I applied to the Amazon Influencer Program with a very small account, and if you’ve been looking for an Amazon Influencer Program for beginners breakdown that actually feels realistic, this is it.
No viral videos.
You don’t need thousands of followers.
No big influencer audience.
Just me, my phone, and a few product videos.
And I got in.
A lot of my students have gotten in too, so I want to walk you through what the Amazon Influencer Program actually is, what Amazon is looking for, and how you can apply if you want to start making money from content without becoming a traditional influencer.
Because yes, you can make money online without growing a massive following.
And honestly? That is one of the biggest reasons I love this side hustle.
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What Is the Amazon Influencer Program?
The Amazon Influencer Program is a program that lets approved creators recommend products through their own Amazon storefront.
When you get accepted, Amazon gives you a storefront link. Think of it like a social media page, except it lives on Amazon.
You can add product recommendations, lists, photos, and videos to your storefront. When people shop through your content, you can earn a commission.
The part I’m mostly talking about here is the Amazon onsite commissions side of the program.
This is where you upload product videos to your Amazon storefront, and those videos can potentially show up on Amazon product pages.
So if someone is shopping for a vacuum, water bottle, phone holder, camera, or whatever else, they may see influencer videos on that product page. If they watch your video and buy the product, you may earn a commission.
That means you are creating content for people who are already shopping.
You are not trying to convince cold strangers on the internet that they need something. You are helping warm buyers decide if the product they are already looking at is the right fit for them.
Do You Need a Big Following to Get Accepted?
No, a huge following is not required.
There is no specific follower requirement that says you must have 10,000 followers or a viral account to apply.
What Amazon cares about is your account quality and engagement.
For example, if you have 16 followers and 8 of them are engaging with your content, that is a strong engagement rate. That matters more than having thousands of followers who never like, comment, or watch anything you post.
The smallest account I have personally seen get accepted had 16 followers.
So if you have been telling yourself, “I can’t do this because I’m not an influencer,” I want you to know that is not automatically true.
A massive audience is not the goal. Going viral is not the goal either.
The goal is to apply, create helpful content, and start learning how the program works.
Why I Chose Amazon Instead of Becoming an Influencer
When I started in 2023, I was trying to figure out how I could make money online without having to grow a huge personal brand.
I did not want to become an influencer.
I did not want everyone I knew seeing what I was doing online.
Posting constantly on social media just to make money did not sound exciting to me either.
That is what made the Amazon Influencer Program for beginners so appealing.
The first videos I posted to help me get into the program were faceless. Nobody even knew it was my account.
If you are shy, introverted, private, or just do not want your entire hometown watching your content journey, Amazon can be a really good place to start.
It gives you experience creating content, talking about products, understanding what buyers care about, and learning how videos convert without the pressure of building a public-facing influencer brand.
How Amazon Influencer Videos Make Money
Once you are approved for the Amazon Influencer Program, you get access to your storefront.
From there, you can upload product videos.
These videos can live on your storefront, and if you are eligible for onsite commissions, they can potentially be shown on product pages across Amazon.
That matters because you are not relying only on your own audience.
There is no need to post every video to TikTok. You also do not have to share each one on Instagram or drive people to your storefront every day.
Amazon is already full of shoppers. Your job is to create helpful content that supports their buying decision.
For example, if I made a video about an Owala water bottle, I could show what I like about it, how I use it, what makes it different, and who I think it is best for.
If someone is already on Amazon looking at that product, my video may help them decide to add it to their cart.
That is where the commission can come in.
What Kind of Money Can You Make?
When I first started in the Amazon Influencer Program for beginners, I was making around $20 to $30 a week.
That was not life-changing money, but it was enough for me to realize this could actually work.
The videos were already there. They were still working while I was doing other things.
When I took the program really seriously, before I started focusing more on UGC and other content opportunities, I was making around $1,000 to $2,000 a month from Amazon.
Now, Amazon pays me around $300 a month.
The program has changed since I first started, but it still brings in enough to help cover things like groceries. And for a side hustle that does not require me to post on social media every day, I still think that is powerful.
Amazon Influencer Program for Beginners: How to Get Started
The first step in the Amazon Influencer Program for beginners process is simple: apply.
You can apply to the Amazon Influencer Program through Amazon. You will connect one of your social accounts, and Amazon will review your account.
Again, do not let a small following stop you from applying.
If your account has real engagement and shows that you can create content people respond to, you may have a chance.
Once you get accepted into the Amazon Influencer Program, you will receive access to your Amazon storefront.
Then, if you want to move toward onsite commissions, you will need to upload your first videos.
How to Get Approved for Amazon Onsite Commissions
After you are accepted as an Amazon Influencer, the next step is getting approved for onsite commissions.
This is the part where your videos can potentially show up on product detail pages, not just your storefront.
To do that, you need to upload three videos of three separate products to your storefront.
I recommend making each video at least 30 seconds long.
Choose products you actually own, know, and love.
There is no need to buy anything new just to make these videos. Walk around your house and look for products you already use.
Some examples could be:
- A phone holder
- A camera
- A water bottle
- A kitchen gadget
- A cleaning product
- A piece of tech
- A beauty product
- A home item you genuinely like
The key is to choose simple, unproblematic products that are easy to explain and demonstrate.
