A description of The Amazon Influencer Program

Amazon Influencer Program: The Easiest Way To Make Money Online

By Eric Montgomery | August 23, 2024

Amazon Influencer Program, huh? Are you scratching your head?

Yes, this is a real thing, and while I hate the term “influencer,” I truly believe that taking part in the Amazon Influencer Program is THE EASIEST WAY to make money online.

So, what the hell am I talking about?

Well, by promoting Amazon products, “influencers” can earn a commission, whether through their own customized storefronts or linked shoppable videos.

Check out my storefront and check out a podcast we did on this program – Monetizing Content With The Amazon Influencer Program.

In this post, I’ve put together a wide-ranging and encompassing guide to help walk you through all that you need to know about the Amazon Influence Program.

I’ll take a look at what the program is, how it works, and how you can make the best use of it to give you the best return on your investment.

Ready? Let’s get into it.

What is the Amazon Influencer Program?

As an extension of the Amazon Associates Program, the Influencer Program is designed with content creators, tastemakers, and personalities with a significant online presence in mind.

If you have a strong Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or Facebook account, you can apply and be considered for the program.

Through the program, influencers are able to create their own personalized Amazon storefront, which hosts all of the products they’ve recommended to their followers.

A key feature of this program is its focus on video content, allowing influencers to create video product reviews that are prominently displayed on Amazon product pages.

Whereas standard affiliate programs work mostly through embedded links in blog and social media posts, this program emphasizes video content and curated product recommendations.

This more direct approach bridges the gap between content creators and consumers, offering a platform that makes it much easier to showcase the products you use, love, and want to recommend to others.

This drives sales for Amazon, which in turn, helps you earn a commission.

Utilizing Amazon’s Built In Traffic

What makes the Amazon Influencer Program particularly brilliant and easy for content creators is the access to Amazon’s built-in traffic.

In traditional affiliate marketing, you typically have to create your own traffic and drive people to your ecosystem, which is difficult, time-consuming, and requires a lot of strategic work.

With this program, you get to tap into the millions of people searching for products on Amazon every day.

By creating video content that appears directly on Amazon product pages, you can leverage this massive audience without needing to spend time and resources driving traffic to your own channels.

This makes the process of earning commissions much more straightforward and scalable.

Benefits of Joining the Program

Monetization: Make commissions on all valid purchases made through your Amazon storefront.
Customization: Create your own storefront that matches your brand aesthetic, with products chosen specifically by you.
Ease of Use: You don’t have to run the store, Amazon deals with transactions, shipping, and customer service, letting you focus on content creation.
Versatility: The program supports various social media platforms, making it accessible to influencers across different channels.
Increased Trust: Most online shoppers know and trust Amazon compared to other stores, which helps maintain your own credibility.

How to Get Into the Amazon Influencer Program

If the Amazon Influencer program sounds like the thing for you then, naturally, you might want to learn how you can join. Here are a few steps to getting in.

Requirements for Approval

The application process is relatively simple, but joining the program requires you to meet certain criteria. Most of these criteria are related to your online presence, making sure that you have the reach and influence that can drive sales.

It’s worth noting that the following numbers are not specifically outlined by Amazon, but are a rough estimate of the bare minimum you should have to consider applying.

Eligibility Criteria by Platform

YouTube: You need at least 1000 subscribers on your channel, as well as the metrics to show consistent engagement, as well as content that aligns with the products you recommend.
Instagram: At least 1000 followers, at a minimum, and high engagement rates on all of your posts. Your posts should also tie into the products you recommend through lifestyle, aesthetic, or niche.
Facebook: Having a large Facebook page, that is active and has regular back-and-forth communication is good, with loyal followers in regular conversations.
TikTok: A high number of followers on this increasingly important platform can be very helpful. Content needs to be relevant to the products you want to feature, including calls to action.

The 3-Video Requirement on Amazon

The Amazon Influencer Program is more reliant on video content than most and, as such, creating three shoppable videos on the site is a requirement, as well.

