I started the Amazon Influencers program in 2023 as a side hustle. What started as something to talk about on the weekly podcast became something that earned almost $20k in 2023.
The program allows you to create short product videos that get displayed on Amazon listing pages. If viewers engage with your videos and end up purchasing the product, you can earn commissions.
I posted monthly videos tracking my progress in 2023 on my YouTube channel. It’s been an exciting rollercoaster – some months have brought in over $4,000, while other months have seen major declines.
There are a lot of factors that impact earnings, from seasonal shopping trends to changes in Amazon’s video layouts. I’ve learned to expect volatility and not rely on Influencers as a primary income stream.
Creating videos is quick and easy once you get into a groove. I can now produce them much more efficiently than when I first started out. I’ve also experimented with different video styles, like comparisons between products.
My background in photography and the photo course for bloggers that I created helped. I’m quick at composing the Influencer videos and making sure they look professional.
While results fluctuate, I’m happy with Influencers as a side hustle so far. You can learn more about how to become an Amazon Influencer here.
Month One
In my first month, I earned $1,025 after publishing 229 videos. It was a great start, earning over $1,000 in just 30 days.
I was able to get started on the Amazon Influencer program so quickly thanks to taking Matt Donnelly’s Jungle Influencer course. It walks you through the entire process step-by-step.
Key learnings from Month 1:
- The quick feedback loop is highly motivating. Publishing a video and seeing it earn money just days later is a huge dopamine boost.
- It’s important to move fast – the more videos you can publish, the more opportunities for earnings. I was able to publish 100 videos in just the first week.
- Having video creation experience is a big advantage for being able to produce high-quality videos efficiently.
Month Two
In month 2, my earnings increased to $2,868 after publishing 329 videos. That’s almost $3,000 in just my second full month!
The key stats:
- 14,755 clicks
- 2,465 orders
- $2,868 total earnings
I’m now earning about $100 per day, which equates to around $3,000 per month at this rate.
Month Three
Month 3 saw a bit of a decline, with earnings dropping to $2,125 after publishing 510 total videos.
August is typically slower sales month on Amazon, so some decline was expected. However, video clicks only dropped about 5% while earnings dropped 26%. This indicates lower average order values in August compared to July.
I’m still encouraged moving into Q4, typically the highest sales quarter on Amazon. I also started experimenting with new video types like comparisons, so we’ll see if that helps performance.
Month Four
September was a real rollercoaster. The first half of the month I averaged 639 clicks per day and $18 in daily earnings – well on my way to $3,000+ for the month.
But the second half of September saw clicks plummet to just 277 per day, cutting my daily earnings in half. Overall the month closed at $2,334.
The drop seems to be driven by Amazon removing video carousels from many product listings during the second half of the month. Friends experienced the same, and say it’s fairly common as Amazon tests layouts.
So far I’m at 847 total videos and just shy of $9,000 in earnings over the first 4 months. It’s certainly very volatile, but I’m still happy given the relatively low time investment required.
I’m excited to see if seasonal videos help drive improved performance in Q4!
Month 5
October, my fifth month in the Amazon Influencer Program, was challenging with earnings of only $1,760, the lowest since I started. Despite having more videos than ever, the month was marked by extreme volatility in clicks. Initially, clicks were as low as 200-225 per day, similar to late September.
A brief spike occurred during Amazon’s Prime Day Deals, increasing to about 600 clicks per day, but this was short-lived, and by the end of the month, clicks unexpectedly dropped to zero due to a technical glitch.
Given these challenges, I’m continuing with the program but reducing the number of videos I produce, due to time constraints from my other professional commitments. I’m focusing on seasonal content, especially holiday-themed products, leveraging the success of similar strategies during the summer.
With an eye on consumer behavior and anticipating a surge in holiday shopping, especially around Black Friday, I’m hopeful for an increase in sales and clicks in November and December.
Despite the recent unpredictability, there’s cautious optimism for improved performance in the final quarter of the year. October’s experience was a mix of highs and lows, but I’m staying the course with a strategic shift towards seasonal content.
Month 6
In my sixth month with the Amazon Influencer Program, November 2023 brought significant earnings, especially with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. My total for November was $4,266.10, a substantial increase from October’s $1,760. This spike was largely due to the holiday shopping frenzy.
Clicks on my videos surged in November, especially in the latter half, reaching about 750 per day and peaking over 1,500 on Black Friday. In a discussion with experienced Influencer Thomas Smith, we identified a key strategy gap.
My focus on everyday household items didn’t align with the high-demand, big-ticket products typically sought after during major sales events. Thomas suggested targeting gift-type, tech, and high-ticket items for better results in such peak shopping periods.
Overall, these results underscore the program’s potential during key shopping seasons and the importance of aligning content with consumer trends. My total earnings for the first six months reached around $14,357 (not including bonuses), averaging close to $2,500 monthly.
Month 7
I earned $4,026.38 in December, marking a successful continuation of surpassing the $4,000 mark for the second consecutive month. While this is slightly lower than November’s $4,266.10, it underscores the potential of the program during the prime sales season.
The month began with high hopes, initially predicting earnings as high as $6,000 to $7,000. However, sales saw a decline mid-month, which I attributed to products not arriving before Christmas. People stopped buying products when they would no longer arrive by Christmas.
I dove deep into what sold well during December, revealing that gift items and ‘upgrade’ products are significant drivers of sales this time of year.
Popular categories for me included jewelry, golf accessories, woodworking tools, and high-end coffee makers. In contrast, everyday household items, my primary focus before, showed lesser appeal during the holiday season.
Reflecting on the year, my total earnings for 2023 amount to approximately $18,779.51 over seven months, averaging about $2,612 per month. This outcome, from creating 1,031 videos, comes from a minimalistic and unoptimized approach, primarily featuring household items in my content.
Key lessons for the future include:
- Strategic Product Focus: Emphasizing gift and luxury items during peak shopping seasons.
- Audience Insight: Understanding what viewers seek in Influencer videos, and focusing on showcasing products effectively.
- Content Quality: Ensuring clear visuals and good audio quality in videos.
I share these insights to help others embarking on or progressing in their Influencer journeys, emphasizing the importance of starting without overthinking and adapting strategies continuously.
This journey has been insightful, demonstrating both the program’s lucrative opportunities and the need for strategic adaptation during seasonal sales peaks. If you want to hire me for consulting on your Amazon Influencer account, please reach out.