Is Amazon Associates and affiliates the same?

If you're using Amazon as a platform to make money online, there are two main options available to you - becoming either an Amazon associate (or seller) or an Amazon influencer. Both of these programs offer different ways to earn commissions from your sales, but they also have some differences that can be confusing at first glance. So we've put together this helpful article to help explain exactly what each one entails so you'll feel more confident when deciding which option best suits your needs.

First off, let's talk briefly about both types of programs before jumping into specifics. Both Amazon Associate and Amazon Influencers allow sellers on their marketplace to promote products by creating links to those items. The key difference here is whether the person who clicks through the link will receive compensation directly from Amazon, or if it goes through another intermediary like yourself.

Amazon has created its own storefront called "Associates" where people interested in earning extra income with Amazon can go to find other sellers willing to sell them products. This allows anyone looking for something specific to easily search out others selling that product without having to sift through hundreds of listings. There are no fees involved, and all transactions happen right within the Amazon ecosystem.

On the flip side of things, you can choose to join the Amazon Influencer Program instead. In this case, rather than finding someone else to buy your products, you get paid based on the number of views your video gets. You don't even need any inventory whatsoever! If you want to learn more about both of these programs, keep reading below.

What's the difference between Amazon Associate and Amazon influencer?

The most obvious distinction between the two programs is simply the name itself. While the Amazon Associates storefront is known as such because it focuses primarily on helping people find other sellers, the term "Influencer" refers specifically to the fact that this program rewards content creators. It could just as well refer to anything else that creates positive buzz around a brand or item. However, since the name is associated with the content creator aspect, I'm going to use the latter term throughout this entire post.

So, while the Amazon Associates storefront provides a way for sellers to advertise their products, the Amazon Influencer Program gives incentives to people creating videos or images promoting certain brands. These videos and photos may not necessarily feature the actual product, but could instead focus on highlighting aspects of the product or company behind it.

For example, say you were hired to shoot a promotional video for a new line of socks made by Nike. Instead of focusing exclusively on the socks themselves, you might show fans how comfortable they would look while wearing them, highlight their durability, or share tips on how to maintain them properly. Your goal isn't necessarily to push customers towards buying the socks, but rather to encourage them to purchase related accessories like apparel or shoes.

This type of content creation doesn't have to come only from professional videographers though. Anyone with access to a camera phone or DSLR can take pictures or record short videos showcasing a particular set of goods and then submit them to the website. As long as the information provided is useful and interesting, you won't run afoul of any rules against offering sponsored reviews, and you'll still qualify to participate in the program.

While both programs offer similar benefits, it's important to note that the Amazon Influencer Program comes with additional restrictions compared to the Amazon Associates Storefront. For instance, you must meet several eligibility criteria before joining the program including having 100K+ subscribers on YouTube, a minimum of 1M monthly impressions across Facebook and Instagram, and more. Even after meeting these prerequisites, however, you can still face stiff penalties if you violate the terms of service.

Those restrictions aren't present with the Amazon Associates Storefront, making it easier for beginners to begin monetizing their existing social media accounts. Still, if you do decide to pursue the Influencer Program, it's always wise to check the current conditions before signing up.

As mentioned above, you don't actually need to stock any merchandise to start participating in the program. Simply uploading relevant videos or photographs can earn you enough commission-based revenue to cover your costs. But if you'd prefer to invest in inventory ahead of time, Amazon offers various levels of membership depending on your goals.

We recommend starting out with the Basic Membership plan, which lets you upload 10 high quality videos per month. After getting familiar with the process, you can upgrade to Professional or Advanced memberships as needed.

Is Amazon Associates and Amazon influencer the same?

One thing that often confuses potential participants in Amazon's programs is the idea that the two are identical. While Amazon has created separate stores for both types of users, they function very similarly. In addition, both programs require you to apply separately to join. And once approved, you can continue to interact with Amazon's infrastructure and benefit from its services regardless of which storefront you used to enroll.

However, one big difference between the two involves the amount of required effort. With the Amazon Associates storefront, you only need to follow a few simple steps to complete the application process. On the other hand, the Amazon Influencer Program requires much less work upfront, yet it carries substantially higher risks due to stricter guidelines.

