As Amazon influencers, we often hear that January is the worst month for earnings. But is that really true? In this deep dive, Rob from Oink for Influencers shares his own data along with insights from a mastermind group of veteran influencers who have been in the program for three to six years. The results may surprise you and change how you approach your Q1 strategy.
Table of Contents
- The January Misconception
- What the Mastermind Group Revealed
- January Is Really Two Different Months
- Why February Is Actually the Worst for Many
- The Amazon Factor: Why Consumer Spend Doesn’t Always Equal Commissions
- A Smart Q1 Strategy for the New Year
- Watch the Full Video
The January Misconception
There is a widespread belief in the Amazon influencer community that January is the absolute worst month of the year. Rob challenges this notion head-on by revealing that his two worst months in the current year were May and June, and last year they were February and March. January did not even make his bottom two in either year. This misconception has been repeated so often that many influencers accept it without ever checking their own data.
What the Mastermind Group Revealed
To get a broader perspective, Rob asked a mastermind group of experienced influencers about their worst performing months. The responses were eye-opening. One person reported June and May as their worst, matching Rob’s experience, with January coming in third. Another cited October, September, and November as their worst. Multiple people named September and February as their lowest months. While January did appear on some lists, it was far from a universal worst month. Several members were surprised to discover that January was not actually their lowest when they went back and checked the data.
January Is Really Two Different Months
Looking at the data more closely, Rob explains that January effectively behaves like two different months. The first two weeks typically perform quite well because consumers still have gift card money and cash from the holidays that they are eager to spend. New Year’s resolutioners are also buying health and fitness products during this window. However, once that holiday money runs out around mid-January, earnings drop noticeably for the remainder of the month. This pattern was consistent across both 2024 and 2025 data.
Why February Is Actually the Worst for Many
February shows up on more worst-month lists than January for several reasons. It is cold outside with nothing exciting happening. Valentine’s Day is not a major spending holiday. Easter is still far away. The month only has 28 or 29 days, giving you fewer earning days. People are generally tired of spending after the holidays, and there is a sense of boredom that keeps consumers away from impulse purchases. All of these factors combine to make February the true low point for many influencers.
The Amazon Factor: Why Consumer Spend Doesn’t Always Equal Commissions
One of the most important takeaways is that consumer spending and influencer commissions do not always move together. Amazon’s decisions about placement changes, carousel adjustments, and program modifications can impact your earnings more than seasonal shopping patterns. Rob’s worst month of June should have been strong based on summer spending, but Amazon-side changes negatively impacted his commissions. This means opportunity exists year-round, and your earnings depend on both market conditions and what Amazon decides to do with the program.
A Smart Q1 Strategy for the New Year
With all of this in mind, Rob shares his personal Q1 plan. For the first two weeks of January, he focuses heavily on Creator Connections campaigns, especially taking advantage of gold and platinum early access. The last two weeks of January shift to creating videos for products already secured. The first two weeks of February become an infrastructure and systems improvement period, fixing lighting, organizing shelving, and building better workflows. Then around mid-February, he ramps back up to prepare for spring. The key message is that consistency matters more than worrying about which months are good or bad. Whether you are new or experienced, the opportunity is there all year long.
Watch the Full Video
Watch the original video from Oink for Influencers on YouTube:
