Watch the full Office Hours replay above for the complete conversation.
If you’ve ever felt like the Amazon Influencer Program changes just often enough to make you question everything you thought you understood… you’re not wrong.
In this extended two-hour Office Hours, we sat down with Kathleen Kobel to talk through what’s actually happening inside the program right now — from first-time approvals to on-site video placement, international storefronts, Creator Hub confusion, and the realities of what Amazon does (and doesn’t) tell creators.
What emerged was less about hacks — and more about clarity.
Below are the biggest takeaways from the session, especially if you’re newer to the program or feeling stuck.
The Approval Process Has Changed (and It’s Confusing for a Reason)
One of the biggest revelations from this conversation came from revisiting the approval process with fresh eyes — specifically, what brand-new creators see today.
New applicants are often redirected to Creator University instead of Creator Hub, which means:
- You won’t see the “lock” icon right away
- You won’t see confirmation that your videos are eligible for on-site placement
- And you may think something is wrong when it isn’t
The key takeaway:
You don’t see Creator Hub until after your first three videos are uploaded.
That single change explains a lot of the confusion creators experience during onboarding, especially if they’re following older tutorials or advice from people who joined years ago.
Your First Three Videos Are Not About Strategy. They’re About Safety.
This was one of the most important mindset shifts discussed.
For your first three videos, product research does not matter. Earnings potential does not matter. Optimization does not matter.
What matters:
- The product is safe to talk about
- You make no claims
- You describe factual features
- You keep it simple
Think:
- Household items
- Tools
- Kitchen gadgets
- Furniture
Not:
- Supplements
- Medical products
- Skincare with claims
- Anything you’d need to “explain carefully”
The goal of the first three videos is approval, not performance.
If a Video Gets Rejected, Re-Upload First
A practical tip that came up repeatedly:
When trying to get your initial three videos approved to join the Amazon Influencer Program, if a video gets rejected and you genuinely can’t find the issue, try re-uploading the exact same video.
In many cases, it passes on the second or third attempt with no changes: likely due to automated review systems rather than an actual policy violation.
Don’t over-edit. Don’t panic. Try again.
Published ≠ Placed (and Amazon Won’t Tell You)
One of the most frustrating realities of the program is that Amazon:
- Does not notify you when videos are placed on product pages
- Does not show placement data in standard dashboards
- Does not distinguish clearly between “published” and “earning”
A video can be live, get views, and still not be placed on a product listing.
This is why creators either:
- Manually check listings
- Or use third-party tools to track placement and performance
The takeaway here isn’t “you’re doing something wrong,” it’s that Amazon simply doesn’t surface this information clearly.
International Storefronts Are Still a Huge Opportunity
International Amazon storefronts remain one of the most underused features of the program.
Key points:
- You do not need to re-submit three videos for each country
- Many countries support English videos
- On-site placements turn on and off by region
- Even small earnings add up over time
The smartest move discussed:
Apply to every available country now, even if you don’t plan to focus on international content yet. Barriers to entry tend to increase over time, so getting in early matters.
Creator Levels Are Nice, But Not Life-Changing
Amazon’s Creator Stars tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) sound exciting, but the real-world benefits are limited.
The most meaningful perk:
- Early access to Creator Connections campaigns (especially at higher tiers)
Everything else is largely motivational. Worth celebrating, for sure, but not something to stress over.
Stop Trying to Sound “Professional” on Camera
If your videos feel stiff or QVC-like, this reframe helps:
Talk like you’re explaining the product to a friend.
Not:
- “If you’re in the market for…”
- “This product will help you…”
Instead:
- “I bought this because…”
- “What stood out to me was…”
- “Here’s what surprised me…”
Amazon favors authentic, experience-based content, not sales pitches.
Systems Matter More Than Volume
Toward the end of the session, the conversation shifted from content to sustainability.
The creators who last:
- Build repeatable systems
- Track what performs
- Repurpose intelligently
- Focus on conversion, not visibility
More videos isn’t the goal.
Better decisions over time is.
Final Thought
This session wasn’t about doing more, it was about doing the right things at the right stage.
If you’re early:
- Keep it simple
- Get approved
- Ignore the noise
If you’re established:
- Track placement
- Expand internationally
- Optimize what already works
And if you’re somewhere in between — you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Ready to start earning with Amazon?
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For even more support, join our Circle Creator Community!
Connect with fellow content creators, access weekly live office hours and special events, tap into educational resources, and engage directly with brands seeking promotion partnerships. You’ll gain exclusive access to Wayward’s vast network of sellers looking for talented creators like you. Our specialized channels for Amazon, TikTok, and general content creation will help you expand your skills and opportunities.
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