In addition to Amazon Live there’s another avenue for influencers on Amazon to use video content to talk about products and earn commissions. And that is through Amazon product videos. You can earn Amazon video review commissions on these videos. Basically, think of these as Amazon product videos for affiliate marketing.
What are Amazon product videos?
Amazon product videos are short clips where somebody talks about the product. The videos are displayed fairly prominently on product pages. Here’s an example for the “Content Inc.” book video I produced. I also use these videos on social media platforms. This is the example from Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
Once I upload the video it shows prominently on the book landing page.
How to get started with product videos on Amazon
To get started, apply for the Amazon influencer program here.
You must have a certain following on other social media channels to be accepted into the program.
How to produce the videos
For the most part, I record my Amazon product videos in my regular studio, which you can see a setup of here. Sometimes I do a handheld video if the product is suited for that. For example when I talked about the phone holder in my car.
Unfortunately, when recording with my iPhone I can’t upload to Amazon directly from my iPhone. I now get this screen to let me know I have to go to my desktop to upload. The upload from Safari on iPad, however, does work.
I record with a 4K camera and use Restream as the production platform. Restream is mostly used for live streaming but you can also use it to record a video production.
From there I upload them to my store front on Amazon. To tag the right product I make sure to copy and paste the actual title from the product page. Sometimes you still have to scroll a little bit to find it.
Know the rules
Amazon has some rules to follow to make sure your video is approved.
- Only tag products that are actually shown in the video.
- Be authentic and actually have something to say about the product.
- Don’t have unrelated calls to action. For example, I had my Twitter handle on the screen once and the video was rejected because people can’t click to follow me on Twitter. Plus that’s not the point of the video. The point of the video is to give them info to help them decide whether or not they want to buy the product.
Each video has a thumbnail. For example, for books I use a version of this:
For bathroom products I use a version of this.
I create these graphics in Canva.
I use Restream studio to produce my videos and even if you don’t create a cover image Amazon will just grab one from the video which works well most of the time.
How to create your storefront on Amazon to submit videos
To get started you have to become part of the Amazon Influencer Program. Apply here.
Once you’re in you can create your storefront and apply for Amazon live streams as well as upload these product videos.
Amazon looks at your social presence on other networks to see if you are a good fit. So social following numbers do matter in this instance.
Which products to use in Amazon product videos
Obviously, anything you buy on Amazon you should do a review on. And we have made that a practice in my house anytime somebody buys anything from Amazon will do a quick video.
But we also check other products that we buy elsewhere. For example, we’ve had a bidet installed in the bathroom and part of that bidet can also be bought on Amazon. So why not do a review on it. The same holds true for a whole-house generator. So after any purchase – no matter where – always check Amazon and see if the product is also available there.
Once I had several videos uploaded, brands started reaching out to do videos on their products. I’m happy to do that but I do charge a flat fee. Nothing is free so to speak. In these videos, I do have to declare that the product was provided but that my opinion is still my opinion.
Amazon now also gives you ideas for what products to review. My current recommendation include Ring cameras and batteries, socks, and a keyboard.
Where do Amazon product videos show up?
They show up on the product pages for the product being reviewed. They can also show up on amazon.com and Kindle for books and related products.
Wrap
After several published videos, you can earn commissions when people watch your videos and buy something. It really didn’t take me long to get to the required number of videos and the passive revenue has been great.