To avoid falling foul of the stringent standards, you'd better be prepared to spend lots of time building relationships with your target audience. That means consistently posting engaging content, maintaining active profiles, and keeping track of your metrics.

In order to stay compliant with the Amazon Influencer Program's policies, you must also adhere strictly to the following rules:

Your account cannot contain any pornographic material

You must provide accurate contact details

There must never be any negative comments posted under your profile

All uploaded content must abide by Amazon's Community Guidelines

It goes without saying that if you fail to comply with these strict guidelines, you risk losing eligibility altogether.

What is an Amazon influencer?

Now that we've covered the basics of Amazon's Associate and Influencer Programs, let's dive deeper into what makes the Amazon Influencer Program unique.

Simply put, an Amazon Influencer is someone whose job consists mainly of sharing valuable information on behalf of a brand. Their posts typically consist of informative text accompanied by visuals, and they aim to build awareness and interest among viewers. They usually do not endorse any given product, nor do they try to convince people to buy said products. Rather, their primary purpose is to educate readers.

Because of this, the role of an Amazon Influencer differs considerably from that of a traditional blogger. Where bloggers write articles to attract attention and increase traffic, influencers write to inform and engage their audiences. Because they rely heavily upon word of mouth advertising, they also tend to generate far fewer leads than typical advertisers. And although they may produce plenty of original content over the course of their careers, it's unlikely that they'll ever reach the level of success enjoyed by top-tier celebrities.

Still, the opportunities afforded by the Influencer Program are substantial enough to tempt many professionals into stepping outside of their comfort zones. Since influencers don't have to worry about stocking inventory, they can devote more energy toward developing their personal brand and cultivating strong connections with their target demographic.

Is Amazon affiliate and associate the same?

Although the two programs sound similar at first glance, there are a handful of major distinctions worth noting. One notable difference concerns the type of relationship established between a participant and Amazon.

With Amazon Associates, you enter into a direct partnership with the company. This means that you agree to give credit whenever possible to Amazon for purchases made via your links, and that you refrain from trying to sell competing products alongside yours. In exchange, you gain full control over your business' visibility and branding.

By contrast, Amazon Influencer relies upon a third party. Once enrolled, you grant permission for Amazon to display ads next to your videos or other content. When visitors click through to view your video, Amazon pays you accordingly based on the number of times they watch it. Although you retain ownership of your intellectual property, you lose total control over your brand identity.

Another significant difference between the two programs lies in the nature of the compensation offered. Whereas Amazon Associates earns a flat fee every time someone buys through a link, Amazon Influencers only receive payment when someone watches their video or reads their blog entry.

That said, the biggest discrepancy between the two revolves around how they treat Amazon itself. With Amazon Associates, you're permitted to include Amazon logos and trademarks in your marketing materials. Conversely, the Amazon Influencer Program prohibits that practice outright. Any mention of the company must appear solely in reference to the product being promoted.

When choosing between the two programs, you should consider your overall objectives, budget, and experience level. Each has distinct advantages and disadvantages, and you should weigh factors like flexibility, reputation management, and customer support before selecting a path forward. We hope this article helped clarify the differences between Amazon Associates and Amazon Influencer, and hopefully made clear why one choice is preferable to the other.

If you're new to online marketing, you might have heard of a few different programs that allow people to earn money from their website by promoting other products. You could choose to sell your own goods through these programs like Etsy selling kits or T-shirts, but there are also more traditional options such as becoming an Amazon Associate, which allows you to promote other brands' products through your site. However, if you've never used one of those before, what exactly are they? And why would someone need them?

We'll explain all of this right here so you can see exactly what each option entails and make sure you understand the difference between each type of program. We will also go over some tips to help you get started quickly!

Amazon Associates FAQs

1. How do I change my Amazon affiliate account?

You can only edit your account settings once every 90 days, so if you want to reset everything, just log out and then back into your profile. If you'd rather change something without logging out, head over to Account Settings " My Affiliate Program " Edit Profile (or click the gear icon) and select Change Preferences under Account Information & Billing Options. Then follow instructions to update your preferences.

2. Where is the influencer tab on Amazon?

The most important part of making any kind of income off of your website is building trust and credibility among potential customers. This is where the influencer tools come in handy, allowing you to connect directly with potential buyers. The Influencers section of your store lets you build relationships with influential bloggers who may or not even use Amazon themselves. There's no limit to how many influencers you can work with at one time, and since you don't pay anything upfront, it makes sense to take advantage of the opportunity while it lasts.

