Amazon Influencer Program Guide: Requirements, Tips, and Commission Rates Unveiled

Amazon didn’t scale to where it is now by accident. Did you know that Amazon has been leveraging affiliates and influencers since 1996? These partners bring organic external traffic to their website, primarily through the associates program and the amazing Amazon Influencer Program.

Whether you’re an Amazon Seller Central Seller, Vendor Central Seller, or Amazon B2B Seller, you can easily recognize that selling on Amazon has become more challenging. Simply screening the right keywords,  or adding high-resolution images, and gathering positive reviews may not give you that edge to outpace your competitors.

After all, the Amazon A10 algorithm has advanced significantly, now prioritizing brands based on several parameters, including their ability to drive external traffic to Amazon. This is where the Amazon Influencer Program can come in handy. 

Amazon Influencers can earn a whopping 10% in commission rates, making it a highly effective marketing tool to drive traffic to your website.

So, whether you’re an aspiring Amazon Influencer or a seller looking to leverage this program, this guide can help you understand the intricacies of the Amazon Influencer Program:

Quick Guide

• What are Amazon Influencers?
• Who Can Become An Amazon Influencer?
  Requirements to apply for the Amazon Influencer Program

• How Does the Amazon Influencer Program Works?
• How to Apply for the Amazon Influencer Program?
• How Much Do Amazon Influencers Get Paid?
• What’s The Difference Between Amazon Influencers and Amazon Affiliates?
• How to Promote your Amazon Influencer Store
• How to Reach Out to Amazon Influencers?
• Final Thoughts

What are Amazon Influencers?

Amazon Influencers are individuals who use their social media presence and influence to promote products available on Amazon. 

These influencers are typically active on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or blogs, where they have a significant following that trusts their recommendations and opinions.

Influencer marketing is on the rise: 12% of Amazon third-party sellers hire influencers to market their products, and more than a third (41%) plan to promote their products off Amazon.

Amazon’s influencer program allows these individuals to create their managed storefront on Amazon, showcasing products they recommend or use themselves. They receive a unique URL to their storefront, which they can share with their followers. 

When followers make purchases through this link, the influencer earns a commission on the sales generated.

This program is advantageous for both influencers and Amazon. Influencers can legalize their influence by recommending products they genuinely believe in, while Amazon benefits from increased sales driven by the influencer’s audience. 

It’s a win-win situation where influencers can earn income while providing valuable product recommendations to their followers.

Who Can Become An Amazon Influencer?

Amazon Influencers face stricter qualifications, as Amazon analyzes their social media accounts to assess their suitability for the program.

Amazon accepts applications from all types of influencers, provided should have a YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok account. 

If you are applying using an Instagram or Facebook account, you should use a business account. 

When reviewing your application,  Amazon considers the number of followers you have in addition to other engagement metrics.

While meeting these criteria doesn’t guarantee acceptance into the Amazon Influencers Program, they can significantly improve an influencer’s chances of being selected. 

Additionally, Amazon may periodically review an influencer’s performance and engagement metrics to ensure they continue to meet the program’s standards.

Qualifications to apply for the Amazon Influencer Program

Here are the qualifications that you need to apply for the Amazon Influencer Program:

1. Social Media Platforms

Amazon typically accepts influencers who have a presence on major social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and sometimes personal blogs. These platforms serve as the primary channels through which influencers can promote Amazon products to their specific audience.

2. Number of Followers

While there isn’t a strict minimum requirement for the number of followers, Amazon generally prefers influencers with a substantial following. This can vary depending on the social media platform and the influencer’s niche, but having thousands to hundreds of thousands of followers is often seen as favorable especially if they are your followers organically.

However, it’s not just about the quantity of followers; the quality of the audience and their engagement levels also play a crucial role.

3. Engagement

In addition to follower count, Amazon evaluates an influencer’s engagement metrics, which include likes, comments, shares, and other forms of interaction with their content. 

High engagement rates indicate an active and involved audience that is more likely to trust and act on the influencer’s recommendations. Amazon looks for influencers who can effectively engage their audience and drive interest in the products they promote.

Meeting these requirements demonstrates to Amazon that an influencer has the reach, influence, and ability to effectively promote products to their audience, which is essential for success in the Amazon Influencer Program.

Recommended read: What are the reasons for losing the Amazon Vendor Buy Box?

How Does the Amazon Influencer Program Works?

An Amazon Influencer Program is a mutually beneficial relationship between Amazon and influencers who have substantial followings on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. 

Here’s a breakdown of how it operates:

After meeting the program’s criteria, influencers create a personalized storefront on Amazon. Using this storefront, they can curate recommendations for their audience based on products they validate.

Influencers share affiliate links to their Amazon storefront on their social media channels or blogs. These links direct their audience to the storefront, where they can explore and purchase recommended products with a single click.

