If you’ve been learning about Amazon onsite commissions, you’ve probably realized that earning from onsite placement involves more than simply joining the Amazon Influencer Program. While influencer approval opens the door, onsite placement itself requires an additional review step. This is where many creators get confused or discouraged.
In my main post on how Amazon influencers earn with onsite commissions, I explain what onsite placement is and why it matters for long-term Amazon income. This post is meant to zoom in on one specific part of that process: how influencers actually qualify for onsite placement and what Amazon is reviewing behind the scenes.
Understanding this step upfront helps you create content intentionally instead of guessing what Amazon wants.
Onsite Placement Is a Separate Approval Step
After you’re accepted into the Amazon Influencer Program, you won’t automatically earn onsite commissions. Amazon requires influencers to complete a second review process focused specifically on onsite content quality.
Inside your influencer dashboard, you’ll be prompted to upload three product videos. These videos are submitted for review and evaluated before Amazon unlocks onsite placement.
This review is about whether your content improves the shopping experience. Amazon wants to confirm that your videos help customers understand products clearly enough to influence purchasing decisions. So focus on answering consumer questions rather than selling the item.
You can check out this YouTube short where I talk more about onsite videos.
Only after these three videos are approved will onsite placement be unlocked.
What Changes After You’re Approved for Onsite
Once Amazon approves your videos, two important things happen.
First, you’ll see your onsite store ID appear in your account. This is how Amazon tracks commissions generated from content placed directly on Amazon product pages.
Second, any additional product videos you upload in the future become eligible for onsite placement. That doesn’t mean every video will be placed, but it does mean your content has the potential to show up around Amazon.
What Amazon Is Evaluating in the Review Process
Amazon doesn’t publish formal guidelines for onsite approval, but there is definitely a consistent theme for those that are approved: usefulness matters more than creativity.
The videos Amazon approves tend to function like an in-store explanation. They show the product clearly, explain what it does, and address common buyer questions or uncertainties. The goal isn’t to persuade here, it’s to inform. The video isn’t doing the work of convincing the viewer to go to Amazon, it is helping them to finally click “Add to Cart”.
When Amazon reviews those first three videos, they’re essentially asking whether a shopper would feel more confident purchasing the product after watching them.
Practical Tips for Your Initial Review Videos
While there’s no guaranteed formula, these guidelines align closely with what Amazon appears to prioritize.
- Choose products you can physically show and demonstrate. Hands-on visuals help shoppers understand scale, features, and real-world use.
- Focus each video on a single product and one clear purpose. Trying to cover too much can dilute the value of the content.
- Keep your delivery natural and conversational. Overly scripted or sales-driven videos often feel less trustworthy in a shopping environment.
- Pay attention to lighting and clarity. Your setup doesn’t need to be professional, but the product should be easy to see and hear.
- Most importantly, answer at least one real buying question per video. Think about what someone might be unsure about right before clicking “Add to Cart.”
What Happens After Onsite Is Unlocked
Once onsite placement is unlocked, your role changes slightly. Instead of creating content for approval, you’re now creating content for distribution and longevity.
Some videos may be placed quickly. Others might rotate in and out of product pages or get placed months later. This unpredictability is normal and part of how Amazon tests shopper experience.
Because of this, consistency matters more than obsessing over individual results. Over time, each video becomes a small asset that can contribute to earnings.
Why This Step Matters in the Bigger Amazon Income Strategy
For creators coming from the Amazon Associates Program, this review step often feels unfamiliar. Traditional affiliate marketing focuses on traffic you send to Amazon. Onsite placement shifts part of that responsibility to Amazon after they confirm your content aligns with their standards.
If you’re ready to build your Amazon income strategy using onsite content, I recommend starting with my post on how Amazon influencers earn with onsite commissions to understand how this approval process fits into the bigger picture.
