This document discusses guidelines for correctly posting Amazon affiliate links on social media. It is allowed to share the same links used on a website on social media platforms, as long as certain rules are followed. Affiliate links must not be cloaked or obscured, and transparency is important by disclosing the affiliate relationship. It is also required to list all social media accounts intended for sharing links in the Amazon Associates account profile. While some third-party link tools can be used, paid ads or asking for clicks is not allowed. Proper affiliate disclosure is also needed to comply with regulations.

1. How To Correctly Post Amazon
Affiliate Links On Social Media
With:
Jesse Lakes
CEO / Co-Founder, Geniuslink

2. Follow Along
Blog: geni.us/amazonsocialmedia
Download slides: geni.us/ASE19slides

4. Please Note
• Read the Associates Operating Agreement &
Program Policies
• I am not a lawyer
• Additional resources available

5. Is It Okay?
Yes!
…you can share on your social media accounts
the same links — often referred to as “Special Links”
in program articles and documents — you’d use on
your website.

6. Yes - Follow The Rules
Cloaking Email eBooks Static Pricing Ratings
Asking Non-Product Listing Disclosure Old Products
Affiliate Summit West 2019 | Blog: geni.us/amazonban |Slides: geni.us/ASW19slides

7. Yes - Follow The Rules
Cloaking Email eBooks Static Pricing Ratings
Asking Non-Product Listing Disclosure Old Products
Affiliate Summit West 2019 | Blog: geni.us/amazonban |slides: geni.us/ASW19slides

8. Transparency

9. #1
Cloaking Links

10. Transparency: Shoppers
“They will trust you more if you
are transparent about where
you are directing them.”

11. Amazon Tools
amzn.to Short Links OneLink Influencers
Easier to share Global links Product Collections
No ability to edit or view
metrics
Storefront specific links
limit commissions
Javascript specific, doesn’t
work on social media
Storefront specific links
limit commissions

12. Allowed!
Can I use third-party tools to create and share posts?
Yes, as long as the resulting post is compliant with the OA
and Program Policies.
- Resource Center: Guide to Sharing Amazon Links on Social Media
(w) You will not use a link shortening service, button,
hyperlink or other ad placement in a manner that
makes it unclear that you are linking to an Amazon
Site.
- Associates Operating Agreement: Policies
Third-Party Tools

13. Third-Party Tools
amzn.to Short Links OneLink Influencers
Easier to share Global links Product Collections
No ability to edit or view
metrics
Storefront specific links
limit commissions
Javascript specific doesn’t
work on social media
Storefront specific links
limit commissions
Necessary

14. “They will trust you more if you
are transparent about where
you are directing them.”
Transparency: Shoppers

17. Another Option
Direct shoppers to a landing page.
Choice Page KitYour Site

18. #2
Listing Channels

19. Transparency: Amazon
“It is required that each
account you intend to share
from be listed in your
Associates profile before
sharing…”

20. Transparency: Amazon
Account Settings > “Edit Your Website And Mobile App List”

21. Best Practices
• Add all channels before you start referring traffic.
• Add the full channel not just the domain
(eg. “twitter.com/geniuslink/”)
• Update the list for EACH of the Amazon Associates program
• Be sure to include “geni.us” if you’re are using Choice Pages.
• Include “kit.com" if you are listing products on Kit

22. #3
Affiliate Disclosure

23. Transparency: Government
“You must also comply with all applicable
laws and regulations, including by
providing all necessary disclosures. The
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires
that material connections between
advertisers and endorsers are disclosed to
customers.”

24. https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/27/17167006/princeton-university-research-affiliate-links-sponsored-posts-youtube-pinterest

25. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from
qualifying purchases.”
For social media user-generated content,
it must be associated with your account.
This can be on an “about” or “info”
section. For individual social media
postings this full statement is not
required.
Transparency: Government

26. Disclosure

27. Disclosure

28. Disclosure

29. Not Okay!
1/ Not Your Channel
“You are the sole moderator of the account that you plan to post to…”
2/ Private Channels
“The network is public and widely accessible, and does not require
access through paid applications. Anyone should be able to access it
or view it without requiring special permissions…"
3/ Paid Ads
“…you cannot use affiliate links in paid ads or pay (“boost”) posts that
include affiliate links.”

30. Not Okay!
4/ Asking for Clicks or Bookmarks
“you can’t ask or encourage others to distribute your links or post your
Associates-related content on any account that doesn’t belong to you.”
- Resource Center: Guide to Sharing Amazon Links on Social Media
“g) You will not offer any person or entity any consideration, reward, or
incentive (including any money, rebate, discount, points, donation to
charity or other organization, or other benefit) for using Special Links.”
- Associates Operating Agreement: Policies
“You must not encourage customers to bookmark your Special Links.”
- Associates Operating Agreement: Policies

31. Conclusion
You may NOT:
…publish, link to, sell, otherwise distribute, or place a
Qualifying Link on any social networking sites,
including, but not limited to, Facebook, MySpace,
Twitter, etc.

32. Blog: geni.us/amazonsocialmedia
Download slides: geni.us/ASE19slides
Thank You
Jesse Lakes
CEO / Co-Founder, Geniuslink
jl@geni.us
@jesselakes