For the best chances of a successful application, keep these videos product-focused, try to offer unique insights into the products you feature (while keeping it concise), and be able to demonstrate the use of products.

Encouraging the viewers to make a purchase can be a major step in the right direction of getting you approved.

The Application Process

Visit the Amazon Influencer Program page and sign into your Amazon account (or create one if you don’t have one:
Connect your social media accounts, consider using only those that have the strongest presence.
Review and submit your application, after which Amazon may take a few days to evaluate your social media profiles
If you’re approved, then you can set up your Amazon storefront, select your recommended products, and start making shoppable videos

Tips for Increasing Chances of Approval

If you want to improve your chances of approval, you should understand what, exactly, Amazon is looking for, and how to present it through your application.

Ensure that your social media channels are active with consistent and valuable content. You want to be able to demonstrate regular engagement with your audience, highlighting their trust in your opinions.

Rather than going broad with your products and post subjects, consider tailoring your content to a more specific audience or niche, as a clear focus can more easily demonstrate your value.

Work on creating informative, visually appealing, and insightful Shoppable videos, as they are truly key to a successful application.

Starting to Make Videos

Amazon is not looking for professional movie makers to join their Influencer Program.

You don’t need high-end equipment or fancy equipment. What you want, instead, is to keep your videos simple, straightforward, and easy to digest.

In fact, shooting on a smartphone isn’t just adequate, but it can help to create a more casually informative video, which might be more likely to help viewers stick around.

Focus more on the value of your demonstrations and your ability to give honest and insightful reviews.

Key Elements of an Effective Video

What makes an effective Shoppable videos? If you want to strike a chord with your audience and drive sales, think about the following:

Keep the focus on the product for the entirety of the video. You can briefly introduce yourself, but the product should visually be the focus, and you should talk about it in detail.
Demonstrate the features of the product clearly and take the time to highlight anything that helps it stand out from similar items.
Talk about what you would buy the product, highlighting its uses, its specific benefits, and any personal experiences you might have with the product. You should also address any potential concerns viewers might have about the product.
Avoid wasting your viewer’s time, and try to be efficient in how you communicate.

Getting Your Video Listed on Amazon Product Pages

This is where the magic happens.

In addition to having your own landing page with your store, Amazon might choose to feature your videos on product pages.

Some of you may not know this, but many Amazon products have video reviews right next to the product listing.

If Amazon decides to place your video on a product page, your chances of people watching it go up, which means more opportunities to convert viewers into buyers.

The more people that buy—BOOM. This is how I make the majority of my money with the program.

For the record, Amazon hasn’t disclosed how they choose which videos to feature on product pages.

People online have speculated that Amazon might give your video a shot if they think it’ll drive sales. Then, if it actually converts better than other videos, they’ll keep it up.

Also, Amazon rotates videos in and out of product pages. So, one day your video might be there, and when you check another day, it might be gone.

If your video does make it onto a product page, you’ll get more views if it lands in one of the top three slots. If it’s ranking lower, you’ll get fewer eyeballs on your content.

So, while you can make money from people watching your videos on your storefront, the real money comes from ending up on product pages.

Tips for Shooting Effective Videos

While you might not have to invest in a lot of fancy equipment to make your videos effective, knowing some of the basics of shooting effectively can be very helpful.

Highlight the product and its usage visually, using close-ups to catch features, and materials, and demonstrate how it’s used.
Keep your videos short and to the point, roughly around 1-2 minutes. You don’t want to lose the viewer’s attention.
Make sure that the product is well-lit. Natural lighting is usually good enough to keep it visible, but investing in a simple ring light can do a lot of good.
Try not to over-edit your videos. You only need to cut to different angles if you’re not able to move the product to display it quickly and easily, for instance.

Amazon Influencer Program Commission Structure

The Amazon Influencer Program operates on a commission-based model, where you earn a percentage of the sales generated through your storefront.

