Influencer marketing has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, with global spend hitting $34.08 billion in 2023. (That’s up nearly 5 billion from 2022.) Collaborating with influencers might be a smart move for your Amazon business, with brands earning $5.78 per dollar spent on influencer marketing on average.
So, what exactly is influencer marketing? It’s a marketing strategy where brands collaborate with popular social media personalities and leverage their influence for brand endorsements. Amazon makes it easy with an internal influencer program that allows content creators to build storefronts to showcase their favorite products to their followers. In this post, we’ll explore the Amazon influencer program and how influencers can help sellers make more money on Amazon. Let’s dive in.
What’s the Amazon Influencer Program?
Amazon describes the Amazon Influencer Program as an extension of their affiliate program, Amazon Associates. People with a significant and engaged social media following, you can monetize your social media reach by promoting products and earning commissions from any sales made through your promotions.
For influencers, the program essentially allows them to “sell” products without owning inventory. Content creators get a custom storefront, universal URL, and performance tracking tools to monitor the effectiveness of their recommendations.
For FBA sellers, the Amazon Influencer program is a ticket to increased product exposure and a channel to tap into influential individuals’ audiences.
How Does the Amazon Influencer Program Work?
The Amazon Influencer Program operates based on the belief that recommendations hold more weight than traditional ads, particularly when they originate from a trusted source.
Amazon influencers play a significant role, especially in the product discovery stage of the customer journey. In fact, 86% of consumers trust a personal recommendation more than any other form of advertising.
If you’re wondering how many followers you need to join the Amazon Influencer Program application, the answer is that it’s not just about the follower count. Amazon focuses more on quality than quantity, which means engagement levels carry more weight than a large follower count.
A higher engagement rate signifies a more involved audience, which would most likely result in better conversion rates. Additionally, When accepting influencers to their program, Amazon considers the quality of your content and how long you’ve been active on social media.
How Much Money Do Amazon Influencers Make?
Amazon’s Influencer Program combines fixed commissions on sales and a variable rate based on product category. Below is a table of the commissions Amazon pays for each category:
If you have a large and active audience, you can rack up significant earnings by recommending products that resonate with your audience.
Amazon Influencer Program Requirements
It’s more challenging to get into the Amazon Influencer Program than it is to get into Amazon Associates as an affiliate. But it’s not impossible. Let’s review the requirements you must meet to qualify to be an Amazon influencer.
1. Social Platform
Amazon first assesses the social media platform(s) where you have the most influence. You can enter your Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube account. Amazon will evaluate the consistency and quality of your content, so the more impressive your social portfolio, the better your chances of acceptance.
2. Engagements
We’ve mentioned the importance of engagement metrics in Amazon influencer marketing. That means you stand a better chance with a smaller but engaged audience than a sizable, disengaged audience. Higher engagement rates show that you have more influence on your audience and can have higher conversions as an influencer.
3. Follower Count
While Amazon doesn’t specify the number of followers required to be an influencer in their program, they still consider how many followers you have. You don’t need hundreds of thousands of followers, but your follower count needs to make sense in the context of being an influencer, so a low follower count won’t cut it.
How to Get Approved for the Amazon Influencer Program
Now that you understand the requirements for joining the Amazon Influencer Program let’s look at the step-by-step process of applying for the program:
Step 1: Sign Up
Go to the Amazon Influencer Program sign-up page. You can sign up with an existing customer or affiliate account or create a new one on sign-up, then choose your language and country.
Step 2: Link Your Social Media Account
Amazon requires you to link one of your social media accounts to evaluate your eligibility. We recommend applying with the social media account where you have the most followers and engagements.
Applications with YouTube or Facebook get instant approval or denial from Amazon, while Instagram or TikTok may take Amazon up to five days to evaluate your application and get back to you.
Step 3: Fill in Your Details
Add any other social media accounts you have and create your storefront by adding a storefront name and a tagline. Fill in your personal and account details on the next page and hit Save and Finish.
Step 4: Finish Registering
The last step is to follow the Amazon Influencer Program Instagram page. This is an important step and a requirement for you to be approved.
Leveraging The Amazon Influencer Program as an FBA Seller
As an FBA seller, the Amazon Influencer Program is a powerful tool that can help you promote your products and increase sales. But why should FBA sellers take advantage of this program? There are several benefits of working with influencers to boost your Amazon business, including:
- Reach a wider audience
- Increase product visibility
- Generate high-quality content
- Cost-effective marketing
- Increased social media following
Let’s review each in a little more detail.
Reach a Wider Audience
By partnering with influencers with a strong following, you can reach potential customers beyond your current network. Plus, unlike traditional advertising methods, influencer marketing allows you to pinpoint interests by partnering with creators who already have influence with your target market. For example, if you sell hiking gear, partnering with a social media influencer who has a lot of hiking and outdoors content will help to get your product in front of your target market.
Increase Product Visibility
Amazon influencers hold the power to shape buying decisions on Amazon, which makes you a valuable tool for FBA sellers who want to connect their brands with passionate customers. With an influencer promoting your product, you can increase its visibility and potentially rank higher in Amazon search results. These influencers already have established trust and credibility with their followers, so when they recommend your product, their followers are likely to at least view it. This can lead to more organic traffic and ultimately, more sales.
Generate High-Quality Content
Influencers are content creators and typically have a strong understanding of what their followers want to see. By working with influencers, you can tap into their creativity and expertise to create high-quality content that showcases your product in a unique and engaging way. This helps promote your product but builds brand awareness and credibility.
Cost-Effective Marketing
Compared to traditional marketing methods such as TV or print ads, influencer marketing is often more cost-effective. Many influencers are willing to work for product trade or at a lower cost than traditional advertising channels. This means you can reach a large audience without breaking the bank.
Increased Social Media Following
Influencers often have a dedicated and engaged following on social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. By partnering with influencers, you can tap into their followers and potentially gain new followers for your brand’s social media accounts. This not only helps increase your online presence but also allows for direct interaction with potential customers through comments and messages.
The ultimate goal for an FBA seller partnering with an influencer is to drive sales and revenue. Collaborating with an FBA seller is also a win for the influencer, as they can get access to free products and the chance to earn a commission. Plus, if they truly endorse the product, they can share excellent products with their followers and gain more trust.
A Final Word on the Amazon Influencer Program
Amazon influencers play a vital role in the ecosystem, bridging brands with eager shoppers and aiding buyers in discovering top-notch products. If you’re selling on Amazon and haven’t dabbled in influencer marketing yet, you may be leaving money on the table. Amazon’s influencer program is trending upwards, with expenses set to rise further. Now’s the prime moment for FBA sellers to expand their business through Influencer marketing.
