Today I have a new and unique side hustle interview. Jessica Larrew is a pro when it comes to selling on Amazon, and now she has mastered reviewing products with the Amazon Influencer Program.
If you want to learn more about how to start with this program, earning potential, and more insider tips, this post is for you.
How to Become an Amazon Influencer with Jessica Larrew
What is the Amazon Influencer Program?
The Amazon Influencer Program is a program that Amazon created as a way to bring influencer marketing directly to the Amazon platform.
You may already be familiar with influencer marketing in other places online, where an influencer will share a product on their platform and then send the consumer to buy the product somewhere else. Either Amazon or a brand website directly.
This works well for people who have large audiences, but for someone who doesn’t it would be very difficult to make sales.
Well, Amazon flipped that around completely and they brought the influencers directly to their platform instead.
With the Amazon Influencer Program, we (the influencers) create videos about products that we own and Amazon shares those videos directly on the product pages where the customer is already looking.
So no need to find our own customers anymore.
When a potential customer is looking at a page on Amazon, they can watch the influencer videos to get more information about the product (like, a demo of how it works, an unboxing of everything that is included, tips and tricks, etc.) which helps them make a more informed decision.
If the customer watches an influencer video and then makes a purchase, Amazon pays the influencer a commission based on the purchase price and a set commission structure (between 1-5% depending on the category of the product).
If you are shopping on Amazon, you’ll see a section called “Product Videos”. This is where Amazon has all of the videos related to that product. You’ll see videos from the brand directly, customer reviews, and the Amazon Influencer videos.
The influencer videos will have custom titles for the video and their influencer name underneath.
When you click the video, you’ll see a spot that says “Earns Commission” next to their influencer name.
In this example, If I was to watch the video above and then buy the scale shown in the video, BeatTheRush would earn a commission on that sale.
The commission is given to the creator of last video watched before clicking the buy button (ie. the person who ‘closed the sale’).
Typically, these videos are between 1-5 minutes long.
The Amazon Influencer Program is a great way to essentially get ‘paid’ to review products. Even though you don’t get paid up front, you can earn commissions for many months and years down the road after you create the initial videos.
How did you get started as an Amazon Influencer?
I’ve actually been in the Amazon sphere for a long time! I was initially an Amazon seller and then an Amazon coach, I’ve sold t-shirts through merch on demand, and even sell low-content books on Amazon.
So, when I first heard about the influencer program, I was intrigued. I had always wanted to be an ‘influencer’ but I was actually pretty shy and didn’t want to make ‘review videos’ where I was blatantly selling the product.
Since I could make videos without showing my face at all, I really wanted to give it a shot.
Plus, a lot of people who read my site and subscribe to my emails wanted to know if the program would work.
So, I signed up as an influencer and went through the approval process to see how it all worked.
My account was approved and then 3 days later my husband was diagnosed with leukemia.
Needless to say, the whole program was out of sight out of mind for almost a year!
After months of chemo and a bone marrow transplant, things started to get back to normal after about 9 months. I was ready to get back into side-hustling and I remembered about the influencer account I had set up.
I logged back in and realized those 3 videos had made me almost $200 completely passively. Which really blew me away.
It was then that I decided to hop back in and see what I could do with it if I really put effort into making more videos.
It was perfect for me because I didn’t have to be the face of the brand, as my videos are started out completely faceless, and there is no pressure to meet quotas or anything like that. I can do as little as I want.
I started adding new videos and my commissions started going up right away.
Between March and April I added 25 videos to my account and started making $75/month.
So, I just kept going!
By June, I had about 45 videos and had my first $100 day.
That’s when I really knew this was a completely viable side-hustle.
How much do amazon influencers make?
That really depends on a few things.
My first goal was to hit $500/month in commissions in the Amazon Influencer Program because I feel like that can really make a big difference for families.
I did that with less than 100 videos uploaded to my account.
I had some really high-priced items that earned more commission per sale and that really helped!
With ‘normal’ priced items, I have seen it takes about 100 to 200 high quality videos to get to the $500/month mark.
The great thing is as you make more videos, they just keep adding up. So over time, you have this giant library of videos that are earning you commissions completely passively.
I know quite a few people who are making thousands of dollars per month and do this full-time.
It’s all going to depend on how much effort someone puts into the program.
What are the steps to become an Amazon Influencer?
The process to join the Amazon Influencer Program involves two main steps:
- Get Approved as an Amazon Influencer:
The first step is being approved as an influencer. In order to do that you have to have an active and engaged social media account.
This could be Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or even a Facebook Page. Amazon reviews your account to ensure you have a genuine following with are getting interaction.
Engagement matters more than follower count, so you don’t need a massive audience, you just need one that is interacting with you and your content.
