I guess if you are ever going to make money with Amazon the run up to Christmas is the time to do it. I didn't particularly push them but on Amazon UK
On Amazon USA
I'm not sure that Amazon will ever be a big, dramatic money maker unless you have definite products that link up exactly with the niche of your particular blog - something perhaps like selling cameras on a photography niche for example.
There are more profitable affiliate programs about but it has to be a case of trial and error to find the exact one or two for specific blogs.
Hope you've had a good start to the year. I had a small check ($87.16) from Clickbank today plus I had my monthly Google AdSense payment made into my bank. Not too bad for two days, lets hope the next 29 for January do as well, preferably better. It's what we receive that's important - until it's safely in our bank it's just theory!
Good luck,
Mike.