What Amazon Is Looking for in Your First Videos
Amazon wants to see that you can create a helpful product video.
That does not mean it has to look like a professional commercial, but it does need to be clear.
Good lighting matters. Clear audio matters too. The product should be easy to see, and the video should help the shopper understand it better.
You do not need an expensive microphone or a fancy lighting setup. Natural light from a window can work just fine.
The most important thing is that people can hear you, see the product, and understand why it may or may not be a good fit for them.
If I were making a video about a phone holder, I would not just hold it up and say, “I like this.”
Instead, I would show how it works, explain how to set it up, talk through what I use it for, and mention who I think it would be helpful for.
People watching these videos are already shopping. Your job is to help them decide.
Use Customer Reviews for Talking Points
One of the best ways to make a stronger Amazon video is to read the customer reviews before you film.
Look at what people say they love.
Pay attention to what they complain about.
Notice the questions buyers seem to have.
Those reviews can give you talking points for your own video.
For example, if people keep saying a product is smaller than expected, mention the size in your video. If customers love how easy it is to use, show that. When shoppers seem confused about how something works, demonstrate it clearly.
You are not just making a random video.
You are answering questions that can help someone feel more confident buying.
What Happens After You Upload Your First Three Videos?
After you upload your first three videos, Amazon manually reviews them.
You usually will not get an email telling you if you were approved. You need to check inside Amazon’s Creator Hub or your storefront dashboard to see your status.
In my experience, the review process typically takes around 5 to 7 business days, but it can take longer during busier seasons.
Sometimes it may take up to two weeks.
When you are approved, you will see a message that says something like, “Congratulations, you are now selected for onsite placements.”
That means your videos can be placed onsite, and you can start earning from those placements.
You Only Get a Few Chances, So Take It Seriously
This is the part I really want you to hear.
Do not rush your first three videos.
You only get a limited number of attempts to get approved for onsite commissions, so you want to make those videos count.
If your videos get denied, Amazon may not tell you exactly why.
A lot of the time, it comes down to things like:
- Poor lighting
- Bad audio
- Low video quality
- Not enough demonstration
- Unclear product explanation
- Content that does not feel helpful to the buyer
Before you upload, watch your videos back.
Can you hear yourself clearly?
Is the product easy to see?
Are you actually showing it in use?
Would this help someone decide if they should buy it?
If the answer is no, refilm it before submitting.
Why Amazon Is Great Before UGC
Amazon can be a really good starting point if you eventually want to get into UGC, TikTok Shop, freelancing, or other content creator income streams.
Instead of jumping straight into pitching brands or negotiating rates, you get to practice creating product content in a lower-pressure way.
It gives you room to learn things like:
- How to talk about products clearly
- How to demonstrate features
- What buyers actually care about
- How to read your video data
- What makes someone keep watching
- How to create content that converts
Those are the same skills you need for UGC and paid brand work.
That is why Amazon can be such a good confidence builder. You are learning how to create helpful content while your videos have the potential to keep working for you after they are uploaded.
This Is Not Like Other “Make Money Online” Things
I know a lot of people have been burned by make-money-online opportunities.
So let me be clear.
Amazon is not about recruiting people, building a team, or convincing your friends and family to buy from you.
The work is much simpler than that. You create helpful product content, upload it to Amazon, and let shoppers use your videos while they are already making buying decisions.
If someone watches your content and makes a qualifying purchase, you may earn a commission.
That is it.
Now, does that mean it takes zero effort? No.
You still need to learn what makes a good video. You need to look at your data, pay attention to what people are watching, and improve as you go.
But this is a skill.
And skills can be learned.
Can You Do Amazon Influencer Videos Faceless?
Yes, some Amazon videos can be faceless.
That was one of the biggest reasons I liked it when I first started. I could create content without feeling like everyone had to know what I was doing.
For faceless videos, you might show your hands using the product, film a simple demo, record a voiceover, or keep the camera focused on the item instead of your face.
Just keep in mind that faceless is not always better.
Some products may perform better when there is a person on camera explaining or demonstrating them. The goal is not to hide just to hide. The goal is to make the most helpful video for the buyer.
If faceless content helps you start, start there. Confidence can grow over time.
My Biggest Advice for Beginners
If you are brand new and this is your first time learning about the Amazon Influencer Program for beginners, do not overcomplicate it.
A big following is not required.
Going viral is not required either.
Your setup does not have to be perfect, and you definitely do not need to run out and buy a bunch of new products.
Start with what you already own. Choose products you genuinely use, film in good lighting, and make sure your sound is clear.
From there, focus on showing the product in use and answering the questions a real shopper would care about.
That is the whole point of these videos. They are not supposed to feel like a polished commercial. They are supposed to help someone decide if the product is right for them.
Apply, film your first three videos, upload them, and keep learning as you go.
Want to Make Money from Content Without Becoming an Influencer?
If you want to make money online, but you do not want to grow a huge following or become an influencer, this is exactly what I help women learn how to do.
Amazon is just one way to start.
You can also use these same content skills for UGC, TikTok Shop, freelancing, and other paid content opportunities.
If you want help getting started, grab my free guide where I walk you through how to start making money from content without becoming an influencer. If you’re ready to jump in, then you can check out my program, The Anti Influencer Method™, here.
And if you want to see the exact first three Amazon videos I submitted when I got accepted, watch this video next.