Should I start an Amazon affiliate site in 2026?

Yes — but only if you build it as a broader content business, not a thin SEO-only review site.

Why it can still work in 2026

• Amazon still converts well because shoppers trust it.
• A focused niche site with useful, experience-based content can still attract buyers.
• It’s a simple way to start monetizing content early.

What changed

• Search is more competitive, and AI answers plus big publishers can reduce clicks.
• Amazon commissions are low, so one site often won’t be enough by itself.
• The 24-hour cookie means timing matters.

Best approach

• Pick a narrow audience or problem, not a generic “best products” site.
• Build on more than SEO: YouTube, TikTok, email, and social can help.
• Add other income streams later, like other affiliate programs, sponsorships, or your own products.

Skip it if

• You want fast income.
• You plan to publish a few posts and wait for traffic.
• You don’t want to keep updating content and adapting to platform changes.

Bottom line: Start one if you can create genuinely helpful content and grow an audience. Don’t start it if your plan is only to rank pages and rely on Amazon alone.