Getting Started with Amazon Influencer Videos at 50+

Before You Get Started

One important thing to understand about the Amazon Influencer Program is that you can’t simply sign up and start posting videos.

You have to apply to the program and be approved by Amazon.

Amazon looks at your social media presence when you apply, and not everyone is accepted. So if this sounds interesting, the first step is checking the current eligibility requirements and applying through Amazon.

And even after you’re accepted into the Influencer Program, there can be additional steps before your videos are eligible for broader placement on Amazon.

So think of this article as a guide for what the opportunity looks like if you’re approved, not as a promise that anybody can join immediately.

That little note will prevent a lot of confusion without bogging down the article.

Let's Continue:

If you’re over 50 and the phrase “Amazon Influencer” makes you picture some 23-year-old in perfect lighting talking about skin care products, I understand.

That’s not what I had in mind either.

The good news is, you do not have to be young, glamorous, loud, trendy, or particularly interested in pointing at things while music plays in the background.

You do need to be able to explain a product clearly.

That’s about it.

If you’ve spent a lifetime buying tools, kitchen gadgets, lawn equipment, electronics, shop gear, household items, garden supplies, or just about anything else Amazon sells, you may already have the raw material for dozens of useful videos sitting around your house.

And that’s exactly why I think the Amazon Influencer Program can make sense for older adults.

You have something younger creators may not have yet.

Experience.

Start With Products You Already Own

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is thinking they need to go shopping before they can get started.

I wouldn’t.

Walk through your house.

Open the garage.

Look in the shop.

Look in the kitchen.

Look in the garden shed.

You’ve probably already got plenty.

Think about products you’ve actually used long enough to have an opinion about.

Maybe it’s a drill you’ve owned for five years.

Maybe it’s a coffee maker.

Maybe it’s a garden hose reel.

Maybe it’s a phone holder in your truck.

Maybe it’s something you use every day and barely even think about anymore.

Those are often the easiest products to talk about because you already know them.

You don’t have to read the box and pretend you’re an expert.

You’ve lived with the thing.

That matters.

Your Video Does Not Need to Be Fancy

This is where a lot of people talk themselves out of starting.

They think they need:

a professional camera
expensive lights
a fancy microphone
editing software
a studio
a face that belongs on television

Nope.

A smartphone can do a perfectly good job.

Good light helps.

Clear audio helps.

A steady picture helps.

But the goal is not to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Cordless Drill.

The goal is to help a shopper understand the product.

That means showing the item clearly.

Turning it around.

Showing the controls.

Showing how you use it.

Pointing out the things you like.

Mentioning something that may not be obvious from the listing.

Useful beats fancy almost every time.

Talk Like You’re Explaining It to a Neighbor

This may be the easiest way to think about making these videos.

Don’t perform.

Explain.

Imagine your neighbor came over and said:

“Hey Alan, you’ve had that thing for a while. Do you like it?”

What would you tell him?

That’s the video.

You might say:

“I’ve used this for about three years.”

“This is what I like about it.”

“This part is easier than I expected.”

“This button is a little awkward.”

“This is what I use it for.”

“This would probably work better for somebody who needs X rather than Y.”

That sounds normal because it is normal.

You’re not trying to become a commercial announcer.

In fact, the more you sound like a real person, the better.

Show More Than You Tell

If you’re reviewing a product, don’t just hold it up and talk for two minutes.

Use it.

If it’s a tool, show the tool doing something.

If it’s a kitchen item, show how it works.

If it’s a piece of electronics, show the controls.

If it folds, fold it.

If it attaches, attach it.

If it lights up, turn it on.

If it makes coffee, then for heaven’s sake make coffee.

People are shopping.

They want to see what the thing actually does.

One of the advantages older adults have is that we tend to appreciate practical demonstrations.

We’ve bought enough stuff in our lives to know that the fancy product description is not always the same thing as real life.

Don’t Try to Sound Like a Salesman

I think this is important.

You’re not there to convince everybody they need the product.

You’re there to help them decide whether the product fits them.

That means it’s okay to mention limitations.

If something is heavier than expected, say so.

If it works well but only for a certain situation, say so.

If it has a feature you love and one you don’t care about, say that too.

That builds trust.

I would much rather hear somebody say:

“This works well for what I use it for, but I wouldn’t buy it if I needed something heavy-duty every day.”

That tells me something.

“Best product ever!!!” tells me almost nothing.

Don’t Buy a Pile of Products Just to Make Videos

This is another trap.

Once somebody sees the potential, the next thought is:

“I need more stuff to review.”

Maybe later.

Not at first.

