A few months ago, joining the Amazon Influencer Program changed the game for me. It is by far the fastest route I have found to making money online. And it’s fun! The coolest part is, just about anyone can do it with a little effort. In this blog, I will tell you how to get started and how to make money fast!
What is the Amazon Influencer Program?
The Amazon Influencer Program is a way for content creators to earn commissions on qualifying purchases made by their followers. As an Amazon Influencer, you can create custom storefronts on Amazon, where you can share your favorite products and recommendations with your followers. When someone clicks on a product link in your storefront and makes a purchase, you’ll earn a commission.
But EVEN BETTER, you don’t have to promote to your followers. If you make shoppable review videos of a product, Amazon will make your video available to people who are shopping on the product page. If they watch your video and make a purchase, you get a commission!
The Amazon Influencer Program is open to content creators with at least 200 followers (I’ve heard that engagement is more important than the amount of followers) on one of the following social media platforms:
- YouTube
- TikTok
Here are some of the benefits of being an Amazon Influencer:
- You can earn commissions on qualifying purchases made by your followers.
- You can create custom storefronts on Amazon to showcase your favorite products and recommendations.
- You can promote your storefront on your social media channels.
- You can get featured on Amazon’s website and app.
- You can join Amazon’s exclusive influencer community.
How do I apply to become an Amazon Influencer?
To apply for the program, visit this link. Once you’re approved, you can start creating your storefront and sharing your product recommendations with your followers. More importantly, you can begin to upload shoppable videos. However, in order for your videos to be approved for commissions, your first three videos need to be approved by a human at Amazon. I have a video right here, where you can learn the secrets to getting your first three videos approved.
Do I have to purchase products from Amazon to make video reviews?
This might shock you. No, you do not have to purchase products from Amazon to review in order to participate in the Amazon Influencer Program. So, how does this work? Let me explain.
- It’s probably good to start with products you have already purchased from Amazon. Look at your Amazon history and make videos about those products.
- Next, look at what other items you have to see if they are sold on Amazon. That is the only requirement. It doesn’t matter if you bought it on Amazon. It only matters if the item is sold on Amazon. For example, I may have a toaster that I bought at Walmart. But if the exact item is sold on Amazon, I can still make a review.
- The next thing to do is hit up friends and family. Hopefully you have people in your life that want to see you succeed. Ask them if you can review their Amazon products. You can even invite them to be in the videos with you!
- Receive free products from sellers! You heard me right! Not long after you become an influencer, you will begin to receive emails and messages from sellers who will send you products for free in exchange for you creating a review. Amazon is totally fine with this. You can even charge for it! I’ve heard of a lot of influencers charging between $10 and $50 for each review video they make. Important Note: If you charge to make the video, you have to say “I was paid to complete this review” in the video.
What can I say and not say when reviewing products?
Things you can say:
- You can share your honest and unbiased opinion of the product.
- You can discuss the pros and cons of the product.
- You can compare the product to similar products on the market.
- You can provide your own personal experience with the product.
- You can use affiliate links to promote the product on your website or social media pages.
Things you cannot say:
- You cannot claim that the product is a miracle cure or that it will solve all of your problems.
- You cannot claim that something is “environmentally friendly” or make medical claims. When talking about a medical product, it is best to say, “it helped …”
- You cannot make false or misleading statements about the product.
- You cannot promote the product in a way that is deceptive or unethical.
- You cannot sell directly to children.
Other tips:
- Don’t show any barcodes or QR codes in the videos.
- You MUST have the product to demonstrate. You cannot just talk about the product.
- Videos can be vertical or horizontal.
- You don’t have to put your face in the video. The video can be of your hands demonstrating a product.
- You can film a video and then put a voiceover to do the explaining at a later time.
It is important to be honest and transparent when reviewing products as an Amazon Influencer. If you are not sure whether something is okay to say, it is always best to err on the side of caution.
How many video reviews do I need to have?
There is no minimum number of video reviews required to be an Amazon Influencer. However, Amazon does encourage influencers to create video reviews as they are a great way to engage with your audience and promote products.
