Most Amazon shopping happens on a phone. When a follower taps your link, one of two things happens: it opens a mobile browser where they have to find their login and re-enter details, or it opens the Amazon app where they're already signed in and can buy in two taps. That difference is what a deeplink controls, and it's why deeplinks matter for conversions.
Here's how creators use affiliate deeplinks to earn more, and how to keep every cent of your own commission while you do it.
What a deeplink actually is
A standard affiliate link is a web URL with your tracking tag attached. A deeplink is a link engineered to open the Amazon app directly on the product page, so a logged-in shopper lands one tap away from checkout.
The mechanics that make this work, iOS Universal Links and Android App Links, are covered in depth in our deeplinks vs affiliate links comparison. The short version: a deeplink removes the friction of bouncing through a browser, and friction is where mobile conversions die.
Why deeplinks help creators earn more
Every extra step between a tap and a purchase loses buyers. On mobile, the biggest step is the browser-to-app handoff:
- A browser link may ask the shopper to log in again or hunt for the app.
- A deeplink drops them into the app where they're already authenticated.
- Fewer steps means more completed purchases from the same number of clicks.
You're not getting more clicks. You're converting more of the clicks you already earn. For creators with a mobile-heavy audience, that's the highest-leverage change you can make to your links.
"Keep 100%" — what that means
There's an important distinction in how creator deals are structured.
Some platforms insert themselves between you and Amazon, taking a cut of your affiliate commission for routing the link. With your own Amazon Associates account, the commission Amazon pays on a qualifying purchase is yours.
The model worth choosing: use deeplinks built on top of your own Associates tag. The link opens the app, the sale is tracked to your tag, and the commission lands in your account. You keep 100% of your Associates commission, the deeplink just makes more of your clicks convert.
That's how AffiliateReel approaches it: deeplinks that route through your own Associates account so your commission stays yours.
How to start using deeplinks
- Be enrolled in Amazon Associates so you have a tracking tag. New to it? Start with Amazon Associates for beginners.
- Generate a deeplink for the product instead of pasting a raw browser URL.
- Place it where mobile traffic is highest: captions, bio links, and your storefront.
- Add a clear affiliate disclosure near the link, it's required and builds trust.
Track which links and channels convert
Deeplinks earn more when you know which ones work. Use separate tracking IDs or sub-tags to see whether your Instagram bio, your TikTok captions, or your storefront drives the most sales. Double down on whatever converts.
The Amazon Associates dashboard shows commissions but not much about where they came from, so layering on your own tracking is what turns guesswork into a plan.
Always disclose, always stay compliant
Deeplinks follow the same disclosure rules as any affiliate link. The disclosure must be clear and close to the link, so a shopper understands you may earn a commission. This isn't just a rule to follow; clear disclosure builds trust, and audiences who trust you are the ones who click and buy. A simple "as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases" near your links covers it.
Keep your links pointed at products you genuinely recommend. A deeplink that drops a shopper into the app for a product you don't actually stand behind erodes the trust that makes any of this work.
When a deeplink isn't the right call
Deeplinks aren't always best. Skip them when:
- Your audience is desktop-heavy (some professional niches).
- Shoppers need to compare prices or read reviews in a browser first.
For most creators with a phone-first audience, though, deeplinks are a straightforward conversion win.
The short version
Deeplinks open the Amazon app instead of a browser, which removes the friction that kills mobile conversions. Built on top of your own Associates tag, they let you convert more clicks while keeping 100% of your commission.
To get deeplinks that route through your own Associates account, plus products and brands to work with, join AffiliateReel, browse open offers, and read the creator guide.