These commission rates can vary depending on the product category, ranging from 1% to 10%.

For example, luxury beauty products typically offer higher commission rates, while electronics might offer lower rates.

Some example commission rates for Amazon Influencer Pages include:

Amazon Games: 20%
Amazon Fashion: 10%
Handmade: 10%
Home: 7%
Consumables: 7%
Hobbies & Auto: 6%
Amazon Devices: 3%
Electronics & Computers: 3%

Payment Schedule

Amazon pays out 60 days after a sale is made, usually through direct deposit or Amazon gift cards, depending on your preference.

Commissions are only paid out once the return period for the product has passed, so if someone buys a product and returns it, you don’t get the commission.

Video Formats and Best Practices

You need to ensure that your videos match the best practices and choose formats that match the content you’re making to maximize your engagement and, as a result, your earnings.

Horizontal videos are best, for instance, for detailed product reviews and longer demos, like those featured on YouTube.

Meanwhile, vertical videos are best for quick, snappy content on mobile platforms, such as Instagram or TikTok. They tend to do better when they showcase a product in action.

Strategies for Maximizing Earnings

Be sure to promote your storefront regularly on your social media channels. If someone asks a question that can be answered by recommending a product, it’s a great place to put in a link to that product if it’s featured on your storefront, for instance.
Make sure that you use seasonal trends to your advantage, making content around holidays, sales events, and other special occasions. This can result in significant bumps in traffic.
Use your analytics tools to track your performance, and identify and replicate the trends that result in better sales for you.

The Amazon Influencer Program offers real side hustle potential for content creators, allowing you to either supplement your income or even make it a full-time career.

It’s perfectly scalable to how much time and work you want to put into it, and best benefits those with an existing audience who already listens to their opinions and insights on products regularly.

Creating Content with Items at Home

Creating videos and content that promotes items on your storefront is how you start making money, so here are a few tips on how to do it effectively.

Using Items Already Owned to Create Videos

If you already own and use items that are on your storefront or can be added to it, then that’s the easiest place to start. After all, you likely already have experiences and insights that you can turn into content.

Importance of Items Having an Amazon Listing

Make sure that any items you create content for have an active Amazon listing before you start shooting.

You can only earn commissions on products that are actively listed, so don’t waste time shooting content you can’t use.

Checking Amazon Purchase History for Potential Review Items

Take a look through your Amazon purchase history to find more products to review.

This is another easy way to items you have already bought and used, making it easier to create honest reviews.

Review Items You Already Use and Love

Honesty is vital for maintaining your audience’s trust, but positive reviews drive more sales.

As such, you might want to stick to reviewing items you already use and love, since you can not only keep it authentic, but you don’t have to buy new items for the purpose.

Amazon Influencer Levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum

There are different levels to the Amazon Influencer Program that you can progress through, allowing you to access more features and perks, each of which can improve your visibility and, as such, how much you can earn.

Bronze Level

New influencers start off here and can access basic features like creating a storefront and earning a commission on qualifying purchases, but don’t get any advantages over the other new influencers.

Silver Level

After driving a certain number of qualifying purchases, you’ll advance to this level, which boosts your visibility and gives you access to special promotions and tools designed to help you grow your audience and sales.

Gold Level

Influencers who are consistently successful on the platforms get access to higher commissions, as well as exclusive tools to optimize their storefronts and content.

Platinum Level

The top tier for the most successful influencers, offering priority access to new features, collaboration opportunities to work with Amazon on special products, as well as the highest commission rates and higher visibility.

Should You Join The Amazon Influencer Program?

Yes, you should. If you have any type of following on social, use it to start making money by reviewing products you already use!

Hopefully, this guide on the Amazon Influencer Program has answered many of your questions on how to join and thrive within it.

The program offers some real potential to help you make a passive side income or to become a full-time influencer.

Take the tips above to heart if you want to start down the path of joining the program and making some real money from it.