how each one pays, who it's best for, and exactly where to sign up — all free to join.

Disclosure: This page contains links to affiliate program sign-up pages. We may earn a commission from some links at no cost to you. Learn more.

How affiliate marketing works

You recommend a product or service with a special tracking link. When someone clicks and buys (or signs up), the company pays you a commission. No inventory, no shipping, no customer service.

Pick a niche

Choose a topic you know — fitness, tech, home, beauty, business — so your recommendations are genuine.

Join a program

Apply to one or more of the free programs below and get your unique tracking links.

Create helpful content

Reviews, comparisons, tutorials and short videos that solve real problems for your audience.

Earn commissions

Get paid when your audience buys through your links. Reinvest, test and scale what works.

Quick comparison

Figures are typical ranges for the US programs and can change at any time — always confirm on each official site.

Program	How you earn	Typical commission	Cookie	Best for
Amazon Associates	% of product sales	~1–20% by category	24 hours	Blogs, review sites, YouTube
eBay Partner Network	% of sales (capped)	~1–4% by category	24 hours	Collectibles, resale niches
Shopify Affiliate	Flat bounty per new paid merchant	Up to $150 per referral	30 days	Business & e-commerce audiences
TikTok Shop Affiliate	% set by each seller	Often 10–30%	In-app	Short-form video creators

The 4 programs explained

Everything you need to decide where to start — and the official link to apply.

Amazon Associates

Amazon Associates is Amazon's official affiliate program and the most popular starting point for beginners. You create tracking links for almost any product sold on Amazon and earn a percentage when a visitor buys through your link. Because shoppers already trust Amazon, conversion rates are typically strong.

Commission~1% to 20% by category

Cookie window24 hours

Cost to joinFree

Best forBlogs, review sites, YouTube, niche sites

How it works

Apply with your website, blog or social profile
Generate links with SiteStripe or the Associates dashboard
Publish honest product reviews, comparisons and buying guides
Earn on qualifying purchases made within 24 hours of the click

Pros

Massive catalog — something for every niche
High buyer trust and conversion
You also earn on other items bought in the same visit (rules apply)

Cons

Low rates in popular categories like electronics and grocery
Short 24-hour cookie
Need 3 qualifying sales within the first 180 days to stay approved
Rates can change with little notice

Join Amazon Associates →Official sign-up page · affiliate-program.amazon.com

eBay Partner Network

The eBay Partner Network (EPN) pays you when people you refer buy on eBay. It works well for collectibles, used and refurbished goods, auto parts, sneakers, trading cards and other niches where eBay is the go-to marketplace.

Commission~1% to 4% by category

Cookie window24 hours

Cost to joinFree

Best forCollectibles, resale, auto parts, deal sites

How it works

Sign in with an eBay account and complete the EPN application
Create campaigns to track different sites or channels
Build links to listings, searches or categories
Earn on qualifying purchases (per-item caps apply by category)

Pros

Fast approval for most applicants
Great for unique, used and hard-to-find items
Flexible link building and campaign tracking

Cons

Modest percentage rates
Per-transaction commission caps
Short cookie window

Join eBay Partner Network →Official sign-up page · partnernetwork.ebay.com

Shopify Affiliate Program

Instead of selling products, the Shopify Affiliate Program pays you for referring new merchants who open a paid Shopify store. If your audience includes entrepreneurs, side-hustlers or e-commerce learners, a single referral can be worth far more than dozens of retail product sales.

CommissionFlat bounty — up to $150 per eligible paid plan referral

Cookie window30 days

Cost to joinFree (application reviewed)

Best forBusiness blogs, course creators, e-commerce YouTube

How it works

Apply with a content platform focused on business or e-commerce
Get approved and receive your referral links
Teach people how to launch an online store (tutorials, reviews, case studies)
Earn a bounty when a referral upgrades to an eligible paid plan

Pros

High payout per conversion
Longer 30-day referral window
Educational content converts well

Cons

Stricter approval — you need an established audience
Narrower audience (aspiring store owners only)
One-time bounty, not recurring

Apply to Shopify Affiliates →Official sign-up page · www.shopify.com/affiliates

TikTok Shop Affiliate

TikTok Shop's affiliate program lets creators tag products directly in short videos and livestreams. Viewers can buy without leaving the app, and you earn a commission set by each seller. It's one of the fastest-growing ways for creators to monetize — even with a smaller following.

CommissionSet by each seller — often 10% to 30%

Requirements (US)18+, US-based, 1,000+ followers

Cost to joinFree

Best forShort-form video creators and live sellers

How it works

Grow a personal TikTok account to the required follower count
Apply in the TikTok Shop Creator Center
Browse the affiliate marketplace and request free samples
Post shoppable videos/LIVEs with product tags and disclose the partnership

Pros

Higher commissions than most retail programs
In-app checkout means less friction
Free product samples from many sellers

Cons

Follower and eligibility requirements
Results depend heavily on content and the algorithm
Availability and rules vary by country

Open TikTok Shop Creator Center →Official sign-up page · affiliate-us.tiktok.com

Tips to get your first commissions

What separates people who earn from people who quit after a month.

Start with one platform

Master one traffic source (a blog, YouTube or TikTok) before spreading yourself thin.

Answer buying questions

"Best X for Y", "X vs Y" and "Is X worth it?" content attracts people ready to buy.

Always disclose

The FTC requires a clear disclosure whenever you use affiliate links. It also builds trust.

Diversify programs

Rates change. Combining two or more programs protects your income from a single policy update.

Be honest

Only recommend products you'd stand behind. Trust is what drives long-term conversions.

Track everything

Use separate tracking IDs or campaigns per page or channel to see what actually earns.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a website to become an affiliate?

Not always. Amazon and eBay accept many social channels, and TikTok Shop is entirely in-app. Shopify generally expects an established content platform. A website does make you more independent of any one social network.

How much money can I make?

It varies widely. Most beginners earn little in the first months while they build traffic. Income depends on your niche, audience size, content quality and the commission rates of the products you promote. See our Earnings Disclaimer.

Is it free to join these programs?

Yes. Amazon Associates, eBay Partner Network, the Shopify Affiliate Program and TikTok Shop Affiliate are all free to join. Be cautious of anyone charging you to "get approved".

Can I join from outside the United States?

Amazon and eBay run programs in many countries. Shopify accepts international affiliates. TikTok Shop availability depends on your country. Check each official site for your region.

How do I get paid?

Each program pays on its own schedule, usually by direct deposit, PayPal or gift card, once you reach the minimum payout threshold.