Tip #1: Focus on Specific & Relevant Products

Target specific, focused niches and keep the products relevant! You'll see a higher click through rate and higher earnings if the traffic that is coming to your site is looking for the product that you're reviewing

Don't go after high priced items if they're irrelevant to your content just because you can earn more. Yes, the new 60" Samsung LED 3D TV sells for $3,000 and at 4% commissions that's $120 for you per sale, but unless your article or website focuses specifically on that TV, I'm not going to be bothered to click on an ad for it. Just last week, I had to order a new router and I was looking for consumer reviews. I found a really good review of the one I wanted to buy, but the guy thought it'd be a good idea to have banners that link to a $600 iPhone 4 instead. He didn't get my click and he sure didn't get my commission.

Tip #2: Enroll in the Performance Payment Structure to Increase Commissions

2013 Update: Everyone is always enrolled in the performance plan now.

Amazon offers two different payment structures: Classic & Performance. There is only one difference between the two. With Classic, you get one flat-rate of 4% commissions on everything you sell. With Performance, you start out at 4%, but can earn up to 8.5% depending on how many products you sell.

Everyone should be in the Performance structure!

To be honest, I have no idea why Amazon even offers the Classic structure. It's pretty much useless since you still start out at 4% with Performance, but can move up in commissions. Here is a copy of the tier chart outlining commissions.

I urge you to click the following link and make sure you are enrolled in the performance plan.

https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/network/payments/main.html

Tip #3: Embedded Text Links Perform Better than Banners

Text links within the article usually receive the highest click through rate. Personally, I've found they perform much better than static banners on the sides or at the end of the article. Strong call to actions work best. Engage the reader and give them directions. Here are some link examples that have worked well for me.

Click here to learn more about keyword over at Amazon.

Read more customer reviews on keyword at Amazon.

Find the best price on keyword by clicking here.

I have a really good tip that goes along with that last link idea. Don't worry, it's on the next page. You'll see it in a minute.

Tip #4: Take Advantage of Tracking IDs

Do NOT use one tracking ID for all of your websites or articles. Amazon allows you to create multiple tracking IDs. Each article or website should have it's own tracking ID and you should be monitoring what works and what doesn't. I have used multiple tracking IDs on the same page alone.

Keep track of everything. You'll know which articles are converting and which aren't. You can then replicate the methods used on the best converting articles and increase your revenues across the board. If you have one single tracking ID, there's absolutely NO way of knowing if one article is performing better than the next.

Tip #5: Make Product Images Clickable

Review posts often start out the same. There's a headline, followed by a picture of the product being reviewed (usually floated to the left) and then the review of the product begins. You can seriously improve your commissions by making turning that image into an affiliate link.

To further needlessly illustrate my point, see figure a.

Click to the next page for the remaining five tips!