What I Wish I Knew Before Using Amazon Affiliate Links in Facebook Ads
I almost had my account cancelled.
A few weeks ago, I signed up for the Amazon Associates program.
I did it for a practical reason: I wanted to track whether my Facebook ads were actually leading to book sales.
As an indie author, it felt like a smart move. I could use a special affiliate link in my ad, see how many people clicked, and—if I got lucky—track whether they bought the book. And honestly, it was useful. My debut novel Love at First Flight got 16 affiliate link clicks during the first few days of the campaign. It felt like a small but satisfying win.
Until I accidentally (when researching sonething else), stumbled across something important that no one had warned me about:
You can’t use Amazon affiliate links in paid ads.
Not on Facebook. Not on Instagram. Not on Google. Not any paid ads.
Wait… Really?
Yes. Even though Facebook is perfectly fine with affiliate links in ads, Amazon is not.
It’s not clearly stated in the main Associates Program Operating Agreement. That’s where I looked first. But buried in Amazon’s Program Policies—which are incorporated into the agreement under Section 12—is this rule:
“You must not use Special Links in connection with… any paid placement, including advertising, with any search engine, social media platform, or ad network (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook Ads, etc.).”
— Amazon Associates Program Participation Requirements
Also, just to be doubly sure, I emailed them. Here is the response:
So yes, it’s 100% confirmed—Amazon Associates does not permit use of affiliate links in any paid ads.
Amazon can and has shut down affiliate accounts for violating this rule. Even if you didn’t know. Even if you’re not doing anything shady. Even if you’re just trying to sell your own book.
What I Did After Finding Out
As soon as I realized, I removed the affiliate link from my Facebook ad and replaced it with a direct link to my Amazon book page—no tracking, no commission, just clean and compliant.
Was I disappointed? Sure. I liked knowing where clicks were coming from. But I’d much rather protect my KDP royalties and stay on Amazon’s good side than risk having my account suspended for breaking the rules.
Now I use affiliate links only in organic content—like newsletters, Substack posts, and my website. That’s totally fine under Amazon’s terms.
The Takeaway for Other Indie Authors
If you’re thinking about using the Amazon Associates program to track your ads, please take this to heart:
✅ Do use affiliate links in your newsletters, blog posts, and unpaid social posts
❌ Don’t use affiliate links in any kind of paid ad—even if it seems harmless
It’s not worth risking your affiliate account over a few clicks.
Final Thoughts
I still think Amazon Associates is a great tool for indie authors—but it comes with fine print that’s easy to miss if you’re new to all of this (like I was).
So this is me paying it forward: Read the policies carefully, and when in doubt, don’t drop an affiliate link into a paid campaign.
Let me know if you’ve had success tracking your ads another way—or if there’s a better tool you love for monitoring conversions. I’m still learning, still experimenting, and happy to share the ride.
—Tracy