The Scrappy Generalist

For those looking for a side quest or hustle, a way to make some extra money is by becoming an Amazon Influencer or Associate. If you’re already an Amazon shopper, it can be a way to monetize your online presence if you have a large following or simply get back a little of the cash you’ve spent shopping on Amazon in the first place.

The primary goal is to either drive traffic to your own Amazon storefront, where followers can easily browse and buy recommended products, or you refer people to Amazon through your social media channels and/or blog/website. It should be mentioned up front that this isn’t a get rich quick scheme, it’s more of a marathon. You’re also at the mercy of Amazon who may introduce program changes or differences in the platform throughout your experience. Earning Amazon affiliate commission is a long game.

There’s work to be put into the program with product research, video creation, editing, and it may not earn you the rewards you want compared to the effort right away. Personally, I find affiliate income as more of a smaller side hustle, to be used as part of a multi-channel effort with other platforms like YouTube, live streaming, blogging etc.

Application Process

There’s actually two separate programs: the Amazon Influencer Program and the Amazon Associates Program. Most people sign up for both. The Amazon Influencer Program operates separately from the standard Amazon Associates program, though they share some similarities.

The main difference between the two is how you promote products (onsite vs. off-site) and how you reach your audience.

The Associates Program

For the Associates Program, the main focus is to drive traffic to Amazon product pages from your own website, blog, or social media channels using unique affiliate links. You have flexibility in how you promote products. You can write reviews, create comparison posts or embed affiliate links within content you share. Amazon provides tools to create and manage affiliate links, track your earnings, and provides access to some marketing materials.

Building Links

All links are not created equal. For example, any link you share must be public. This means, any links shared via DM, text message, email etc also do NOT count and you can get kicked out of the program if Amazon cannot properly track where your links are coming from. This goes for Influencer links too.

The Influencer Program

The focus of the Influencer Program relies on curating and promoting a personalized Amazon storefront with your recommended products. You primarily drive traffic to a storefront page on Amazon through your social media presence, using a unique vanity URL (e.g., amazon.com/shop/yourname). You also get access to customizable storefront designs and the ability to create shoppable photos and videos. More on that later…

The Application Process

To start, just visit the Amazon Influencer Program page and click “Get Started.” You’ll need to sign in with your existing Amazon account or create one if you haven’t already. On the application, you’ll be asked to link your main social media accounts (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok are accepted).

To qualify, you have to meet several program requirements:

• Number of followers
• Engagement rates
• Content quality and consistency
• Niche relevance
• Post frequency

A significant social media following is essential, though Amazon doesn’t publicly specify exact numbers. Generally, accounts with at least 20,000 followers on at least one platform have better chances of acceptance. However, micro-influencers with highly engaged audiences in specific niches may also qualify.

Your content has to align with Amazon’s guidelines and terms of service. This means no prohibited content, spam, or artificial engagement. Your account should demonstrate authentic interaction with your audience and regular posting activity. You also cannot reference the name Amazon anywhere in your posts.

The review process typically takes 1-3 business days, though some applications can be approved instantly based on your social media metrics. Personally, I don’t have a ton of followers, but I do engage sincerely with people, so I think that counts for something.

Maintaining an active presence is important – Amazon regularly reviews accounts and may suspend those that become inactive or violate their terms.

Earning Commissions

Once accepted, you’ll have access to earn Amazon affiliate commission several ways:

As an Influencer, your personalized Amazon storefront serves as your hub for product recommendations from items you’ve purchased. Here, you can curate items into themed “idea lists” and categories. Commission rates vary by product category, typically ranging from 1% to 10%.

Live streaming through Amazon Live offers additional earning potential. As you stream, you can showcase products and earn commissions on purchases made during and shortly after your broadcast. Higher engagement levels can unlock better commission rates and additional features.

Commissions are earned when customers purchase products through your unique links or storefront within 24 hours of clicking. If customers add items to their cart, you have 90 days to earn the commission once they complete the purchase.

Note: Products purchase during sessions initiated through your own Associates links will not receive referral commissions for those orders. This includes orders for products to be used by you, your friends, your relatives etc. Basically, anything you buy through your own links or if anyone in your close network buys, it will NOT count. Don’t ask me how, Amazon just knows.

How to Earn Onsite Commissions

A lot of people talk about the dreaded “blue lock”. When you first get accepted into the influencer program, you don’t automatically earn commissions from your videos. It’s actually best if you don’t have any videos at all until you know how to upload them and what Amazon is looking for.

Getting your videos accepted by Amazon for onsite commissions in the Influencer Program involves a few key steps. You also only get THREE attempts – so make them count. You should also only upload THREE videos at a time when you submit for review. You can learn more about shoppable video FAQs from Amazon.

What is Amazon looking for?

