Amazon.com is a behemoth in the eCommerce world, and for many, it’s synonymous with selling products. But what if you don’t have the inventory, resources, or desire to become a seller?
The answer is to learn how to make money on Amazon without selling.
How to Make Money on Amazon Without Selling
This article discusses seven proven methods for tapping into Amazon’s vast platform and generating income through alternative means.
1. Affiliate Marketing Through Amazon Associates
This is arguably the most popular way to make money on Amazon without selling.
Amazon Associates is an affiliate program that allows you to promote existing products on the platform with unique links and earn commissions for every qualified sale you generate.
With millions of products on Amazon, you will never run out of things to promote, no matter your niche.
Even better, Amazon Associates provides a “cookie” window of 24 hours.
This means when a buyer clicks your link and lands on Amazon (even if they browse other products), a cookie is placed on their browser for a specific timeframe (typically 24 hours).
Any qualifying purchase they make within that window earns you a commission, not just for the specific item you promoted, but for anything they add to their cart.
This typically ranges from 4% to 10% of the total sale value. The program is free, straightforward to join, and requires no prior affiliate marketing experience or existing audience.
2. Offering Services That Help Amazon Sellers
Many Amazon sellers and businesses require help with administrative and creative tasks such as social media management, product research, keyword optimization, customer service, etc.
You can make money on Amazon without selling by offering virtual assistant services to help these businesses.
For example, compelling product descriptions are essential for Amazon sellers to convert visitors into paying customers.
However, not everyone has the skills to draft compelling product descriptions.
You can make money on Amazon by helping Amazon sellers craft persuasive and SEO-optimized product descriptions. Another service you can offer is account reinstatement.
Sellers who violate Amazon’s policies can have their accounts suspended.
You can offer account reinstatement services to help suspended sellers navigate the appeal process and get their accounts reinstated.
3. Publishing Books Using Kindle Direct Publishing
If you have a knack for writing, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) offers a fantastic way to make money on Amazon without selling traditional goods.
KDP allows you to self-publish eBooks and paperbacks for free. Your books will be available on Amazon globally within 72 hours to 10 days.
KDP allows you to upload your manuscript, set your price, and distribute your book electronically on Kindle devices and the free Kindle app.
You can choose a royalty rate of either 70% for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99 or 35% for anything outside that range.
KDP offers resources for formatting your book and creating a professional cover.
Additionally, you can leverage the KDP Select program, which offers exclusive benefits like free book promotions, to reach more readers for up to 90 days.
4. Designing Merchandise with Amazon Merch on Demand
If you have a creative streak, consider using Amazon Merch on Demand.
Amazon Merch on Demand is an on-demand printing service that allows you to design and sell your own branded merchandise with no upfront costs. It allows you to upload your original designs and create on-demand merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more.
You simply upload your designs, choose a product type and color, and set your price.
You decide how much profit you earn for every item sold. You don’t handle production or fulfillment.
Amazon takes care of everything — printing, packaging, and shipping the merchandise directly to customers.
5. Performing Tasks on Amazon Mechanical Turk
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing marketplace that allows individuals and businesses to outsource their processes and jobs to a distributed workforce that can perform these tasks virtually.
Completing simple tasks such as data entry, survey participation, content moderation, and more can be an excellent way to make money on Amazon without selling.
This option requires a commitment of time and effort but can be a steady source of income.
6. Narrating Audiobooks through ACX
Do you have a captivating voice?
If yes, you can make money on Amazon without selling by becoming an audiobook narrator on Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX).
ACX connects authors and rights holders with narrators. You can search for projects based on genre, length, and royalty structure.
ACX is owned and operated by Audible, and Audible is a subsidiary of Amazon.
To start, simply submit a sample of your narration to convince authors or rights holders you’re the perfect fit for their project.
You can negotiate your payment structure once you’ve landed a gig – royalties or flat rates.
Royalties typically range between 15% and 40% of the audiobook sale price, while flat fees are a one-time payment for the entire narration.
You’ll need to invest in high-quality recording equipment and a quiet space to ensure professional-sounding audiobooks.
7. Offering Amazon Home Services
Are you a qualified professional service provider?
Join the Amazon Home Services program to make money on Amazon without selling.
Millions of customers buy products in the Amazon store.
Amazon Home Services is a network of high-quality white-glove service providers who help customers assemble and install products and more.
This program connects customers with pre-vetted service providers for various home improvement and maintenance needs.
You’ll need to specify the geographical location you serve and your working hours and be available on the Amazon Home Services platform to respond to requests.
Conclusion
Exploring how to make money on Amazon without selling directly might open up avenues you hadn’t considered before.
Each requires different levels of involvement and expertise, but all hold the potential to grow into a significant income stream.
So, choose the one that best aligns with your skills and interests from the seven points discussed above, and start building your Amazon income today!
