Note on earnings: Specific earnings, commission, and monthly income figures that appeared in an earlier version of this post have been removed because they could not be verified. Results in the Amazon Influencer Program vary widely depending on video quality, product choice, competition, and viewer demand, and many participants earn little or nothing. No income, commission rate, or monthly result is promised or guaranteed.
The Amazon Influencer Program: An Opportunity to Understand
The Amazon Influencer Program lets approved creators post review videos that can appear on product pages. When a viewer watches a video and then buys a qualifying product, the creator may earn a commission under Amazon’s current terms. This post explains how approval, on-site placement, product choice, and video quality work. It does not promise any level of earnings.
Why This Guide May Help
This guide covers how to get approved for the program, how to work toward your first commissions, and how creators think about growing over time. Approval and earnings are separate steps: being approved does not guarantee sales.
Step 1: Getting Approved for the Program
The first step is approval. The Amazon Influencer Program has an application stage that looks at your social media presence, which can be on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook. You do not necessarily need a huge following, but engagement and the quality of your content matter, and approval is not guaranteed. If you are rejected, you can review the reasons, improve your content, and apply again under Amazon’s current rules.
How to Sign Up
To sign up, go to Amazon’s influencer program page, create an account, and enter your information as requested. Follow the instructions on Amazon’s own site, as the process and requirements can change.
What to Do If You Are Rejected
If you are approved, you can move on to the next step. If you are rejected, do not assume it is permanent: check what Amazon asked for, improve your social profiles and content, and reapply when you are eligible to do so.
Step 2: Getting Approved for On-Site Placement
Once you are in the program, there is a separate step for on-site placement, which is what allows your videos to appear on Amazon product pages. You will usually need to submit sample videos that meet Amazon’s rules.
Requirements for On-Site Videos
- Not calling out to click links or asking for follows
- Not mentioning price, unless Amazon’s current rules allow it
- Not showing private information like your phone number or address
- Following Amazon’s other content rules, which can change
The person in the videos should match the account holder, and the content should be honest about the product.
Amazon’s Quality Standards
Amazon looks for basic quality standards in on-site videos, including:
- Clear audio, so speak close to the microphone or in a quiet place
- The product in focus in the center of the frame
- Video filmed horizontally
- A length that meets Amazon’s current minimum
Uploading and Waiting for Approval
After you upload sample videos, they will show as processing, and then you will need to wait for a decision. Processing does not mean approval. If you are rejected at this stage, Amazon usually allows further attempts, so review the feedback and improve the videos before resubmitting.
Step 3: Posting Videos and Earning Commissions
Once you are approved for on-site placement, you can post review videos. If somebody watches your video and buys a qualifying product, you may earn a commission under Amazon’s current terms. Commissions are not automatic: they depend on qualifying purchases, attribution rules, returns, and the product category, and rates can change, so check Amazon’s current commission information rather than relying on older examples.
Note that videos may keep earning for a time after posting, but income is not passive in a guaranteed sense: videos can stop being shown, products can change, and commissions can fall.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Products
Product choice matters more than video count alone. A few well-chosen videos on products people research before buying may perform better than many videos on products nobody watches reviews for. There is no guaranteed formula, and a product that performed well for one creator may not perform well for another.
How to Find Products Worth Reviewing
When judging a product, consider: how much monthly sales it has; how much commission is available per sale within that product category; how much the product costs; how much competition is on that product; whether people would watch a review of it; what the lifespan of the product is; and whether influencer videos are allowed on that product page.
Tools to Analyze Product Sales
Plugins and tools can estimate monthly sales, show commission rates, show whether carousel videos are allowed, and show how many videos are already on a listing. Treat those estimates with caution: they are estimates, not guarantees, and they can be out of date. You can also judge a product manually by checking its listing, reviews, and existing videos.
Scanning Your Amazon Order History for Opportunities
You can look through your own Amazon order history for products you already own and can review honestly. Reviewing products you genuinely use can make videos more credible than reviewing products you have never tried.
