Are you looking for a new way to diversify your income from Amazon as a content creator? With global social commerce revenue set to reach $913 billion this year and expected to reach $6.2 trillion by 2030 (Statista, 2024) Amazon’s new social commerce feature, Amazon Inspire, could be the perfect addition to your monetization strategy, alongside the Amazon Associates or Amazon Influencer Program.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about Amazon Inspire — from how to get started, the platform’s benefits and drawbacks, to3 strategies for maximizing your earnings. As a content creator, you’ll learn how to leverage this new tool to boost your income and make informed decisions about adding Amazon Inspire to your monetization toolkit.
Launched in December 2022, Inspire aims to simplify product discovery by merging social media engagement with seamless shopping. It allows shoppers to discover and shop products through a mobile app and can be considered Amazon’s reaction to the rise of short form video content which first became popular with TikTok. The platform is structured in a vertical video format similar to reels and aims to make online shopping more interactive.
For content creators and influencers, it provides an opportunity to showcase products through engaging videos and photos, helping you connect with shoppers and potentially earn commissions through Amazon's affiliate programs. Next to content creators and influencers, brands and customers can also post on Inspire.
Understanding how Amazon inspire works is crucial in order for you to implement strategies to succeed as a content creator. Let's first take a look at how Amazon Inspire works for shoppers.
When users first access Inspire, they're prompted to select their interests from a range of categories such as beauty, electronics, pets, and more.
Based on selected interests and browsing behavior, Inspire curates a feed of shoppable photos and videos tailored to each user.
Users scroll through a feed of influencer-generated content showcasing products.
Shoppers can tap on displayed products to view details, read reviews, and make purchases without leaving the app.
Users can engage with content by liking it, which further refines their feed recommendations.
Options to share products or content with others directly from the app.
To upload content to Amazon Inspire, you need to be part of the Amazon Influencer Program.
How to Apply:
Your storefront is your personal page on Amazon where you can showcase your favorite products and curated lists.
Tips:
Start uploading photos and short-form videos to Inspire.
Content Guidelines:
Enhance your content's reach and effectiveness.
Tailor your content to the preferences and needs of your target audience.
Stay ahead by featuring trending products.
Ensure compliance to avoid content removal.
Consider the following:
The key difference between Amazon Inspire and the Amazon associates and influencer program is the way products are discovered. What is important to note here is that Amazon Inspire can’t be used without Amazon associates or the influencer program. The monetisation part of Amazon inspire is managed through the associates or influencer program. Below is an overview of how products are discovered on all three platforms.
The key difference is that Amazon Inspire enhances product discovery through algorithm-driven feeds, offering a more immersive, TikTok / Instagram reels style shopping experience.
Instead of posting first on another platform like social media (Instagram, TikTok etc.) or on a blog post (SEO / Google) you can directly upload content into Amazon Inspire which makes the journey to checkout more seamless as everything is within the Amazon ecosystem.
Below are the most important pro’s and con’s compared to other Amazon monetization programs.
Due to the algorithm-driven feed your content has potential to go viral even without having a great audience which can be great opportunity for smaller influencers.
As a new platform the amount of content published on Aspire is still small which makes it easier for you to reach new audiences
Everything is within the Amazon ecosystem which makes the shopping journey more seamless compared to driving traffic across multiple platforms. This could lead to higher conversion rates and increased earnings
People who are on Amazon inspire are actively looking for product inspiration which can lead to higher conversion rates compared to social media where people typically initially look to consume content and be entertained.
As a new platform the number of shoppers using Amazon inspire is still quite small which can lead to smaller reach
As a new initiative it is unclear yet if Amazon will see enough success with the program to continue with the initiative. This can be a risk as you would be investing time to build up your reach on this platform.
As the main objective of Inspire is product discovery the content is very commercial. If you prefer a more subtle way of recommending products this might not be the best platform for you.
Amazon Inspire represents a significant shift in how consumers discover and purchase products, blending the entertainment value of social media with the convenience of online shopping. For content creators and influencers like you, this platform offers a new frontier for monetization and audience engagement.
By leveraging Amazon Inspire, you can tap into Amazon's extensive customer base, showcase products authentically, and increase your earning potential. Whether you're a seasoned influencer or just starting, now is the time to explore what Amazon Inspire has to offer.