Making a website is easy (you can set up a Wordpress blog - once you know how it's very quick), but getting traffic is the difficult part that everyone seems to get stuck on. There's no ready answer, but, other than spending money on Pay Per Click, where you can easily lose a lot of money for no return, the best way is to fill your blog with useful, relevant information. Focus on keyword phrases that are being searched for and that are relevant to your niche in order to attract those searchers and win the favour of Google. Post to other blogs in the same general niche with backlinks to your relevant post, and do the same with forums. I think that you have to genuinely try to help other people before you actually gain much benefit from this. That's just the way it works.
The only problem with using free Web 2.0 sites is that you don't own them. They can be taken away at a moment's notice - you can't sell it... you've spent your time on something that isn't yours. Web 2.0 properties can be great for fast testing, but once you've confirmed the viability of a product line, you MUST build your own site around those products.
FYI, Gavnecko is giving bad advice. Amazon specifically says that you cannot tell your family and friends to purchase through your links. It also says that you can't have anyone buy through your link where you will end up using the product.
There are so many ways to promote amazon products: via youtube with a review video and affiliate link at the bottom with a website that is aimed at a particular niche via facebook regardless where the landing page is....the key is getting the video/website/facebook page at the top of google for the keyword you targeted! good luck!
I don't think anyone here will actually say what is the secret of earning money on Amazon. Simply use those basic tips and try different things. Then see what works
Why not? There are hundreds of thousands of products... the chances of you picking the same ones as I have are quite slim indeed. I don't have any "secrets" - I tell everything I know. The only "secret" is to take action. I find that the more "action" I take, the more money I make.
Take the first step, join Amazon associates, get some cheap but legit PPC clicks with Geo targeted for USA, fire your affiliate link with it and see the commissions piling up. Don't go for Google Adwords, you will not break even. I am working on something very interesting. If everything is ready, I will come over and start a thread about making decent money with Amazon the easiest way ever..
You need to have a plan. Learn how you want to spread your affiliate links. I personally have chosen websites that features reviews and unique content for my viewers. In the process I provide them with affiliate links to Amazon products that help them is their ultimate goal (say something like how to paint a house). I give them step by step instructions and then provide them with links to products that they need to paint their house. In the end you are actually helping the user and providing them with useful information.
website + visitor = sales -> money. So, create more website, optimize for more visitor. Then, chance to get money will increase automatically