Amazon Affiliate vs TikTok Shop Affiliate: My Real Results (Clicks vs Sales)
I wanted to write this post because I kept seeing the same claims everywhere: high clicks, viral traffic, easy money.
So instead of theory, here’s a **real comparison** based on my own data — using Amazon Associates and TikTok Shop Affiliate, promoted through Pinterest and blog content.
My Amazon Affiliate Results (Low Clicks, Real Sales)
I’ve used Amazon affiliate links for a long time, mainly inside:
- Blog posts
- Pinterest pins linking to blog content
One thing that always surprised me is how Amazon converts even with very few clicks.
1 click → 4 sales credited
What’s important to understand is that Amazon does not only credit the exact product you promote.
If someone clicks your link and then buys:
- A different product
- Multiple items
- Anything else during the session
You still get credited.
This makes Amazon incredibly forgiving — and powerful — for bloggers and Pinterest traffic.
My TikTok Shop Affiliate Results (5,000 Clicks, Zero Sales)
Now let’s talk about TikTok Shop.
I tested TikTok Shop affiliate links using the same idea: external traffic from Pinterest and blog content.
~5,000 clicks → 0 sales
At first glance, this makes no sense. Thousands of clicks should equal at least a few conversions, right?
But here’s the key difference most people don’t talk about.
Why TikTok Shop Didn’t Credit My Sales
TikTok Shop attribution works very differently from Amazon.
In most cases, TikTok:
- Only credits the sale if the purchase happens in the same session
- Does not reliably credit purchases made later
- Often loses attribution if users compare prices or leave the app
If someone clicks your TikTok Shop link, leaves, thinks about it, and buys later — you likely get nothing.
This explains how you can see massive click numbers with no commissions.
When TikTok Shop Can Actually Work Better
There’s an important nuance here.
TikTok Shop can perform much better if your entire content niche is built around the exact type of product you’re promoting.
Examples where TikTok Shop makes sense:
- Beauty tools
- Kitchen gadgets
- Home organization products
- Pet accessories
- Trending impulse-buy items
In these cases:
- Viewers expect product demos
- Buying intent is immediate
- The purchase often happens in the same session
My content, however, was broader and educational — not hyper product-focused. That mismatch likely explains the zero conversions despite high clicks.
Amazon vs TikTok Shop: The Core Difference
- Amazon Affiliate: Rewards delayed decisions and research behavior
- TikTok Shop Affiliate: Rewards instant, impulse-driven purchases
Amazon works well with:
- Blogs
- Comparison content
TikTok Shop works best with:
- Native TikTok videos
- Product-centric niches
- Strong “buy now” moments
What I’d Do Differently Going Forward
- Use Amazon for blog + Pinterest traffic
- Only use TikTok Shop inside niche, product-first TikTok accounts
- Stop judging platforms by click count alone
High traffic means nothing without attribution and buyer intent.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t about saying one platform is better than the other. It’s about using the right tool for the right traffic.
If you’re a blogger or Pinterest creator, Amazon is still one of the most reliable affiliate systems available.
If you’re building a product-driven TikTok brand, TikTok Shop can work — but only under the right conditions.
Understanding how attribution works is the difference between thinking something “doesn’t work” and realizing it was simply the wrong fit.