- Submit Sample Videos for Onsite Approval:
After being approved as an influencer with your social media account, you move on to step 2.
This is where you’ll need to create and submit three sample videos to demonstrate your ability to review products in a way that meets Amazon’s guidelines. These videos are reviewed by a real person.
Once your videos are approved, you can start uploading videos directly to your Amazon Influencer Hub and start earning commissions.
A lot of people get caught up on the social media aspect of the approval process. This is one of the main reasons I decided to create a course for the Amazon Influencer Program.
I have helped many people get started with brand new TikTok accounts and get approved in just a few weeks.
Do you need a lot of followers to get accepted in the program?
Not at all!
The number of followers you have is way less important than how engaged they are with you. I’ve seen TikTok accounts with fewer than 100 followers get approved because their audience genuinely interacts with their content.
Engagement—likes, comments, and shares—is what Amazon looks for, not just a high follower count. Even if you’re starting from scratch, it’s completely possible to build a small, engaged account in just a few weeks to meet the program’s requirements.
I was able to start a brand new niche TikTok account and use it to get approved for the program in just under 2 weeks with only 163 followers. And I never even showed my face in a single video!
Can you please share any tips to be successful?
Of course!
Once you have been approved into the program, here are my top tips to make sure you are successful.
- Start with Products You Already Own: Don’t feel like you need to go out and buy new things. Look around your house for items you already use and love.
- Focus on Good Lighting and Stability: A well-lit video with a steady camera instantly feels more professional. Natural light and a tripod are simple solutions that make a big difference.
- Keep Videos Short and Informative: Amazon customers appreciate quick, to-the-point videos. Aim for 1 to 3 minutes, covering the key features and benefits of the product you are reviewing.
- Experiment with Video Styles: Test different approaches, such as faceless videos or on-camera demonstrations, to see what works best for you.
- Think Long-Term: Each video you upload is an investment in your passive income. Even if you start small, your library of videos will continue to grow and earn over time.
The program’s passive income potential is one of its biggest perks. Once a video is live, it can earn for years with no additional work. That’s why consistency is key—each video is a stepping stone to long-term income.
Please give us details about your course
I’d be happy to share more about my Amazon Influencer Mastery course!
The course is a step-by-step guide designed to take you from a beginner who knows nothing about the influencer program to a confident Amazon Influencer, all with just a few hours of training.
It’s perfect for anyone who wants a clear roadmap without spending weeks piecing together conflicting information online.
This program is constantly changing, so it’s important to make sure the information you are getting is up to date. I regularly make updates to the course to address any recent changes.
Here’s what the course covers:
- Amazon Influencer Program Overview: Learn how the program works, how commissions are calculated, and how to maximize your earnings.
- Approval Process: I’ll walk you through getting approved for the program, even if you’re starting from scratch with no social media presence.
- TikTok For Influencers: I take you through the whole process of starting and growing a brand-new TikTok account designed to get you approved quickly!
- Video Creation: From brainstorming ideas to editing and uploading, I show you how to create engaging content that converts viewers into buyers.
- Account Management: Learn how to monitor your earnings, adjust your strategy, and scale for long-term success.
The course includes video tutorials and real-life examples. Whether you want to earn a little extra each month or turn this into a significant income stream, my course gives you all the tools you need to succeed.
If you are starting from scratch, without a social media account, you can be up and running within 2-4 weeks. It takes at least 2 weeks for a new social media account to reach the point where Amazon will approve it.
Where can people get more information if they aren’t ready for your course?
I created a free ebook called “7 Steps To Becoming A Successful Amazon Influencer”. This is a great overview of all of the steps that go into getting started as an Amazon Influencer.
It covers the 2 part application process, and what to expect along the way. Plus things like creating videos and managing your influencer storefront.
This free ebook will really help you know what you are getting into and if this is the type of side-hustle you want to start.
Where can people go to stay in contact with you?
I’d love to continue the conversation with anyone who wants to know more 🙂
You can find me hanging out on TikTok @JessicaLarrew, and at my site The Selling Family where I share about the Amazon Influencer Program, other side hustles I do, and ways to save money.
Final Thoughts
I thank Jessica for diving into every detail of being an Amazon influencer. This is one of the side hustles that anyone can do without any expertise and earn a good side income from home.
All the best if you are starting this unique side gig!
Bio: Jessica has been sharing her entrepreneurial journey at TheSellingFamily.com since 2012 and has taught many side-hustles to her community over the years. After making millions online and reaching F.I.R.E (Financial Independence Retire Early), she took a much-needed sabbatical for a year. She is now focused on side-hustles that are low-pressure, flexible, and offer passive income potential.
