Most people think making money on Amazon means selling products, dealing with shipping, and answering endless customer emails. But what if I told you there’s a way to make money without touching a single product? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it’s totally possible, and it’s called the Amazon Influencer Program.
Instead of selling stuff, you basically play matchmaker—connecting shoppers with products they’re already looking for. It’s like a mix of affiliate marketing and content creation, where you earn commissions every time someone buys a product after watching your video. If you’ve been searching for an easy, low-maintenance side hustle, this might just be it.
Wait, So How Does This Actually Work?
Amazon gets millions of shoppers every day, and a lot of them don’t want to read a bunch of long reviews before making a purchase. They’d rather watch a quick video that shows the product in action.
That’s where you come in. You create short, engaging videos about Amazon products, helping people decide if it’s worth buying. If they end up making a purchase after watching your video, Amazon pays you a commission.
The best part? These shoppers are already on Amazon and ready to spend money. That means your videos are showing up at the exact moment they’re considering buying—making it super easy to earn commissions.
How to Get Started (No, You Don’t Need to Be Famous)
Step one is applying to the Amazon Influencer Program. It’s free to join, but Amazon does require you to have some kind of social media following. They want to see that you can bring people to their site.
Now, if you’re thinking, “But I don’t have thousands of followers!”—don’t panic. Some people take a shortcut and buy a social media account that already has followers, but that’s risky. The best long-term approach is to build your own audience, even if it takes a little longer.
Once you’re approved, Amazon gives you your own Influencer Storefront. Think of it as your personal space on Amazon where all your videos and product recommendations live. It’s like having a little digital shop, but instead of selling, you’re helping people decide what to buy.
Making Videos: No Fancy Equipment Needed
One of the coolest things about this side hustle? You don’t need expensive gear or a professional setup. If you have a smartphone and decent lighting, you’re good to go. The key is to keep it real—talk to the camera like you’re chatting with a friend, not like you’re in a commercial.
Some easy video ideas that work really well:
- Unboxing videos – Open the product on camera, show what’s inside, and share your first thoughts.
- Demo videos – Show how to use the product and highlight what makes it cool.
- Comparison videos – Put two similar products head-to-head and help shoppers decide which one to get.
People don’t want over-the-top sales pitches. They just want an honest opinion, so keep it casual and fun.
Uploading Your Videos to Amazon
Once your video is ready, it’s time to upload it to your Amazon Influencer Storefront. This is how shoppers will see your videos when they’re looking at products.
A crucial step here is tagging the right products. If you’re reviewing a blender, only tag that specific blender. Amazon wants relevant content, and if you start tagging random products, it could hurt your chances of success.
Also, Amazon has strict rules. You can’t add links to your Instagram, YouTube, or any outside sites. Everything has to stay within Amazon, and your videos should be focused on helping shoppers—not just selling to them.
Why Thumbnails Matter (And How to Make Yours Stand Out)
Before anyone even watches your video, they’ll see your thumbnail—that tiny preview image. It might not seem like a big deal, but a good thumbnail can be the difference between someone clicking your video or scrolling right past it.
The good news? You don’t need to be a designer. Free tools like Canva make it super easy to create eye-catching thumbnails with bold text and clear images. Amazon can auto-generate a thumbnail for you, but making your own will usually get you better results.
A killer thumbnail = more clicks, which means more commissions.
How Many Videos Do You Need to Make Money?
Some people think you need hundreds of videos to make decent money, but that’s not true. One really good video about a popular product can bring in more commissions than a bunch of low-effort ones.
That said, having more videos does help you get noticed. The key is to be consistent—keep making videos, try different styles, and see what works best. Over time, as your video collection grows, so does your ability to make passive income.
Pick a Niche (Don’t Try to Review Everything)
A mistake a lot of beginners make is trying to review everything. One day it’s a coffee maker, the next day it’s a smartwatch, then a set of dumbbells. This makes it harder to build trust with your audience.
Instead, pick a niche and stick to it. If you love kitchen gadgets, focus on that. If you’re obsessed with tech gear, go all in. Shoppers are more likely to take advice from someone who specializes in one thing rather than someone who reviews everything under the sun.
The Secret to Getting More Views: Keywords
Amazon works kind of like Google and YouTube. If you want people to find your videos, you need to use the right keywords in your titles, descriptions, and even in what you say in the video.
For example, instead of naming your video “Blender Review,” try something like “Best Blender for Smoothies – Full Review & Test”.
Longer, more specific keywords work better because they have less competition and attract shoppers who are already looking for that exact product.
Check Your Stats and Improve as You Go
Amazon gives you data on how your videos are performing. You can see how many people are watching, clicking, and actually buying through your videos.
If a video gets lots of views but no sales, maybe you need to change how you explain the product. If a video isn’t getting any views, try tweaking the title, thumbnail, or keywords.
The more you analyze what works, the better your videos will get—and the more money you’ll make.
Growing Your Side Hustle and Making More Money
Once you get the hang of it, you can scale up in a few ways:
- Make more videos – The more videos you have, the more chances you have to earn.
- Collaborate with other influencers – Team up with people in related niches to reach new audiences.
- Explore other income streams – Try sponsorships, email marketing, or even creating your own digital products.
Some influencers even negotiate higher commissions with brands after proving they can drive sales, which means more money per sale.
This Is a Long-Term Game, Not a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme
If you’re looking for overnight success, this isn’t it. But if you’re willing to stick with it, create good videos, and refine your strategy, this can become a steady stream of passive income.
Once your videos are live, they can keep making money for months—or even years—without you having to do anything extra.
The best part? You’re helping people make better buying decisions, having fun making videos, and getting paid in the process.
So if you’re looking for a legit way to make money online without selling anything, the Amazon Influencer Program might be exactly what you’ve been searching for.