There is no reason to spend a thousand dollars buying random products before you’ve learned what makes a useful video or what kinds of products are worth your time.

Use what you already have.

Learn the process.

See what gets traction.

Then make smarter decisions.

I would much rather review 30 products I already own than buy 30 products I don’t need and hope I eventually earn the money back.

That math can get ugly in a hurry.

Product Selection Matters More Than People Think

Not every product is equal.

Some products have a lot of buyer activity.

Some have more competition.

Some may already have plenty of video coverage.

Some may have very little.

You can make a wonderful video on a product nobody is buying and still make very little.

That doesn’t mean the video is bad.

It means the opportunity wasn’t great.

This is where research starts to matter.

Over time, I began paying more attention to things like product demand, competition, existing videos, and where there might be a better chance of getting useful placement.

That has saved me a lot of wasted time.

I don’t want to film just to film.

I want to spend my time where there’s at least a reasonable opportunity.

Batch Your Videos

This is one of the biggest time savers I’ve learned.

Don’t set up your phone, lighting, and filming area for one product and then tear it all down.

Do several.

If I’m going to film, I’d much rather line up five or ten products and work through them while everything is already set up.

That saves time and gets you into a rhythm.

Product one always seems to take longer.

By product five, you’ve got the system moving.

And when you’re older, saving setup time starts feeling almost as good as making money.

Almost.

Keep the Video Focused

You don’t need to tell somebody the history of the company.

You don’t need to read the entire product listing.

You don’t need to explain every specification printed on the box.

Tell the shopper the things that matter.

What is it?

How do you use it?

What do you like?

Who is it good for?

Is there anything somebody should know before buying?

That’s usually enough.

I’d rather watch a clear, useful video than a long one that wanders around for six minutes before getting to the point.

I’m guilty of wandering myself, so I say that with some humility.

Your Age Can Actually Be an Advantage

This is something I think older creators underestimate.

You’ve used more products.

You’ve seen more fads come and go.

You’ve probably bought cheap things that broke.

You’ve probably bought expensive things that weren’t worth it.

You know the difference between something that looks impressive and something that actually works.

That experience comes through.

You may also appeal to shoppers your own age.

A 65-year-old watching a review may appreciate hearing from somebody who understands things like ease of use, readability, weight, comfort, mobility, setup, or whether something is unnecessarily complicated.

That perspective has value.

You Do Not Have to Be Comfortable on Camera at First

A lot of people hate seeing themselves on video.

That’s normal.

The first time you hear your recorded voice, you may wonder who that person is and why anybody lets him speak in public.

You get over it.

Mostly.

You also don’t necessarily have to spend the whole video with your face on screen.

You can show the product.

Show your hands.

Demonstrate how it works.

Use voiceover.

The important part is clear communication.

Comfort comes with repetition.

The tenth video will usually feel easier than the first.

The hundredth will feel easier than the tenth.

And eventually, you stop thinking about it nearly as much.

Don’t Expect Instant Results

This is where expectations matter.

You may upload videos and see very little happen at first.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the whole idea is bad.

It takes time to build a library.

It takes time to learn which products are worth filming.

It takes time to get better at titles, demonstrations, and product selection.

What I would not do is make ten videos, wait a week, and declare the entire program dead.

Give yourself enough time to actually learn what you’re doing.

But at the same time, pay attention.

If something consistently isn’t working, adjust.

There’s a difference between patience and stubbornly doing the same thing for six months because somebody on YouTube told you not to quit.

Keep It Simple in the Beginning

If I were starting from zero today, I’d keep it very simple.

I’d pick products I already use.

I’d film with my phone.

I’d use decent natural light.

I’d make short, practical videos.

I’d focus on showing the product clearly.

And I’d pay attention to which types of videos and products seem to perform better.

That’s enough to learn a lot.

You can add tools, better equipment, research software, microphones, lighting, and all the rest later.

Don’t let the gear become the project.

The video is the project.

Why I Think It Makes Sense After 50

I like the Amazon Influencer model because it can work around your life.

You don’t need employees.

You don’t need an office.

You don’t need inventory.

You don’t have to ship anything.

You don’t have to deal with customers calling because their package is late.

You create useful product content and let Amazon handle the store.

That appeals to me.

It isn’t effortless.

It isn’t guaranteed income.

And it definitely isn’t something where you upload three videos and buy a yacht.

But for somebody who likes products, enjoys explaining things, and wants a flexible way to create extra income, I think it’s worth a look.

Especially if your house, garage, barn, shop, or garden shed already looks like a small branch of Amazon.

Mine probably qualifies.

And the nice thing is, a lot of what you need to get started may already be sitting ten feet away from you.

SeniorGig.com