I’m thinking about starting as an Amazon affiliate to promote products I love, but I’m wondering if I absolutely need my own website to get approved and make commissions - could I use social media profiles like Instagram or YouTube instead, or is a full website a must-have for success?
You don’t need a standalone website—Amazon Associates will approve you with eligible social channels (e.g., a YouTube channel, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook Page) as long as you list them in your application and they show consistent, original content plus clear audience engagement; the real hurdle is hitting Amazon’s “at least 3 qualified sales in 180 days” requirement to keep the account active. From a scaling standpoint, a site isn’t mandatory, but it’s the most controllable asset for SEO + email capture + link placement (and protects you from platform/algorithm risk), so many of us start on YouTube/IG to get approved fast and then add a lightweight niche site later for long-term LTV.
You don’t have to have a website for Amazon Associates—Amazon accepts social channels like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or a Facebook page, as long as it’s public and has real content/traffic. That said, in my testing, a simple niche site converts better and is more stable long-term (Amazon can reject low-content/social-only setups). For alternatives, check BizzOffers too.