Creators and publishers use Amazon in two main ways to earn: the Influencer Program and the standard Amazon Associates affiliate program. They look similar from the outside, which is why people mix them up.

The right choice depends on where your audience engages with you, how you create content, and how you want to be paid. This guide breaks down the differences in plain English and shows when to use each, or both together.

TL;DR

• Amazon Associates pays you for qualifying purchases driven by your tracked links from your approved channels (website, social, app, etc.); the Influencer Program is an extension of Associates that adds an Amazon storefront (with a vanity URL) and can unlock Onsite Earnings when Amazon selects and surfaces your content to shoppers on Amazon.

• Influencer content may appear on product pages and other on-Amazon placements if Amazon selects it; those Onsite Earnings are tracked with a separate Onsite Store ID.

• Associates' attribution uses a 24-hour window that closes on order submission or re-entry via another Associate’s link; items added to cart during that window can remain eligible until cart expiry (typically ~90 days). Onsite earnings are paid on qualifying purchases tied to customer engagement with your onsite content and are limited to Direct Qualifying Purchases.

• Commission rates for both are category-based and change over time; onsite rates are typically lower than off‑Amazon standard rates.

• You can be in both programs at once, and that is often the best setup for diversifying your revenue.

How the Two Programs Work

Selecting the right program ensures you’re using the right tools, standard affiliate links for off-Amazon traffic, and a storefront + on-Amazon content for Influencer. If you’re running both, Viral Vue’s platform and Chrome extension can help streamline workflows like finding product opportunities, tracking placements (including carousel placement), and organizing campaigns in one dashboard.

Amazon Associates

Amazon Associates is Amazon’s classic affiliate program. You place Special Links (your tracked links) on your website, newsletter, app, or social posts. When someone clicks and buys within the attribution window, you earn a category‑based commission. It’s open to a wide range of publishers, but Amazon reviews new accounts after you drive qualified sales (Amazon requires at least three within the first 180 days).

If you’re starting with Associates, build a short list of ‘evergreen’ products first, then validate demand and competition before you publish your first batch of reviews. Viral Vue’s product research tools are built for that kind of upfront filtering.

Amazon Influencer Program

The Influencer Program is a creator-focused program under the Associates umbrella that adds a storefront and eligibility for Amazon-controlled onsite placements. You get an on-Amazon storefront with a vanity URL where you can curate Idea Lists, photos, videos, and livestreams.

Important: There are two separate checkpoints:

• First is getting accepted into the Influencer Program (based on your social account). 

• Second is eligibility for onsite earnings and placements (especially product-page video placements), which depends on completing onboarding and having compliant content approved through moderation. Even then, Amazon controls whether and where your content is surfaced. 

Amazon may select and surface your published content across Amazon. If a shopper engages and makes a qualifying purchase, you can earn Onsite Earnings tracked separately under your Onsite Store ID.

Onsite earnings do not include traffic you send directly to Amazon or your storefront; you’ll still earn your standard commission on the traffic you drive via your links. If you’re building storefront videos, prioritize products where you can realistically win visibility, then monitor whether your videos are actually getting placement (especially carousel placement)

The Creator’s Guide to Amazon: Influencer and Affiliate Features Compared

Knowing the distinctions between the Amazon Influencer and Affiliate (Associates) programs ensures you select the monetization path that best aligns with your current platform and audience engagement style.

Tracking and Payout Mechanics That Matter

Gaining clarity on these mechanics ensures you accurately track your earnings and maximize your revenue from both personal traffic and Amazon's internal placements. 

If you’re using both programs, set a weekly check-in: review your offsite clicks and your onsite placement/earnings separately so you know what’s actually driving revenue. Tools like Viral Vue are designed specifically to make that weekly review faster.

Off‑Amazon Attribution Windows

When a shopper clicks your Associate link, a session opens for about 24 hours. If they add an item to their cart within that window, you can still earn on that item if the purchase completes before the cart expires, typically around 90 days.

That 24-hour window closes once the customer submits an order or reenters Amazon through another Associate’s link. If they later return through your link again, a new 24-hour window starts.

On‑Amazon Content And Onsite Commissions

Influencers publish content to their storefront. When Amazon selects that content for placements across the site and a shopper interacts and buys, onsite commissions are paid to your separate Onsite Store ID. Your onsite ID does not change the rates for the links you personally drive; it only tracks earnings from Amazon’s placements of your content.

Onsite earnings are limited to Direct Qualifying Purchases, generally same-category purchases tied to the PDP context, with stricter rules for video placements on PDPs (often tied to the featured product after a minimum watch time). Viral Vue’s placement tracking is built for exactly this feedback loop.

Commission Rates and Categories

Both programs use category‑based rate tables that Amazon updates over time. Off‑Amazon (standard) rates and onsite rates are not the same. Onsite rates differ from Standard rates and are often lower because Amazon is supplying the placement and traffic. Always check the current official rate statements before forecasting revenue.

Content and Distribution

This section details the specific types of media you can create and the diverse locations across Amazon where shoppers can discover your work.

What You Can Publish

Distinguishing between these options allows you to select the most effective tools, such as shoppable photos or product videos, to showcase your recommendations.

• Associates: Any compliant content that sends shoppers through a Special Link, such as product reviews, comparisons, deal roundups, or tutorials on your own channels.

• Influencers: Everything above, plus shoppable photos, Idea Lists, product videos, and livestreams within your Amazon storefront. Influencer content must follow Amazon’s content policies and moderation.

