If you do any online shopping, you’ve probably made a purchase on Amazon at some point. Amazon is responsible for about half of all e-commerce sales, and there is no doubt that they are at the center of e-commerce. However, with thousands of sellers listed on the platform, it can be challenging to get products seen by the right buyers.
According to Marketplace Pulse (2021), Amazon has 9.7 million sellers worldwide, of which 1.9 million are actively selling on the marketplace. Undoubtedly, competition is fierce.
Interestingly, Amazon has launched its influencer program in response to recent changes in marketing, especially influencer marketing. Amazon influencers are experts in a particular niche on social media, which allows them to influence buying decisions — especially by promoting a product for sale on Amazon.
Influencer marketing, which involves using business leaders to share a brand’s goods and messages with a targeted audience, is one of the most successful ways to spread the word for people to learn about products.
We share a lot about influencer marketing on Amazon in this post. Read on to learn about how the Amazon influencer program works.
How Does The Amazon Influencer Program Work?
Introduced in 2017, the Amazon Influencer Program is a spin-off of Amazon’s already successful partner program.
Essentially, the Amazon Influencer Program has a general concept that encourages influencers to create their own online storefront where they can list items that they’ve purchased, been endorsed by, or are endorsing.
Furthermore, followers of Amazon influencers are linked to the personal customer catalog of the individual they follow through the Amazon influencers program.
So, what are the requirements to join this program?
First, you must apply using one of your social media accounts to be eligible for the program. Following your application, Amazon’s staff will closely review your Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter account to ensure that it fits into their requirements.
Currently, if you already have large followers on a major social media platform, you are more likely to be accepted into the influencer program. However, they don’t only examine the number of followers before acceptance.
An excerpt from the Amazon website states: “While we look at the number of followers and other engagement metrics of your social media presence, we also look at the type of content you post and the relevancy it has for Amazon customers”.
Most importantly, the value of your audience is a criterion for acceptance into the program. As a result, the stronger your interaction with your target audience, the more likely you are to be accepted.
How Is The Amazon Influencers’ Program Different From Amazon Associates?
The Amazon Influencer Program is a social media influencer extension of Amazon’s current online associate program. If you join the Influencer Program, you create a profile on Amazon with a URL so that you can advertise products to your followers. This program offers you another way to send traffic to Amazon, which is particularly useful when hyperlinking isn’t an option.
Alternately, the Amazon Associates program helps content creators, publishers, and bloggers monetize their traffic using easy link-building tools. In addition, the Amazon Associate program creates and sends affiliate links on their websites and social media channels. Influencers can maximize these links to make money. Most importantly, the Amazon Influencers program and affiliate program are significant ways to make money on Amazon.
Notably, anyone can join Amazon’s associate program, promote Amazon products using their unique links, and earn commissions from eligible purchases. Although similar to their affiliate program, the Amazon influencer program is more exclusive and difficult to join.
How To Become An Amazon Influencer: a Step-by-step guide
1. Sign up for the Amazon Influencers Program
As explained above, to sign up for the Amazon influencers program, you must have an active social media platform. The Amazon staff will examine your social media platform to ensure that it fits into their requirements.
If you don’t qualify the first time that you apply for the program, you can try again later when you have a larger audience, and your engagement has increased. Also, you’ll need an Amazon account to promote goods if you’re approved.
2. Create Your Amazon Custom Storefront
After acceptance into the program, you’ll have to start working on your own Amazon storefront. Your storefront will serve as the primary means of promoting goods to your target market. Additionally, you will be able to build product recommendation lists.
Most influencers’ social media accounts already have a theme and appearance, and they choose to have that theme match their Amazon storefront. However, some choose to make it different. This will be determined by what you believe is the right match for your target market.
With a suggested list of items that you have used and have experience with, you can build and organize your Amazon storefront.
Let’s examine other details involved with creating your Amazon custom storefront.
Payment option setup
In addition, you will need to set up your store’s payment option by entering your payment and tax information. To access your profits, you will need to earn a minimum of $10. Payment is available by direct deposit, Amazon gift card or cheque.
Store customization
Source: Amazon
A store can be personalized with images and a bio, just like social media profiles. Influencers are encouraged to share content on Amazon’s social app, Spark, and link to the store in their Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube posts.
How To Connect With Brands Who Sell On Amazon
Amazon is beginning to allow influencers from other networks to have a presence on their website. With the implementation of the Amazon influencer program, buyers can connect with brands who sell on Amazon via the Influencer Amazon pages. This is a place to see new and fascinating products that are in stock. Also, this influencer page will be a place to discover the top products to sell on Amazon.
However, don’t approach brands with endorsement contracts if you’ve found one that you would like to partner with. Take it easy and build a relationship first. This will not only make them feel more at ease with you, but it will also help you to determine whether or not this brand is a good match for you.
To connect with brands who sell on Amazon, you can follow these simple tips:
Observe: Look for distinct details about the brand – who are they? What do they sell? You can also follow them on their social media platforms for more details.
Engage: Make the brand awareness of your presence. You can add a review to their product and more.
Begin a conversation: While you can start a conversation with a brand through a direct message, you should also send an email. First, broach the subject of working together. In addition, highlight all that they could gain from your service as an influencer.
Conclusion
Amazon’s influencer marketing platform has the potential to change the way that influencers and marketers interact. These new influencer storefronts distinguish between sponsored and non-sponsored content more clearly. Other online e-commerce sites will follow Amazon’s lead in the future, and influencers curating digital storefronts where they advertise goods on behalf of marketers may become more popular.