When a follower clicks on an affiliate link and makes a purchase, the influencer earns a commission from Amazon for facilitating the sale. This commission is based on the total value of the items purchased by the customer within a specific timeframe, typically 24 hours.

Let’s break it into steps for a better understanding:

1. The Amazon Influencer first builds a viewer base on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.
2. They then apply to the Amazon Influencer Program
3. The Amazon Influencer registers in their Amazon Influencer field of the Amazon Associates Program
4. The Amazon Influencer then creates an Amazon Store and adds products they or brands they’re working with, in that store 
5. The Amazon Influencer shares a link on YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook recommending items.
6. The audience clicks on the link posted on social media or YouTube and gets redirected to the shop.
7. The audience member becomes a customer by purchasing the item recommended to them.
8. The Amazon Influencer gets a commission from Amazon, NOT the brand, for whatever the customer just purchased AND everything else they purchased within the next 24 hours.

The Amazon Influencer Program empowers influencers to monetize their influence by using their credibility and audience trust to drive sales on Amazon, while Amazon benefits from increased product visibility and sales through influencer marketing.

How to Apply for the Amazon Influencer Program?

To apply for the Amazon Influencers Program, follow these steps:

Step 1: Registration

Visit the Amazon Influencer Program homepage and click on “Sign Up.” You’ll be prompted to create a new Amazon account or use an existing customer or Amazon Associates account.

If creating a new account, provide details like name, email, password, and address. Most of this information will transfer to your influencer program account.

Step 2: Applying to the Influencer Program

Choose between YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook as your primary social media platform. Link your account to Amazon or provide your Instagram handle, follower count, and post frequency. 

Select the platform where your audience engagement is highest, as this increases your chances of approval.

Step 3: Create Your Storefront

Add a Storefront name, tagline, profile picture, and optional header image. Consider promoting products you’ve used or are currently using for authenticity. 

A well-curated storefront enhances your marketing efforts and distinguishes you as an Amazon Influencer.

Step 4: Create your Account

Provide additional account information and click “Save and Finish.” You’ll be redirected to the Amazon Associates dashboard. Follow the Amazon Influencer Program on Instagram using the registered account to complete the application process.

While awaiting approval, start building out your storefront and preparing to promote products to your audience. Once approved, you can start earning commissions from product recommendations on Amazon.

How Much Do Amazon Influencers Get Paid?

Amazon Influencers can earn commissions of up to 10%, increasing the program’s attraction for both seasoned influencers and newcomers alike. Also, can earn between $4-500 per month, depending on your activity and the number of followers you have. 

The standard rule of thumb is 1,000 followers, but this can vary based on the size of the company sponsoring them. 

For example, celebrities typically have thousands of followers, whereas smaller companies tend to prefer 500. For an average person, you should aim for 2,000 to 3,000 followers. Your follower count determines how much Amazon will compensate you.

It’s important to note that Amazon Influencers are independent businesses that invest significant time, money, and resources into understanding algorithms and growing their audiences on their platforms. 

They look to regain those costs through brand deals, promotional opportunities, commissions, and more. Therefore, the amount they earn can vary widely based on the size and influence of their platforms.

Also read:

What’s The Difference Between Amazon Influencers and Amazon Affiliates?

The main difference between Amazon Influencers and Amazon Affiliates lies in how they recommend products to their audience and the social media they use for promotion.

1. Amazon Influencers

Members of the Amazon Influencer Program are essentially Amazon Affiliates but with an additional feature: they can create custom storefronts on Amazon.

These influencers curate a selection of products they endorse within their storefront, providing a centralized location for their followers to explore and purchase recommended items.

Amazon Influencers typically use platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or social media for pushing organic traffic to their Amazon storefronts, where the audience can browse and shop the endorsed products.

2. Amazon Affiliates

Amazon Affiliates have been part of the Amazon Associates Program since its inception in 1996.

They primarily share affiliate links for specific items on their own blogs or social media accounts.

Unlike Amazon Influencers, they do not have the option to create custom storefronts on Amazon. 

Instead, they direct their audience to individual product pages using affiliate links.

Thus, both Amazon Influencers and Amazon Affiliates earn commissions by promoting products on Amazon, but the key distinction lies in the platform they use for promotion and the way they present product recommendations to their audience. 

Additional read: Analysis of Amazon Affiliate Program and Amazon Selling

How to Promote your Amazon Influencer Store

In this section, we will focus on promoting your influencer store to maximize your earning potential.

Amazon provides valuable tips on how to effectively promote your store to boost your commissions. Here’s a breakdown of strategies across different platforms:

1. Instagram

Place a link to your influencer page in your bio and encourage followers to visit for your recommendations.

Utilize compelling content in your captions to motivate your audience to shop the items showcased in your posts.

