Amazon’s Influencer Program, As Shown To Us By Two Industry Experts

Amazon introduced a beta program for influencers of social media, where a vanity URL was offered so that influencers can offer a list of recommended Amazon products, and if sold, earn a commission when someone buys it from their page.

There’s not much information released about this program except that influencers need to become enrolled. However, for people to understand how this program works you need insight from social media influencers and here are two heavyweights in the industry who have been part of the influencer program since it first began.

Let’s look at their experience and expertise on what it takes to operate out of this program.

The first heavyweight is Matt Granite, the founder of the Deal Guy. Subscribers of the Deal are offered daily tips and advice on various products including tech and lifestyle. In addition, subscribers can enjoy printable coupons and discount codes. Matt has his own YouTube channel and people can follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

His digital company introduced the Influencer program to Matt and thereafter a few meetings were set up with Amazon before the actual page was put together. The store went live and now Matt is fully involved in this program. He receives performance updates every week.

Matt can showcase any number of products and so far has over 55 tech oriented products. He doesn’t work directly with or for the brands and instead looks for products that appeal to him and may appeal to his audience as well. Matt has decades of expertise on how to analyze customer data, what people purchase and types of products they purchase. Matt is excited about the potential of the program and hopes to benefit from it.

Liane Mullin is the COO for Whats Up Moms. It is YouTube’s best parenting channel at the moment and she was contacted by Amazon about the Influencer program. She fit in the criteria for being the ideal candidate with her high profile community engagement. She set up her store and went live soon thereafter. Her channel alone generates 30 million views every month and her social media networks have so far garnered 2 million viewers. Amazon, just like it helped Matt supported Liane throughout the process. It was very collaborative and even the smallest detail was discussed thoroughly.

Initially, the page recommended 20 products but has since grown to 90 items. The products are recommended based on things Liane loves and enjoys. Products are chosen on Liane’s and the editorial team’s recommendations, there is no outside influence.

The commission structure varies and depends on each product category. It is a new program so Liane’s community is slowly getting introduced to the page. She hopes the program continues to evolve and include other influencers who have a strong presence on social media and has the ability to recommend products to their audiences around specific niche.