Creator Connections: Access 5-10 Times More from the Amazon Influencer Program - Side Hustle Nation

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      What if you could access 5-10 times more revenue from Amazon than what you’re currently making? The Amazon Influencer Program has evolved significantly in recent years. The previously effective strategy of uploading numerous product review videos and hoping for commissions has started to yield less return.

      However, a new strategy called Creator Connections is providing creators with a new path forward. Jared Bauman from 201creative.com and the host of the Niche Pursuits podcast returns to the show with valuable insights. He’s generating approximately $3,000 a month from the Amazon Influencer Program, with most of his earnings now coming from this fresh approach as opposed to the traditional method of merely making videos and placing them on product pages.

      Tune into Episode 723 of the Side Hustle Show to discover:

      - How Creator Connections is transforming the Amazon Influencer Program

      - Tips on how to pitch brands and receive free products for review

      - Strategies for selecting high-performing products and creating review videos that convert

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      Round 1: Creator Connections

      Creator Connections is a feature within your Amazon Associates account that allows brands to offer enhanced commission rates for product review videos. There are over 500,000 brand campaigns providing commission rates from 10% to 40%, compared to the standard 2% to 3%. Many Amazon influencers, including Jared, are now earning more through Creator Connections than through the previous method.

      Start by seeking out Creator Connection campaigns for products you’ve already created videos for. If you don’t have many videos, establish a pipeline by contacting brands.

      Obtaining Free Products from Brands

      Jared dedicates 10 to 15 minutes every day to reach out to brands, requesting them to send products for free. Many do not reply, but some respond positively saying, “We’ve reviewed your videos. We’d love to collaborate. The product is on its way.”

      In your outreach, mention your status level (gold or platinum if applicable), the number of videos you possess (Jared has over 1,500), and the specific product ASIN. Inform brands: “I’ll create a video and publish it on my Amazon storefront and YouTube channel within one to two weeks of receiving the product.” Don't forget to include your address.

      Target products that are selling at least 100 units a month. Expect delivery within two to seven days. Keep track of everything on a spreadsheet: product requested, shipped, received, filmed, and published.

      Video Production

      Jared typically films every other week, creating videos of two to three minutes that are quickly edited. The focus should be on answering specific questions that may prevent people from making a purchase.

      Avoid repeating product specifications that are already available. Instead, demonstrate the product in use or address common concerns. Amazon's AI, Rufus, summarizes frequent questions from reviews, providing insight on what to cover.

      For thumbnails, creating one can help you stand out. Use catchy phrases like “see me demo,” “worth it,” or “would I buy it.” For titles, be straightforward: “I set up and demo this for you.” Remember, viewers on Amazon are looking for specific answers rather than entertainment.

      How to Identify Profitable Products

      Not every Creator Connections campaign is worth pursuing. Jared stresses the importance of focusing on products that are already performing well. A 40% commission rate won’t matter if the product isn’t selling.

      A simple method to assess this (without using paid tools) is:

      - Go to the brand's Amazon storefront

      - Click on individual product listings

      - Check for the line under reviews mentioning sales like “200+ bought in the last month”

      This figure reflects actual sales performance. Jared considers products that sell at least 100 units per month to be worthwhile, with some flexibility for higher-ticket items.

      Using Browser Extensions for Time Efficiency

      Though manual exploration is an option, Jared recommends using Chrome extensions such as:

      - Viral Vue

      - Oink

      These tools assist in quickly identifying:

      - Sales velocity

      - Availability of video carousel spots

      - Commission rates

      He notes that these tools significantly cut down on research time and simplify the ROI calculations, shifting the approach from random video uploads to strategically targeting revenue-generating products.

      What to Do with Products

      After filming, Jared often finds he doesn’t want to keep most products. He has given many away, started selling higher-priced items on Facebook Marketplace