3. What does it mean to be an affiliate with Amazon?

An Amazon affiliate is anyone who sells items sold by third parties through the Amazon platform using links placed throughout their blog posts, social media accounts, etc. These affiliates receive commissions when someone clicks on their link and purchases a product. Some affiliates choose to offer free shipping or discounts to increase sales volume, though some simply wish to generate additional revenue for their websites. It's best to think of yourself as an ambassador of sorts for other companies, helping bring traffic and sales to your readership.

4. What is considered an affiliate?

Any person or business involved in bringing visitors to another company's website via paid advertising is considered an affiliate. In fact, any person or business that has ever received compensation for referring others to a particular brand is technically an affiliate. For example, let's say you run a fashion blog where you write articles about clothing. One day, you notice a shirt on sale at Target and decide to share information about it with your audience. That post gets shared thousands of times across various social platforms, resulting in hundreds of views for your article and ultimately generating thousands of dollars worth of commission payments for you.

5. What is an influencer?

Influencers are individuals or businesses whose content regularly drives organic traffic to a certain page or domain name. They usually have large audiences consisting of millions of users, meaning it's possible to reach a huge amount of readers per month. When writing about a specific topic, influencers often include multiple references to related products or services within their content, encouraging readers to purchase similar items. Influencers typically provide recommendations based on their personal experiences, so they tend to be much less biased than regular reviewers.

6. Why would someone need both an Amazon Associates Storefront and an Amazon Influencer program?

It depends entirely upon whether you plan to continue working exclusively with Amazon's marketplace or expand beyond it. While you can certainly set up an account and begin selling other brands' products without joining either program, it doesn't hurt to join both because you can leverage their respective benefits to grow your site faster. With the Amazon Associates Storefront, you can add special features to your listings that help drive conversions for shoppers looking to buy a specific item. On the flip side, the Amazon Influencer program gives you access to larger audiences that may otherwise be impossible to reach. So whichever avenue you pursue first, consider adding the other later down the line.

7. Does Amazon give me credit for referrals?

Yes, this is standard practice for all major retailers. Your commissions will reflect the number of sales generated by any referral you send their way. However, keep in mind that you won't necessarily get full credit for all purchases made by those referred by your friends and family members. Instead, you'll get a percentage of profit earned from any item purchased after clicking your referral link.

8. Can I still apply to become an Amazon Influencer if I already belong to an existing program?

Absolutely! Since you must meet the eligibility criteria for both programs anyway, applying twice isn't going to cause you any trouble whatsoever. Just remember to submit your application separately for each program, and ensure you fill out all relevant fields correctly.

9. Do I really need to download the Amazon Associates App?

No, you definitely don't need to install the app itself. All you need to do is visit the Amazon Associates landing page on your computer to start earning rewards. Once logged in, you can easily track your earnings and view reports showing you how well your efforts are paying off.

10. Will I lose my ability to refer for Amazon if I leave the program?

No, you'll always retain the ability to refer for Amazon regardless of which program you joined. As long as you remain active and keep sending qualified traffic to Amazon, you'll continue receiving commissions for future sales.

11. Is there a maximum number of items I'm allowed to list?

There is currently no maximum quantity for listing eligible products, although you cannot list identical products simultaneously. To avoid duplication issues, you'll want to carefully review each product prior to uploading it to your store. Keep in mind that duplicate listings are automatically removed, so if you upload two copies of the exact same product, Amazon will remove one of them immediately.

12. Are there any fees associated with starting an Amazon Associates Storefront account?

Not unless you count the cost of registering your website(s). A small fee will be charged whenever you register a new merchant account, and this applies to everyone, including non-US residents.

13. How do I delete my Amazon Associates account?

To cancel your membership, navigate to Account Settings " My Affiliate Programs " Delete Account (or click the gear icon). Enter your email address and confirm deletion by pressing Submit. After submitting your request, you'll receive an email confirmation stating that the action was successful. At that point, you can close your account completely.

14. What happens if I forget to verify my Amazon Associates account?

Unfortunately, verification does require a bit of effort on your end. First, you'll have to open your Amazon Associates dashboard and click Verification Request inside the left sidebar menu. From there, enter your email address along with a password to complete the process.