Understanding Commission Rates
You can find commission rates on Amazon’s own pages for the program. Rates vary by category and can change, so always check the current rates before choosing products on the basis of commission.
Choosing Products People Want to Watch Reviews On
People usually watch reviews for products they need to research before buying, such as items where size, quality, or features matter. Everyday consumables that people buy without research are less likely to attract review viewers, even if they sell well.
Evaluating Competition
Most worthwhile products already have videos on them. Competition alone is not a reason to avoid a product, but if the existing videos are very high quality, your video will need to be genuinely useful to stand out. Avoid copying other creators’ videos or claims.
Considering Product Lifespan
Consider how long a product is likely to keep selling. A product with lasting demand may keep generating views over time, while a seasonal product may sell for a short period and then stop. Neither outcome is guaranteed, and past demand does not promise future sales.
Ensuring Videos Show Up on Listings
Check whether your videos are actually appearing on the product pages you targeted, using Amazon’s own tools or by checking the listing manually. A video that is not shown on a listing will not earn commissions from that listing.
Step 4: How to Make High-Quality Videos
There are four main parts to a quality review video: film quality, audio quality, script quality (what you say), and thumbnail and title.
Film Quality Tips
You can film with a phone. Lighting matters more than an expensive camera: film facing a window or in a well-lit room, keep the product in focus, and compare test shots to see the difference good light makes.
Recommended Equipment
A simple tripod can help keep the phone steady and at a good height. You do not need expensive gear to start; improve equipment only if your results justify the cost.
Audio Quality Tips
Your phone’s microphone can work if you are close to it and in a quiet room. A small external microphone may improve clarity, but audio quality alone does not guarantee views or sales.
Scripting Tips
- Hook the viewer right away — do not spend the opening introducing yourself at length
- Establish some credibility — for example, how long you have used the product
- Do not waste words — avoid long pauses and filler
- Deliver on what the viewers came to see — show the product and answer the questions buyers ask
- Keep the video length short — long enough to cover the product, short enough to hold attention
Thumbnail and Title Best Practices
Showcase the product clearly in the thumbnail, and add text only if it helps. If you appear on camera, that is a choice, not a requirement, and faceless content can still work if the product is shown clearly. Titles should include the product name and a genuine question buyers ask, such as whether the product is worth buying, rather than a misleading claim.
Step 5: Growing Over Time
Once you can find suitable products and make quality videos, growth comes from posting consistently and learning from your own results. There is no guaranteed monthly level at any stage, and growth is usually gradual. Track which videos actually lead to qualifying purchases, and focus on the types of products and videos that work for you.
How Some Creators Scale
Some creators scale by using Amazon’s Creator Connections, by being approached by brands, by buying products strategically for review, or by hiring help with filming, voiceover, or editing. Outsourcing costs money and does not guarantee higher earnings, and you remain responsible for the honesty and quality of videos published under your account.
Steps to Scaling
- Master the basics first — approval, product choice, and video quality
- Use Creator Connections — brands may offer products or campaigns, subject to their terms
- Respond to brand approaches carefully — check the terms before agreeing
- Buy products strategically — only products you can review honestly and afford
- Outsource tasks only when it pays — compare the cost against your actual commissions
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Common mistakes include chasing only high-commission products, copying other creators, posting misleading claims, and expecting quick results. Focus on honest, useful reviews and on your own measured results.
Why You Should Not Buy and Return Products Just for Reviews
Do not buy products only to return them after making a review video. That can breach Amazon’s rules and put your account at risk. Review products you own, can keep, or have a legitimate reason to buy, and disclose any free or discounted product where Amazon’s rules require it.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
The Amazon Influencer Program can be a way to earn commissions from honest product reviews, but it is not a guaranteed income. Approval takes time, most videos earn little or nothing, and results depend on product choice, video quality, and demand. Start with products you know, follow Amazon’s current rules, and judge the program by your own results over time.
