A couple of years ago I really wanted to learn a new side hustle but didn’t know where to start. I scoured the internet for different types of side hustles but settled to try Amazon as an option for earning extra money. After more research and gaining more knowledge I eventually decided to dip my toes into Amazon FBA. It all began with me taking baby steps. I sourced a few items from stores, like Walmart. Had them sent over to Amazons warehouses. Within a few weeks of getting my products up on their platform the sales started rolling in smoothly without me having to worry about handling shipping or customer service concerns. I was so happy that things were starting to work out. I mastered sourcing for products. I used methods like storefront stalking to reverse sourcing techniques to find winning products. Check out my snapshot that I’ve included in this blog post showing my earnings.
Since then, I’ve explored other ways to make money on Amazon, and now I’m sharing them with you.
Whether you’re new to Amazon or looking for new opportunities, here are five simple ways you can start making money on the platform:
1. Sell Products with Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)
Amazon FBA is a popular way to make money on Amazon. It’s great for people who want to run an online business without worrying about shipping. With FBA, Amazon stores your products in their warehouses and handles everything from shipping to customer service. You just need to send your products to Amazon, and they do the rest.
Steps to Get Started:
- Product Sourcing: First, decide what products you want to sell. You can buy them from big box chains like Walmart etc.
- Send Products to Amazon: After getting your products, send them to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. They store them until someone buys them.
- List Products on Amazon: Create listings for your products with clear photos and descriptions. Make sure to price them competitively.
- Amazon Handles the Rest: When a customer buys your product, Amazon handles the packing, shipping, and customer service.
Benefits:
- Hands-Free Shipping: Amazon takes care of the shipping, customer service, and returns. This lets you focus on growing your business.
- Prime Access: Your products become available for Amazon Prime, which can boost your sales because customers like fast shipping.
- Scale Fast: Amazon FBA makes it easy to grow your business since they handle most of the hard work.
2. Become an Amazon Affiliate (Amazon Associates Program)
Amazon Associates is an easy way to make money without owning any products. As an affiliate, you earn commissions by referring people to Amazon. When they buy a product through your unique link, you earn a percentage of the sale.
Steps to Get Started:
- Sign Up for the Program: Go to the Amazon Associates website and create an account.
- Select Products to Promote: Pick products that your audience would like. You can promote them through blog posts, social media, or videos.
- Drive Traffic to Your Links: The more people click on your links and buy products, the more money you make. Create helpful content to get more clicks.
Benefits:
- No Inventory Needed: You don’t have to buy or store products.
- Huge Product Range: You can promote millions of products on Amazon, which lets you choose items that suit your audience.
- Passive Income: Once your content is out there with your affiliate links, it can keep earning you money as long as people are clicking and buying.
3. Sell Private Label Products
Private labeling means creating your own branded products. You buy generic products from a manufacturer, add your branding, and sell them on Amazon. This allows you to build a unique brand that people will recognize.
Steps to Get Started:
- Identify a Product to Sell: Start by finding a product that’s in demand. You can use tools like Jungle Scout or Helium 10 to help with research.
- Find a Manufacturer: Once you pick a product, find a manufacturer to make it for you. Websites like Alibaba are good places to find suppliers.
- Create Your Brand: Design packaging and branding that make your product stand out.
- Launch Your Product on Amazon: List your product on Amazon. Use the right keywords and photos to get noticed. Advertising can help you get early sales and reviews.
Benefits:
- Brand Control: You control your product’s quality and how it looks, which can help build customer loyalty.
- Room to Grow: Once your first product does well, you can easily add more products to your brand.
- Better Profits: With private labeling, you can set your prices higher since your product is unique to your brand.
4. Publish eBooks or Audiobooks with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
If you love writing, you can make money by publishing eBooks or audiobooks with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). It’s an easy way to self-publish your work and reach millions of readers worldwide. You can publish eBooks and paperbacks for free.
Steps to Get Started:
- Write a Book: Pick a topic you know well, like fiction, non-fiction, or something educational. Write your book and follow KDP’s guidelines to format it.
- Create a Cover: A good cover helps your book stand out. You can design one using tools like Canva or hire a designer.
- Publish on Amazon: Upload your book to KDP, set the price, and choose your royalty option (35% or 70%, depending on the price).
- Market Your Book: Promote your book through social media, email lists, or Amazon ads. Getting good reviews will also help your book become more visible.
Benefits:
- Low Cost: Publishing with KDP is free, and you get to keep control of your content and pricing.
- Earn Passive Income: After publishing, your book can keep earning money with little extra work.
- Reach a Global Audience: KDP gives you access to Amazon’s huge customer base, so people all over the world can buy your book.
5. Sell Handmade Products on Amazon Handmade
Amazon Handmade is a special marketplace for artisans who make handcrafted items. If you’re good at making things like jewelry, home decor, or art, this platform can help you reach a bigger audience. It’s like Etsy, but with Amazon’s reach.
Steps to Get Started:
- Apply to Amazon Handmade: You need to apply and be approved to sell on Amazon Handmade.
- Create Your Listings: After approval, create listings with great images and descriptions of your products.
- Manage Orders: When someone buys your handmade item, you handle the shipping and customer service.
Benefits:
- Large Customer Base: You can sell to millions of Amazon customers who already trust the platform.
- No Listing Fees: Amazon Handmade doesn’t charge listing fees, which helps you keep more of your profits.
- Custom Storefront: Amazon gives you your own storefront, where you can showcase your handmade products and build your brand.
These five methods offer different ways to make money on Amazon, depending on your interests and skills. Whether you want to sell products, write books, or promote other people’s items, Amazon gives you the tools to succeed.