After doing the Amazon influencer program for two years, here are five things I wish I would have known before I started. If you’re new here, my name is Kate Peterson, most people know me as the guy who does random things to get out of his comfort zone. I document this journey on social media, and a lot of people ask me, “What do I do for a living?” and “Is social media what I do full-time?” I think a lot of people are surprised to hear that social media by no means is actually a form of income for me. The reason for that is because I found other ways to make money, which has allowed me to have the time freedom to do social media and do it more as a passion project—something that’s more fun for me than a form of income.
One of my streams of income I’m going to be talking about today is the Amazon influencer program. Before we dive into it, I want to answer three questions:
Questions
- What is the Amazon influencer program?
- How does it work?
- How much money can you make from the Amazon influencer program?
Then I’ll share my journey with the program and dive into tips and strategies for everyone who is either doing it or wanting to get into it.
What is the Amazon Influencer Program?
If you haven’t already heard about the Amazon influencer program, this is going to be a great blog for you because I’m going to break down everything. It is a program that Amazon has created to help shoppers see real reviews by real people. As an influencer, I sign up for an account, but you don’t need to be an influencer to join. Once approved, I make simple 60-second review videos of products that I already own. I upload the video to Amazon, and anytime a customer watches my video and buys a product, I get a 2-4% commission.
How Much Money Can You Make?
A 2-4% commission might not sound like much, but it adds up quickly. If you’re selling one product a day and have a few hundred videos out there, the income can grow fast. On average, most influencers make between $500 and $5,000 a month, depending on the effort they put in. The more effort, the more return.
My Journey with the Amazon Influencer Program
I’ve been doing the program for about two years alongside my brother, Trevon. We’ve done over six figures in commission, and the Amazon influencer program has been the easiest and most lucrative side hustle we’ve done. Brands send us free products to review—I’ve received 700 free products! The opportunity here is incredible. We’ve also helped over 500 people get approved and start making sustainable income, with some quitting their full-time jobs.
Tip #1: Don’t Overthink It
Anyone can do the Amazon influencer program. You don’t need to be an influencer or create high-quality videos. Just use your phone, and if you mess up, that’s okay! The goal is to provide a real review, so don’t overthink it. The more you create, the more money you’ll make, so keep it simple and consistent.
Tip #2: Understand the Concept of Delayed Gratification
Nothing great comes easy or immediately. When I started uploading videos, I wasn’t sure it would work, but over time, the returns became passive. The work you do today will pay off down the line, so trust the process and stick with it.
Tip #3: The Concept of Brand Deals
The best part of the Amazon influencer program is the free products you get and the brand deals. Brands reach out to you as you upload more videos. You not only receive the product but can get paid to review it. Plus, you make money from commissions and video rights sales. There are four income streams from brand deals: free products, video uploads, payment for the video review, and video rights sales.
Tip #4: Work Smarter, Not Harder
Choose the right products to review. Some products don’t sell well, and reviewing them is a waste of time. I recommend using tools like ViralView to scan your purchase history and prioritize products that will make the most money.
Tip #5: Invest in Yourself
Investing in yourself—whether through learning new skills, exercising, or improving your health—will pay off more than any other investment. With the Amazon influencer program, invest in learning more about the platform.