How To Get Approved for Amazon Influencer Program: 6 Essential Steps for Beginners

How to get approved for Amazon Influencer Program:

• Step 1 - Build your social media following on platforms with high engagement.
• Step 2 - Be highly specific with your chosen niche.
• Step 3 - Create original, relevant, and engaging content.
• Step 4 - Post consistently before and after the approval process.
• Step 5 - Comply with Amazon’s content and program terms.
• Step 6 - Apply using your Amazon Associates account.

Statista Market Insights states that the average ad spend per online user in 2024 is $5.78. This means that the influencer marketing industry will continue to grow as the 21st century progresses. Because of this uptrend in the digital e-commerce space, many aspiring influencers apply to the Amazon Influencer Program. It offers them increased revenue streams while doing what they love or what they do best.

While being an Amazon Influencer lets you earn $10,000 to $15,000 monthly on average, getting approved is challenging. You need to monitor and broaden your social media presence to build a solid following and promote active engagement. Also, Amazon doesn’t disclose the exact metrics they use to approve or revoke applicants. This factor makes it more difficult to determine how you should improve your social media accounts before applying to the influencer program.

Getting approved and building your Amazon business requires tremendous effort and long hours of reading various knowledge bases. This allows you to increase your chances of approval by knowing the best social media strategies and practices in the industry. Delve further into this article to discover the 6 helpful ways on how to get approved for Amazon Influencer Program and the 3 myths most people believe.

6 Essential Steps To Get Approved for the Amazon Influencer Program

Step 1 - Build Your Social Media Following on Platforms With High Engagement.

Building your social media presence on platforms that offer high engagement is a great way to get approved for the Amazon Influencer Program. TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels have the best engagement rates, according to the latest data from Socialinsider. TikTok scores the highest at 5.53%, followed by Instagram Reels at 4.36% and YouTube Shorts at 3.80%. Using these social media platforms enables you to get more followers while attaining high engagement through reactions, comments, and reposts.

As you know, getting approved for the Amazon Influencer Program entails having a good engagement rate. You must focus on interacting with your potential and existing social media followers through compelling creatives, hashtags, live collaborations, contests, giveaways, and many more. This tactic lets your followers enjoy consuming your content because they are fun and engaging. Remember to focus on specific customer segments so you can target the best audience for your content.

Step 2 - Be Highly Specific With Your Chosen Niche.

Getting approved for the Amazon Influencer Program entails being highly specific with your chosen niche. This strategy allows you to focus on the right customer segment and capture your target audience. The more specific you are with your niche, the more relatable content you can create that will drive your followers to interact with your social media posts. “Parenting” is an example of a broad niche. You can make it more specific by niching it down to “parenting for working moms who have less time to spend at home”.

If you pass the approval process, this will streamline building your Amazon Influencer Storefront and choosing the right product category for your future Amazon customers. Also, picking a highly specific niche helps speed up content creation. You’ll know what topics to talk about that interest and excite your audience.

Step 3 - Create Original, Relevant, and Engaging Content.

Creating original, relevant, and engaging content is crucial to increase the chances of getting your Amazon Influencer application approved. This helps you produce high-quality content for various social media channels. Rebecca Riserbato’s article on HubSpot about the 10 Benefits of Consistent, High-Quality Content Marketing reveals that originating such content leads to audience retention, better brand awareness, more loyal followers, and higher engagement rates.

Besides promoting trust with your audience base, you can generate content that will boost your conversions and potential revenue once approved for the influencer program. However, this is not a one-time thing. You must create a posting schedule according to your target market’s active times. Many aspiring Amazon Influencers make the mistake of posting high-quality content only before the approval process.

Step 4 - Post Consistently Before and After the Approval Process.

To ensure your admission to the Amazon Influencer Program, you must post consistently before and after the approval process. This ensures you get more exposure to your target audience. Moorea Thill, a professional digital marketer, shares that posting three to five times a day for a month can drastically bump up your social media following. The social media platform's algorithm automatically suggests your content when they constantly view your videos. It helps you gain traction in your chosen social media account. This results in more followers in a short period of time.

As mentioned in Sprout Social’s recent blog post, influencers should observe posting content on social media users’ active hours. The best times to post on social media are usually from 9 am to 1 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while the worst time to post is on Sundays. Following research-backed data helps you create an effective posting schedule to gain more followers. Even after getting approved, influencers must post consistently (at least once a day or three times a week) to maintain loyal customers and amplify their Amazon Storefront’s online presence. Based on Amazon’s terms, inactive influencers can get their accounts revoked.

Step 5 - Comply With Amazon’s Content and Program Terms.

It is pivotal to comply with Amazon’s content and program terms and conditions to make sure you get approved and remain in the Amazon Influencer Program. As a potential Amazon seller, you must abide by their stipulated rules to avoid getting your account revoked and potential earnings lost. This includes the written regulations for using their affiliate link and building your influencer storefront.

You can find Amazon’s conditions of use, privacy policy, and operating agreement on the Amazon Influencer sign-up page. The Amazon Creator University is also available after you get approved. It is an onboarding program to inform Amazon Influencers on how to earn commissions and promote products on the platform.

Step 6 - Apply Using Your Amazon Associates Account.

You should apply using your Amazon Associates Program account to boost your chances of approval. This step is important before applying to the Amazon Influencer Program. You need to create an Amazon account using your existing Amazon Associates login or make a new one. Based on some Reddit comments, many applicants get approved when they use their Amazon Associate account to sign up. Reddit user Saceog mentions being approved by registering a YouTube account that’s already connected to Amazon. However, keep in mind that this isn’t a sure-fire way of getting in like the common misconceptions surrounding the approval process.