15. What if I forgot my email address?

Fortunately, you can retrieve your login credentials by visiting Account Settings and selecting Login Info. Here, you'll find several different types of information regarding your Amazon Associates account, including your username, secret question, and answer. Make sure you save a copy of the unique URL provided in your confirmation email, as it contains the code necessary to reenter your account.

16. What else can I do besides creating an Amazon Associates storefront?

While we've covered the basics above, there are plenty of other ways to boost your visibility. Read our ultimate guide on SEO for beginners to learn more about optimizing your webpages for search engines like Google and Bing. Also, check out our guides on how to improve conversion rates and monetize your website to maximize profits. Finally, make sure to read our comprehensive roundup of Amazon sellers' top products to ensure you stock enough inventory to satisfy your customers.

Want to learn more about Amazon Associates? Check out these helpful resources below:

Become an Amazon seller: Learn how to launch an online ecommerce store with Amazon FBA.

Join the Amazon affiliate program: Sign up for the Amazon Associates program to promote your favorite brands on Amazon.

Build a niche website around Amazon: Discover how to turn your hobby into a profitable business with WordPress.

Get a Shopify starter pack: Find out how to setup a simple shop with Shopify.

Start selling on eBay: Get step-by-step advice on launching your very own eBay store.

Find out how to market your startup: Learn how to advertise your new business venture effectively.

Create a YouTube channel: Create a fun video series featuring your products and share it with the world.

Set up your own Instagram store: Create beautiful images and videos to attract followers.

Make money blogging: Start a blog focused on a single subject and monetize it.

If you're a regular reader of ours, you'll know that we've been covering all things related to Amazon for years now -- from finding ways to get more sales on your own products to learning how to use Facebook ads effectively. But what if there was one company that could help you sell even better than Amazon itself? Well, it's time to learn about Amazon's affiliate marketing programs!

Amazon is arguably one of the biggest companies out there when it comes to e-commerce. It has over 300 million active customers worldwide with millions of items available at any given point in time. And its affiliate program is no different -- it offers countless opportunities to earn extra income by promoting other people's products through links provided in emails or text messages sent to their existing customer base.

But while Amazon's affiliate marketing program might seem overwhelming at first glance, it actually isn't as difficult as some people think. In fact, creating an account only takes a few minutes (and can be done via mobile device) and once signed up, you'll quickly see just how easy it is to start earning commissions right away. So whether you want to promote physical goods like clothing, books, kitchenware, etc., or digital content like apps and games, here's everything you need to know about becoming a successful Amazon Associate.

How do I change Amazon Associates to influencers?

Before we go into detail about what exactly makes someone an "influencer" versus an "associate," let's take a look at the difference between these two types of accounts.

When signing up for either type of account, you will need to verify your identity before getting started. This means providing information such as name, email address, date of birth, phone number, social security number, credit card details, driver's license details, proof of residence, passport copy/photo, government ID, etc. You will also need to provide basic contact info for each person who will receive commission checks on your behalf.

Once verified, you'll then be able to choose which category(s) you'd like to work within, including fashion & apparel, beauty & personal care, home & garden, electronics, toys & children's media, health & wellness, music, movies, sports, software, tools & hardware, and travel & vacations. From there, you'll simply add relevant product categories to your cart based on where you plan to focus your efforts. When adding new products to your shopping list, you won't need to worry about selecting the appropriate category because they will automatically be selected for you.

Next, you'll set up payment options (i.e. PayPal, bank transfer, check, cash, gift cards), select your preferred shipping method, enter your billing and tax addresses, and finally, click next. Once approved, you'll instantly begin receiving commission payments every month until you cancel your account. To view your earnings history, log in to your dashboard and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Now that you understand what separates the two types of Amazon Affiliates, let's dive deeper into the specifics behind them.

What are Amazon associates called?

The term "Associates" refers to anyone who earns revenue from selling products purchased directly from the site. There are two main types of Associates:

1. Marketplace sellers - These individuals buy products from third party vendors and resell those products online using the Amazon platform. Some examples include eBay, Etsy, and AliExpress.

2. Product creators - People who create original merchandise sold exclusively on Amazon.com through their own websites or blogs. Examples include Tobi, H&M, Nike, Adidas, Apple, Samsung, etc.