Where Shoppers See It

Influencer videos and other assets live on your storefront by default. As you publish compliant content to your storefront, Amazon may select your content for additional placements, including relevant product detail pages. Livestreams can appear on Amazon Live and other locations on the site.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Associates if you have a site, newsletter, app, or SEO strategy that drives consistent off‑Amazon clicks. This is also a good option if you want straightforward link attribution and control over where content lives. Another option is if you prefer to keep all content on your own properties and simply monetize outbound traffic.

Opt for Influencer if your audience primarily lives on social platforms and you want to have a storefront to direct them to. That said, if your biggest hurdle is driving external traffic, the Amazon Influencer Program can also make that barrier a lot smaller. 

Instead of relying on a big off-Amazon audience to generate clicks, you can create shoppable videos that (when eligible for on-site placement) get shown to shoppers already browsing on Amazon, so you’re tapping into existing Amazon demand. 

That’s why Influencer can be more beginner-friendly: even with a smaller following, consistently publishing helpful, guideline-compliant content gives you a path to visibility and sales without needing to “bring the crowd” yourself.

Many creators do both. Use Associates links on your owned channels to capture off‑Amazon intent, while also building an Influencer storefront and video library that can earn passively when Amazon surfaces it to shoppers. 

Want to make this decision data-driven? Use Viral Vue to track placements and identify high-opportunity products before you spend time filming.

Examples

These models demonstrate how to utilize various attribution windows and platform placements to capture revenue from both direct clicks and internal Amazon traffic.

A Niche Blogger

A kitchen‑gear blogger publishes in‑depth reviews and comparison guides and ranks in Google. They use Associates links in posts and email, benefiting from the 24‑hour window and cart extension when readers add mixers and attachments to carts while researching. 

They also claim an Influencer storefront to host curated Idea Lists. However, most revenue still comes from off‑Amazon links because their readers start on the blog.

A Short‑Form Video Creator

A creator makes honest, 30‑ to 90‑second product demos on TikTok and Instagram. They apply to the Influencer Program using their active social account, set up a storefront, and upload compliant videos. 

After they reach the program’s initial thresholds and complete onsite setup, some videos start appearing on relevant product pages, generating onsite earnings. They still use Associates links in their bio and stories to catch off‑Amazon clicks during launches and sales.

Actionable Steps / Checklist

Following this systematic checklist provides a clear roadmap for navigating the application process and setting up the necessary tax and storefront profiles correctly.

• Confirm your fit: If you publish mainly on your own site or newsletter, prioritize Associates; if you create social video, prioritize Influencer.

• Apply correctly: Apply to Associates by completing the application and tax profile, then plan to drive initial qualifying sales promptly. For Influencer, apply with a public YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook account; set up your storefront and vanity URL.

• Nail compliance: Add clear FTC disclosures on every endorsement and follow Amazon content and linking rules.

• Build smart content: For Associates, publish search‑friendly reviews and comparison guides with clear calls to action. For Influencers, upload product‑focused videos and shoppable photos that help shoppers decide quickly.

• Track and improve: Check both your standard Store ID and your Onsite Store ID reports; double down on categories and formats that convert.

• Recheck rates: Before promotions or forecasts, review Amazon’s current rate tables for both standard and onsite earnings.

Glossary

These industry-specific terms clarify the technical language used to track your performance.

• Special Link: A tracked affiliate link that identifies you as the referring Associate.

• Session: The attribution window that starts when a shopper clicks your Special Link; typically closes after about 24 hours or an order, whichever comes first.

• Storefront: Your public page on Amazon where you curate products, Idea Lists, photos, videos, and livestreams.

• Onsite commissions: Earnings from Amazon, showing your content on Amazon to shoppers, tracked with a separate Onsite Store ID.

• Idea list: A themed collection of recommended products you curate on your storefront.

• SiteStripe: Amazon’s on‑site tool that helps Associates create links directly from product pages.

• Amazon Live: Amazon’s livestream platform where creators demo products in real time.

• Moderation: Amazon’s review of influencer content for policy compliance before wider placement.

FAQ

Q: How long do I have to earn after someone clicks my Associate link?

A: You have about 24 hours per click session. If a customer adds an item to the cart during that window, you can still earn on that item if they purchase before the cart expires, typically around 90 days.

Q: Can I join both programs?

A: Yes, you can join both programs. Many creators use Associates links from Amazon and the Influencer storefront, plus onsite placements on Amazon. Each has its own tracking ID, and onsite earnings use a separate Onsite Store ID.

Q: Do commission rates differ between standard Associates and onsite Influencer earnings?

A: Both use category‑based tables published by Amazon, and onsite rates are usually lower since Amazon provides the shopper placement. Always confirm the current schedules before planning campaigns.

Q: What social platforms qualify for the Influencer Program?

A: Amazon accepts applications from creators with public YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook accounts, subject to review of audience and engagement.

Q: How do my videos show up on product pages?

A: Publish compliant videos to your storefront and complete onsite setup. After you complete onboarding and your videos pass moderation, Amazon may place them on relevant product detail pages at its discretion. There isn’t a guaranteed number of videos or timeline - Amazon’s placement decisions can vary by category, product, and performance.

Final Thoughts

You do not have to pick a single lane. If you already attract readers through search and email, keep building that with Associates links. If you shine on camera, invest in your Influencer storefront and on‑Amazon content. 

The strongest creators treat this like a testing cycle: publish, measure, iterate. Explore Viral Vue’s Chrome extension and dashboard to streamline product research and placement tracking so you spend less time guessing and more time creating.