Create High-Quality Videos:

• Demonstrative: Clearly show the product in use, highlighting its features and benefits. Don’t just show the product, show it in action in its intended environment.
• Descriptive: Provide detailed information about the product, including its features, size, weight, and how to use it. Answer potential customer questions.
• Engaging: Make your videos interesting and entertaining to watch. Use good lighting, clear audio, and a non-distracting background.
• Authentic: Share your genuine thoughts and experiences with the product. Be honest and transparent with your audience.

Follow Amazon’s Content Guidelines:

• No Price Mentions: Don’t mention specific prices in your videos.
• No Calls to Action: Avoid asking viewers to follow, subscribe, comment, or turn on notifications.
• Product Accuracy: Only tag products that are actually featured and discussed in your video.
• Original Content: Don’t upload videos that are similar to content from other creators or product detail pages.
• Appropriate Content: Ensure your videos don’t contain any nudity, sexually suggestive content, or other inappropriate material.

Optimize Your Videos

• Descriptive Titles: Use clear and concise titles that accurately reflect the content of your video.
• Eye-Catching Thumbnails: Choose or create thumbnails that will grab viewers’ attention and make them want to watch your video.
• Accurate Product Tagging: Tag all the products that are featured in your video to make it easy for viewers to shop.

Upload Your Videos

• Creator Hub: You can upload videos through the Amazon Creator Hub on your desktop or through the Amazon app on your phone.
• Video Format: Ensure your videos are in .mp4 or .mov format and are less than 5GB in size.
• Video Length: Videos must be longer than 5 seconds and shorter than 60 minutes. Most of mine are under 1 minute long. I like to keep things short and sweet.

The Moderation Process

• Review: All videos are reviewed by Amazon to ensure they meet the content guidelines.
• Approval: Once your video is approved, it will be published on your storefront and may* appear on relevant product detail pages.
• Rejection: If your video is rejected, you’ll receive a notification with the reason for rejection, and you can edit and re-upload it.

You’re Approved!

Once you’re approved after your initial 3 videos get accepted, you’ll see a Congratulations the next time you log in to your content dashboard. You’ll also notice the blue lock is gone and it now says Earned onsite commissions.

Building Links with SiteStripe

SiteStripe is a handy tool provided by Amazon for its Associates and Influencers to easily create personalized affiliate links. It’s like a little helper that sits at the top of your Amazon browsing window, ready to generate links for you.

Create Affiliate Links: When you’re on any Amazon product page, SiteStripe lets you instantly generate a short, trackable affiliate link. This link is special because it includes your Associate or Influencer ID, so Amazon knows that any purchases made through that link should earn you a commission.

How to get started with SiteStripe:

Join the Program: First, you need to be a member of either the Amazon Associates Program or the Amazon Influencer Program.

1. Start Browsing: Go to any product page on Amazon. You should see the SiteStripe bar at the top of the page.
2. Generate Links: Click on the SiteStripe bar at the top of the page, and it will give you options to create different types of affiliate links for that product.
3. Copy and Share: Copy the generated link and paste it wherever you want to promote the product – your website, blog, social media, etc.

Making Actual Commissions

To optimize your earnings as an Amazon Associate/Influencer, consider these strategies:

Focus on your expertise. Successful creators typically specialize in categories like tech, beauty, home decor, or workouts. Write what you know about, what you actually use and be sincere.

Create high-quality content that provides value to your audience. Whether through detailed product reviews, comparison videos, or how-to guides, your content should help viewers make informed purchasing decisions.

Maintain transparency with your audience about affiliate relationships. This builds trust and often leads to higher conversion rates. Always include necessary disclosures according to FTC guidelines.

Important Rules to Remember

While building your Amazon Influencer business, keep these crucial rules in mind:

• Never use link cloaking or attempt to hide affiliate links. Amazon requires transparency in all affiliate marketing efforts.
• Avoid making price guarantees or specific claims about deals, as prices can change frequently on Amazon.
• Don’t promote products in categories prohibited by Amazon, such as weapons, drugs, or adult content.
• Always maintain accurate disclosures in your content according to Amazon’s terms and FTC guidelines.

To meet the Associate or Influencer Program’s requirements, you must (1) include a legally compliant disclosure with your links and (2) identify yourself on your Site as an Amazon Associate with the language required by the Operating Agreement.  A clear disclosure could be as simple as “(paid link)”, “#ad”, or “#CommissionsEarned” is commonly used.

But What if I Hate Amazon?

If Amazon isn’t your thing, you can also look into ways to create and optimize an Etsy shop. If you haven’t already created an Etsy shop, use my link to get 40 free listings to start you off. I’ve also put together a list of 60 Affiliate Program Links to peruse so you don’t have to!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you chose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link at no cost to you.