While both categories offer similar features and benefits, marketplace sellers usually require less upfront investment compared to product creators. For example, marketplace sellers don't typically need inventory since they purchase products wholesale from third parties and re-sell them on Amazon. As such, they don't need to maintain warehouses full of products, nor invest heavily in packaging materials. Instead, marketplace sellers rely solely on Amazon's fulfillment services to handle returns, refunds, and exchanges.

On the other hand, product creators often struggle to find enough unique products to build long-term relationships with clients, so they end up having to spend thousands of dollars on advertising campaigns, website development, hosting fees, etc. They may also face issues with copyright infringement due to trademark violations, especially if they fail to obtain permission from brands prior to starting their businesses.

In addition, while marketplace sellers are technically free to accept whatever compensation terms they desire, product creators must adhere to specific guidelines outlined by Amazon. If they violate these rules, they risk losing access to Amazon's platform altogether and potentially facing legal action from the company.

As mentioned earlier, the key differences between Marketplace Sellers and Product Creators revolve around the amount of effort required to run their respective business models. However, regardless of which category you fall under, you shouldn't expect to reap huge rewards overnight. Although it's true that Amazon pays high rates for referring shoppers, most Associates still earn little to nothing per sale. That being said, if you already have something worth selling, you may consider partnering up with another seller instead. After all, why not split the profit with others rather than relying solely on Amazon's commissions?

How many followers do I have to have to be an Amazon influencer?

Answering this question depends largely on how much exposure you wish to gain among potential buyers. While a large following certainly helps, it doesn't guarantee success. The truth is, there are plenty of Influencers whose follower counts are dwarfed by those of celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Kylie Jenner, Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian West, Selena Gomez, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lawrence, Lady Gaga, Chris Brown, Dwayne Johnson, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Adam Levine, and many more.

So, how many followers do you really need? According to research conducted by Forbes Magazine, the average Influencer boasts anywhere between 1.5k and 5.3k monthly subscribers. Moreover, the best performing Influencers boast around 10 times more fans than the worst performers. Nowadays, with nearly everyone sharing their daily lives on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, Periscope, and various other platforms, it's virtually impossible to stand out in today's saturated market.

That being said, building a loyal audience is essential for success in the world of Internet Marketing. But remember, there's a fine line between gaining a sizable fan base and spamming your friends' feeds with promotional posts. If you aren't sure, stick to posting quality content consistently but avoid trying too hard to impress others. In short, aim to keep your interactions genuine without coming off as pushy. Remember, it's important to stay authentic -- after all, authenticity sells.

How do Amazon Associates make money?

There are three primary sources of income associated with Amazon Associates: Commission, AdSense, and Merchandise Sales. Let's discuss each of these methods further below.

Commission - Every time someone purchases an item listed on your Amazon store, you'll receive a percentage cut. Your cut will vary depending on the price of the product and the country in which it's located. For instance, products priced at $20 USD or more generate higher commissions. Likewise, countries outside the US tend to pay lower commissions since prices generally range from double to triple the retail value.

AdSense - Similar to Google Ads, Amazon uses AdSense to monetize its sites. Publishers display sponsored advertisements throughout their pages, offering additional incentives to interested users. With Amazon Sites, publishers can target specific audiences based on age, gender, location, interests, devices used, language preferences, and more.

Merchandise Sales - Finally, whenever a visitor clicks on an Amazon ad or buys an item featured on your Amazon storefront, you'll receive a portion of the profits generated by that transaction.

Although it would appear that Amazon's affiliate program is extremely lucrative, there are several factors that limit how much you can earn. First off, you cannot charge above the standard $0.99 minimum fee unless you opt to apply for VIP status. Second, you'll likely lose half of your earnings to taxes. Third, certain restrictions apply to product listings which prohibit certain keywords, colors, sizes, etc. Lastly, you can't advertise anything except for Amazon's own brand products. Therefore, if you decide to launch a separate store that sells non-Amazon branded items, you'll need to register separately with Amazon and set up distinct listing policies in order to protect yourself against possible legal repercussions.

To sum things up, although Amazon's affiliate program is relatively straightforward overall, there are numerous nuances involved with running your own shop. By taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance and professionalism, however, you'll increase your chances of securing future partnerships with major retailers and brands alike.