Leverage Instagram Stories to showcase products, engage organically with your followers, and expand your audience reach.

2. Facebook

Include the link to your influencer page in the “About” section of your profile.

Share recommended items in your Facebook Stories.

Add a “Shop Now“ button to your Facebook profile, directing visitors to your Amazon influencer page.

In product-related posts, provide links to both your storefront page and the corresponding product detail page on Amazon.

3. YouTube

Add your influencer page link to your channel’s “About” section.

Include the link in video descriptions, prompting viewers to “shop” your video by clicking on it.

Direct your audience to your influencer page to explore all your recommended products.

4. Twitter

Feature your influencer page link in your Twitter bio.

Regularly discuss product recommendations in your tweets and insert your influencer link whenever possible.

5. Website & Blog

Determine your audience’s interests and create blog posts supporting relevant product niches.

Consistently publish new content to keep readers engaged, including hyperlinks to recommended products and directing them to your influencer page.

6. Snapchat

Utilize Snapchat Stories to provide followers with insights into your influencer page and recommended products.

7. Amazon Live

Amazon Live allows influencers to host live streams to promote brands and products directly.

Viewers can discover live streams through social media and watch them on Amazon Live.

During the stream, influencers share their favorite products and their experiences with them, providing viewers with valuable insights.

Viewers can conveniently purchase showcased products by clicking on the provided links and interacting with each other in a chat room.

8. Promoting Services

In addition to promoting products, consider endorsing Amazon services, known as “Bounties” in the Affiliate program.

These services include Prime Video Channels Free Trial, Amazon Baby Registry, Amazon Business, Amazon Home Services, and Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial.

The Amazon Bounty Program offers fixed commissions for every service advertised, providing an additional revenue stream for influencers.

By implementing these strategies effectively, you can optimize your influencer store’s visibility and drive sales, ultimately increasing your earnings through the Amazon Influencers Program.

How to Reach Out to Amazon Influencers? 

If you are an Amazon seller and want to collaborate with Amazon Influencers, it’s recommended to send cold emails instead of DMs for better response and credibility.

Cold emails are perceived as more professional than DMs. They provide a formal place for introducing yourself, your brand, and your collaboration proposal in a structured and concise manner.

DMs on social media platforms can be perceived as intrusive, especially if the influencer receives a high volume of messages. Cold emails, on the other hand, allow influencers to review and respond to collaboration proposals at their convenience without interrupting their social media interactions.

Thus, sending cold emails to Amazon influencers offers a more professional, less intrusive, and potentially more effective approach for initiating collaboration discussions and building lasting partnerships.

You have three goals.

• Get your Email opened.
• Get your Email read.
• Get a positive response.

To achieve these goals you need to:

• Make sure you keep your message short, crisp, and to the point.
• Make sure the Influencer can view your brand name and do a quick research on your brand.
• Use effective email subject lines for better open rates.
• Add personalization – include the influencer’s name in the body and the subject line.

Amazon Influencer Outreach Subject Lines:

• Hey [Influencer Name], We’d Love To Sponsor Your Content!
• Hey [Influencer Name], We’d Like To Pay You For Blog/Video/Content! 
• Hey [Influencer Name], Are you available for a Brand Sponsorship?

Amazon Influencer Outreach Email Template Example:

Hey [Influencer Name],

Hope you’re well. We’d love to sponsor the content that you are posting.

We recently checked out your [ Name of the influencer’s Blogs/ YouTube Videos/ Live Streams or Social Media Content] and we think it completely resonates with our brand.

We sell [What You Sell] and we are proud to say that it’s bringing in great sales on Amazon right now, but with an Influencer like you, we believe it would fetch us even more sales than now.

I’d love to know your quotes and further processes on how we can work together.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

PS: If you don’t have a fixed quote, that’s okay, we can talk about it.

Here is a link to our Amazon store:

[Link to Product or Amazon Store]

Best,

[Your Details]

Final Thoughts

Amazon Influencer Program offers a profitable opportunity for individuals with a substantial following on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube to monetize their influence through product endorsements. 

The market for influencers is growing, and in this trend Amazon’s Influencer Program is tapping by enabling social media personalities to earn commissions through curated product recommendations, thereby forming a symbiotic relationship between influencers and Amazon.

By creating a custom Amazon storefront, influencers can showcase their favorite products and earn commissions from purchases made by their followers. 

For those with a strong social media presence and a knack for recommending quality products, joining the Amazon Influencer Program is a smart move toward turning their passion into profit. 

Don’t hesitate to apply and start earning from your social media skills today!

Additional read:

Is Amazon Pay Good For Sellers?

15 Practical Ways to Make Money on Amazon

Amazon Scams: How Sellers Can Stay Protected?

Going crazy over your Amazon product research?

What is Amazon phishing?

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