3 Myths About the Amazon Influencer Program’s Approval Process

Myth #1 - Aspiring Amazon Influencers Need a Huge Following

Aspiring Amazon Influencers don’t need hundreds of thousands of followers to get into the influencer program. While having a sizable following can increase your likelihood of getting accepted, it isn’t the sole factor. To become an Amazon Influencer, you also need good engagement with your audience. This metric is more important than your follower base. As mentioned by Reddit user Nocheese1, he/she only had 8 followers prior to applying. Nocheese1 got approved four days later.

Myth #2 - Getting Approved Takes Months

Getting approved for the Amazon Influencer Program doesn’t take months. Some applicants get approved after a few seconds or minutes, while some get approved after a few days. Reddit user Paradigmink77 got accepted only a few seconds after his/her application. Another Reddit user named Mollyjingram was approved for the Amazon Influencer Program onsite commissions 8 days after sending his/her three videos. This proves that Amazon’s approval process doesn’t take months.

Myth #3 - Buying Followers or Social Media Accounts is Allowed

Buying followers or social media accounts is strictly prohibited by Amazon. This is not sustainable, as your followers will not be engaging in the long term. If you get approved and Amazon notices that your engagement rate is below the acceptable level, they will ban your Amazon Influencer account. You will then risk wasting time and effort getting into the program and building your Amazon Influencer store. That’s why it’s crucial to follow the stipulated requirements and regulations.

What Amazon Influencer Program Requirements are Needed To Get Approved?

A significant follower base, an active social media account, fetching original content, and high engagement metrics are the Amazon Influencer Program requirements needed to get approved. You can apply using your Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok account. Use the one with the most followers and the highest engagement rates. This will improve the possibility of getting accepted into the influencer program. Just make sure you have all the necessary Amazon Influencer requirements before signing up.

How Many Followers Do You Need To Get Approved for the Amazon Influencer Program?

There is no set number of followers needed to get approved for the Amazon Influencer Program. Based on numerous online testimonials on Reddit, you can have 8 followers and still get approved as long as you have a good engagement in your chosen social media account. Some applicants even have more than 450K followers but still get rejected because of low engagement. While some individuals still ask "How many followers do you need for Amazon Influencer Program?", others just dive into the application process hoping they get approved in just a few days.

How Long Does It Take To Get Approved as an Amazon Influencer?

It takes 10 minutes to less than 30 days to get approved as an Amazon Influencer, given you have the necessary program requirements. This time estimate is based on the experiences of many influencers who have applied to the program. There is no fixed schedule for the approval process. This depends on the discretion of the Amazon Influencer Program team.

Does Everyone Get Approved To Be an Amazon Influencer?

No, not everyone gets approved to be an Amazon Influencer because there are specific requirements needed before qualifying for the program. Amazon prefers social media influencers with a significant following that can promote the brand well and increase Amazon product purchases. To become an Amazon Influencer, you need to be dedicated to the influencer program to succeed and scale your online business and make a sizable monthly income.

How Much Do Amazon Influencers Make Once Approved?

Amazon Influencers make $1,000 to over $16,000 monthly once approved. This amount depends on the Amazon products being advertised, the completeness of the influencer’s Amazon store and profile, and the platforms used for promotions. Amazon offers features like Creator Connections, Storefront, Amazon Live, The Drop, and Inspire to boost your sales and income potential.

Amazon Influencer Program FAQs

Is the Amazon Influencer Program Profitable?

Yes, the Amazon Influencer Program is profitable, given that you fully utilize Amazon’s platform features. You can also grow your monthly income by making review videos on your recommended products on Amazon. Another option is taking advantage of the Amazon Bounty Program by promoting Amazon subscriptions like Amazon Prime, Audible, and Amazon Music. Spencer Mecham, founder of Buildapreneur, earns $500 daily or $15,000 monthly through the Amazon Influencer Program. You just need to implement the right digital marketing strategy to generate sizable income.

Local Lead Generation Doesn’t Have a Complex Approval Process Like the Amazon Influencer Program

The Amazon Influencer Program lets you make a sizable daily income, but the approval process is strict and complex. Alternatively, local lead generation is easy to start and doesn’t require a cumbersome undertaking. Aspiring Amazon Influencers will need to navigate this industry’s saturated market, fluctuating affiliate commissions, and stringent guidelines.

Amazon influencer marketing is gaining popularity in the 21st century because of the rise of social media usage. In fact, Nielsen’s 2013 Trust in Advertising report revealed that 84% of consumers globally pick word-of-mouth advertising as the most effective in driving online purchases. This makes influencer marketing a profitable strategy in 2024. However, getting approved for the influencer program requires massive time and energy. Plus, you need to compete with thousands of influencers to score a single sale with a low affiliate commission rate. If you slip up with a minor guideline issue, you can get your account banned.

Local lead generation is easier and much more scalable than the Amazon Influencer Program. You can start your online business by creating a website for your chosen service niche. And because you deal with local niches, you don’t have to worry about market saturation and global competition. Your main goal is to rank your websites organically on Google to amplify your online presence and gain search engine traction. You can then rent out your websites to local businesses, providing them with a stable source of local leads. Unlike Amazon Influencers, this business model offers a higher monthly income that you can scale to over $50,000.

Start your high-income journey and discover the numerous benefits you can reap with a local lead gen course.