If your commissions are stalling out or going sideways in the Amazon Influencer Program, there are really only two reasons why. Rob from Oink for Influencers breaks down the two most common traps that influencers fall into, whether they are beginners or experienced earners, and shows you how to track both metrics to make sure you stay on the right path.
Table of Contents
- The Two Traps That Hold Influencers Back
- Reason 1: Lack of Consistency
- Reason 2: Poor Product Selection
- How to Track Your Consistency
- How to Track Your Product Selection Quality
- This Applies to Everyone
- Watch the Full Video
The Two Traps That Hold Influencers Back
After two and a half years in the Amazon Influencer Program, Rob has identified two fundamental reasons why influencers stall out or see declining commissions. These are the same traps that veteran influencers fell into when they were starting out, back when there were fewer resources and YouTube guides available. Understanding these two pitfalls and learning to track them can make the difference between a side hobby income and serious earnings.
Reason 1: Lack of Consistency
The first and most common reason people struggle is that their consistency simply is not there. Consistency means different things in this context: how much you upload per day, how much product research you do, how much brand outreach you perform. Many people complain about low commissions while admitting they only worked hard one day last week. The reality is that you need to be doing something in the program most days, at least five out of seven days per week. It does not have to be all day. Sometimes 30 minutes or an hour can make a real difference. But if you have not done anything meaningful for three days straight beyond basic Creator Connections cross-checks, your earnings will start to decline.
Reason 2: Poor Product Selection
The second reason is choosing the wrong products to make videos for. This is the trap that many veterans fell into early on, accepting every product that came their way without evaluating viability. Amazon tells influencers to target products that are already selling well and products where there is less video saturation, meaning fewer influencer videos already on the listing. If you consistently choose products that do not have a sales history or that already have a packed carousel of videos, all your hard work and consistency will not translate into meaningful commissions. You can be incredibly consistent but still fail if you are consistently working with the wrong products.
How to Track Your Consistency
Rob demonstrates how to track consistency using the storefront performance analysis feature in the Oink for Influencers extension. The upload velocity graph shows whether you are uploading videos at an increasing pace over time. A consistent upward trend means your consistency is on track. If you see it going up and down erratically, that is a sign of inconsistency. While upload velocity does not capture everything related to consistency, it serves as a strong indicator because consistent uploading typically means you are also doing consistent product research and outreach.
How to Track Your Product Selection Quality
Five additional graphs in the storefront performance analysis help track product selection quality. The average product price should trend upward over time, meaning you are choosing higher-value products. Monthly sales should also trend up, indicating you are selecting products that actually sell. The percentage of products with upper carousels should increase. The average influencer video count should decrease, showing you are finding less saturated products. A combined performance score weighs all these factors together to give you an overall picture of whether your product selection is improving.
This Applies to Everyone
These two pitfalls are not just for beginners. Whether you are a newbie or a high-level earner, if your commissions are going sideways or declining, there is a high likelihood that consistency, product selection, or a combination of both is the cause. The approach to the Amazon Influencer Program matters enormously. If you treat it as an afterthought or a side hobby, you will get afterthought and side hobby money in return. The more energy and effort you put into maintaining consistency and improving your product selection, the more likely you are to see your commission trend line moving in the right direction.
Watch the Full Video
Watch the original video from Oink for Influencers on YouTube:
