In addition to providing the most impersonal of personal finance information available, I like to periodically provide updates on my humble foray into the blogosphere. It’s a foray that includes the intent to monetize a blog in the least intrusive way possible, to the extent that that possibility exists. First up in this money-making endeavor is the Amazon Associates affiliate program.

Monetizing a blog with Amazon Associates affiliate program

You may notice, oh so subtly, a little Amazon sidebar advert on the right. Here’s how it works: If you were to click on that sidebar ad, and then proceed to purchase a product from Amazon via that link, I would get a very small commission. That’s it. That’s all there is to it. In the future, I can link to specific products, as I plan to do via future reviews of books, products and services. Any purchases from those direct links will likewise result in a small finder’s fee for yours truly. This, of course, comes at no additional cost to you.

Now, from what I can glean on the internet, the Amazon Associates affiliate program may well be the least profitable method at monetizing a blog for most content publishers—and even less so as of a few months ago. Most bloggers don’t even bother with the small commission rates and low click-through-rates (CTR). There are far better paying affiliate programs and far more profitable online advertisements.

In other words, Amazon Associates sounds like a great place to start.

As for Amazon itself, I personally use the website only on very rare occasions. I am not entirely against Amazon and the convenience it provides to millions of people. But my first preference is to shop at a local establishment if the opportunity exists. I am not opposed to shopping via Amazon in the future, nor do I condemn anyone else from doing so. For whatever reason, it just isn’t a part of my spending routine.

Even if I did have some moral qualms about Amazon, it wouldn’t be a monetization attempt if not for a slight but perceptible loosening of one’s own moral compass.

There are great personal finance blogs scattered throughout the internet, and most of them do in fact monetize their sites. Rarely do advertisements improve the site, true. But as long as ads don’t detract from the FREE content provided, can you blame anyone for trying to turn blogging into a side hustle?  

Amazon Associates affiliate program vs. Google Adsense

So why are we starting with the Amazon Associates affiliate program? For one, it’s incredibly easy for a new blogger to set up. Unlike the coveted Google Adsense program, which often requires at least six months of existence as well as a certain number of blog posts containing quality content—neither of which we have—Amazon makes it very simple to get approved and get started.

The catch is that if nobody buys anything from Amazon as a result of our links in a 180-day period, we get booted from the program. Since the intention is for you to barely notice a small sidebar ad and organic links to products in the future, it is entirely likely that I do not put any money into Jeff Bezos’ pockets over that span.

And again, that’s fine.

Blogging is far from a get rich quick scheme. Those who begin blogging for the sole purpose of making money are rarely successful in their pursuits. While monetization is a long-term goal, in the meantime I simply enjoy the real-world distraction that Impersonal Finances allows. Blogging about money ensures that I am focusing my efforts and attention on my own personal finance picture. The value of Impersonal Finances lies in helping to keep myself accountable and on track for grandiose goals of financial independence, not in monetization. Not yet, anyway.

Another benefit to this affiliate program is clear: Amazon sells everything. Any product worth mentioning is listed on Amazon’s website. The sheer amount of product offerings allows for a very targeted form of affiliate marketing. To start, I’ve chosen an ad imploring you to spend your Flexible Spending Account dollars by the end of the calendar year. I am far more concerned about people letting their FSA money go to waste than I am about my role in contributing to a corporate behemoth. Remember, those FSA dollars do not roll over into the next calendar year.

Impersonal Finances is selling out!

It took only a few months, but yes, we are selling out. Rest assured that any attempts at making money will not compromise whatever we are preaching.

I am fortunate to have a full-time job and thus am not relying on this site for any income. At the moment, the main reason for monetizing the blog is to learn. Affiliate marketing is an area of interest I’d like to explore. The best way I know how to do that is by trying it out for myself. For now, that’s where the Amazon Associates affiliates program comes in.

Long term, I’d love for Impersonal Finances to become a steady passive income stream. A few bucks here and there help to bring me a few bucks closer to retirement. Every little bit counts. In the meantime, hopefully you are able to get something out of the content on one of our posts. But before then, hopefully you are able to get something from Amazon, via one of our super non-intrusive affiliate links. Preferably within the next 180 days.