I have a web page that gets a fair amount of traffic and I'm thinking about turning my already existing Amazon links into affiliate links. Lots of books, movies, and other stuff I'm fond of or mention in writings. All traffic sources are organic. Not really counting on making a lot, just seems like a neat hobby to pursue. I started to read through the giant contract on their affiliate page but then my brain starting oozing out of my ears. Aside from not doing anything illegal, any advice a newbie should follow to avoid trouble?
While their terms of service is quite long, you hit the nail on the head in that the main thing to remember is not doing anything illegal. Aside from that, if your idea seems to good to be true (buying things through your own link) it likely is and they will shut it down quickly. With how ubiquitous it is nowadays it should be a no brainer to turn your links that already point to the site into affiliate links. Also, since you already have your content and products you are recommending, it won't be hard as you aren't creating a niche from scratch. Remember to test your links and make sure they go through. Also, legally you should be declaring any affiliate links on your own site. There are a number of online resources you can view for more info on how to do this. If you have any other questions about Amazon, feel free to PM me as I have a lot of experience with the company.