If you are new to the Amazon Influencer Program, it may be helpful to start by creating a few video reviews. This will give you a chance to practice your video skills and get feedback from your audience. Once you have a few videos under your belt, you can start to create more videos on a regular basis.
Here are some tips for creating effective video reviews:
- Be yourself. People want to connect with you, so be genuine and authentic in your videos.
- Be informative. Give your viewers a detailed overview of the product, including its pros and cons.
- Be engaging. Use visuals, humor, and storytelling to keep your viewers entertained.
- Promote your videos. Share them on your website and social media pages.
By following these tips, you can create video reviews that are informative, engaging, and helpful to your audience.
In addition to video reviews, you can also create other types of content to promote products on Amazon, such as:
- Blog posts
- Social media posts
- Live streams
- Podcasts
The more content you create, the more likely you are to attract new followers and earn commissions.
How can I get approved for On-Site Commission?
When you first get approved for the Amazon Influencer program, you still have to go through a second approval for shoppable videos. These videos are where you really make money without even having to promote to your audience. Amazon places these videos on the product pages and you receive a commission if someone watches your video and then makes a purchase.
In order to be approved, you have to upload your first three videos and wait a few business days for those videos to be approved. You will be able to track the approval process at the top of your “Manage Videos” page.
Your first three videos are very important. Be sure to watch the video I recommended above where I show you exactly how to get these three videos approved.
Do I need to make thumbnails for my videos?
No. You do not have to make thumbnails for your videos. When you upload your video, Amazon will assign a thumbnail from your recording. However, making your own thumbnails, if done well, could increase your chances of being featured or viewed.
What kind of equipment do I need to film my videos?
All you need is the phone on your camera, as long as you have a good quality camera on your phone. I would also recommend using a good microphone, but it is not necessary as long as your audio is clear and doesn’t have background noise.
How much money can I make with the Amazon Influencer Program?
The amount of money you can make on the Amazon Influencer Program is technically unlimited. How much money you make will depend on several factors.
In general, you can expect to earn a commission of 1-10% on qualifying purchases made by your followers or on shoppable videos that Amazon places on the product pages. However, some products have higher commission rates than others. For example, household items will have a higher commission rate than other categories like electronics. Here is the page from Amazon that has the commission rates for Amazon Associates and Influencers. Amazon may also offer seasonal increased rates as an incentive.
If you have a large following and you create high-quality content that promotes products with high commission rates, you can potentially earn a significant amount of money with the Amazon Influencer Program. However, it is important to note that there is no guarantee of earning a certain amount of money with the program. Your earnings will depend on a number of factors that are outside of your control.
Here are some tips for increasing your earnings with the Amazon Influencer Program:
- Create high-quality content. Your content should be informative, engaging, and helpful to your audience.
- Promote products with high commission rates. Choose products that have high commission rates so that you can earn more money on each sale.
Can I make faceless videos?
Yes! Your face does not need to be in the videos. I saw one influencer who purchased a phone holder that goes around his neck, so that he can easily use both of his hands to film the product demonstration.
What are the benefits of being an Amazon Influencer?
- Earn commissions on qualifying purchases. This is the main benefit of the Amazon Influencer Program. You can earn a commission of 1-10% on qualifying purchases made by your followers who click on your product links.
- Create and manage your own storefront. You can create and manage your own storefront on Amazon, where you can showcase the products you love and recommend to your followers.
- Promote your storefront and products on social media. You can promote your storefront and products on your social media channels, such as YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
- Get featured on Amazon’s website and app. Amazon may feature your storefront and products on its website and app, which can help you reach a wider audience.
- Join Amazon’s exclusive influencer community. As an Amazon Influencer, you can join Amazon’s exclusive influencer community, where you can connect with other influencers and learn from each other.
Final Thoughts
Like I said, the Amazon Influencer Program changed the game for me. I just started in mid-April. In July I made over $800, and I had right around 200 videos. My friend made over $1,100 in July and she didn’t start until May. She has worked harder than me, so the more you put into the program, the more it will pay off. I’ve heard of some influencers making between $5,000 and $20,000 per month! That is insane. I’m not there yet, but I hope to be one day!
If you decide to join the Amazon Influencer Program, I wish you all the best. Leave a comment if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to get back to you.
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