Podcast Summary: The Side Hustle Show, Episode 723

Title: How to Make 5-10x More Money from Amazon
Host: Nick Loper
Guest: Jared Bauman (201creative.com, Niche Pursuits Podcast)
Date: February 12, 2026

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode explores how creators can dramatically multiply their Amazon earnings—by 5-10x—through the evolving Amazon Influencer Program, specifically by leveraging Amazon's Creator Connections (affiliate-plus) campaigns. Nick Loper and his guest Jared Bauman detail why the traditional strategy of mass uploading product review videos is now yielding diminishing returns and outline the new, more targeted approach that top creators are using to unlock outsized commissions and greater side income.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shift in Amazon Influencer Strategy

• Old Way: High-volume product review videos aimed at sheer numbers, relying on low commissions (~2-4% per sale).
• New Way: Focusing on Amazon’s Creator Connections campaigns, where brands offer much higher commissions (10-40%+) for creators who make dedicated product content.
• Creators are now earning more through these brand partnerships than via generic storefront reviews.
• [01:10] Jared: “Most Amazon influencers, me included, are making more from Creator Connections and working with brands... than they are from the old method of making videos and just putting them on the page.”

2. Understanding Creator Connections & Getting Started

• What are Creator Connections?
  • Brand-sponsored campaigns within Amazon Associates/Influencer backend, offering higher commissions for specific products.
  • Over 500,000 such campaigns currently live.
• How to start:
  • Search for campaigns related to products you already own or have reviewed (low hanging fruit).
  • If you don’t find matches, reach out to brands with open campaigns (often offering products for free) and pitch your fit.
  • Outreach Tip: Include your status, metrics, number of videos, and exact product ASIN in your message.
• Status Levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum—reflecting a creator's engagement level.
  • [05:17] Nick: “I didn’t even know there were statuses.”
  • [05:19] Jared: “There’s status now. Yeah, you’re silver... Bronze is worse than that.”

3. Outreach and Product Selection Best Practices

• Outreach Message Structure:
  • State your credentials & status (number of reviews, follower/subscriber stats, expertise).
  • Specify product ASIN and exactly what you’ll do (Amazon review, YouTube, timeline).
  • Give your address (if requesting a free product) and links to your profiles.
  • Help brands say “yes” by reducing friction and questions.
• Volume Game Shift:
  • Success now depends less on video volume and more on targeted, systematic outreach for high-velocity products.
  • [04:23] Jared: “The volume game now is turned into the messaging...I ask and a lot of them will respond and say, sure, let me send that to you.”
• Sample Requesting: Even if a brand ticks “no free samples”, outreach can still win products; many simply don’t update the default setting.

4. How to Pick Products that Will Actually Sell

• Don’t just target what you want or can get for free; prioritize products with high sales velocity.
• Use Chrome extensions (e.g., Oink, Viral View) to filter and find strong sellers and available campaigns.
• Manual alternative:
  • Visit the brand’s Amazon store, identify top sellers using sales numbers and “X bought in the last month” indicators.
  • Target campaigns for high-selling ASINs.
• [08:30] Nick: “Insert yourself into a cash flow that’s already happening... go where there’s already demand.”

5. Video Creation: Process and Best Practices

• Process: Outreach > Receive products > Test/use products > Batch film 1-2 min review videos > Upload/repeat.
• Importance of timely posting: campaigns can expire, so quick turnaround matters.
• Video Structure:
  • Focus on demonstrating real use, answering key consumer questions—not just restating product specs.
• Thumbnail/Title Tips:
  • Use custom thumbnails with text (e.g., “Worth it?”, “Live Demo”).
  • Titles should directly address specific product questions or concerns.
  • Avoid empty “clickbait”; be direct about value.

6. Multi-Platform Leverage & Brand Bonus

• YouTube/Instagram:
  • Posting reviews across platforms increases brand willingness to send free products and sometimes leads them to pay for content.
• YouTube and Instagram presence can unlock direct brand sponsorships and outreach (off-Amazon monetization).

7. Product Overflow & Reselling

• What to do with the excess?
  • High-ticket products: Sell on Facebook Marketplace or similar.
  • Lower-value: Donate, give away, or batch for garage sales.
• Hybrid strategies: Some creators triple-dip by getting the product, the commission, and re-selling the item after filming.

8. Earning Potential and Workflow

• Typical earnings: Jared averages $3,000/month using this strategy.
• Batch your outreach (10-15 mins/day) and filming (every 1-2 weeks) to maximize efficiency; use a spreadsheet to track product status from outreach to posted video.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:10] Jared: “If you accept the campaign, make a video for it, it’ll give you 10% commission rather than the typical 2 or 3% commission.”
• [08:30] Nick: “Insert yourself into a cash flow that’s already happening... go where there’s already demand.”
• [14:47] Jared: “[My YouTube channel] is mainly there because the brands are more likely to send you product if your video will go in multiple places... But it is driving clicks and earnings.”
• [18:42] Jared: “At first I was so fascinated by just being able to get free product... I was just getting stuff I could get for free without looking into the sales data... I ended up with a bunch of stuff that doesn’t sell very well...Then I got better at my messaging and my outreach and so I was able to start getting stuff that I needed.”
• [27:30] Jared: “People are watching your video because there’s something blocking them from making that purchase. Can I help them overcome that hesitancy in my video?”
• [29:04] Nick: “My specific question is... can you cut it? How does that work? And the video that showed up... I was like, okay, I’ll buy it after watching your thing.”
• [31:56] Jared: “I see the ‘don’t buy before you watch this’ a lot. I don’t do that, because I think a lot of people are kind of onto that...I find a much more transparent, direct approach in the title and even in the thumbnail.”
• [41:26] Jared: “I don’t think I’ll get around to starting it... So I’m happy to share it with your listeners, but I’d love to hear if somebody ends up going on and doing it.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• (00:01-02:34): Introduction to Creator Connections; why the volume game is dying
• (03:12-05:26): How to start maximizing Creator Connections using your existing video library and outreach
• (06:18-11:19): Product selection: why sales velocity matters and how to research top sellers
• (13:09-15:37): Multi-platform strategy and how posting on YouTube/Instagram helps get more brand opportunities
• (18:42-21:15): What to do with excess free products: selling, donating, batch sales
• (22:25-24:59): Jared’s workflow from product outreach to video upload and follow-up with brands
• (27:09-32:32): Video production tips: mindset, format, thumbnail, titling, answering key consumer questions
• (33:05-33:36): Amazon Influencer program acceptance criteria and platform-specific differences
• (36:44-41:26): Business Idea Donation: Consignment service for others’ clutter via local online sales (Marketplace, OfferUp, etc.)
• (43:18-45:06): Marketing tactic: Short-form video as a quick win for service businesses
• (45:11-46:51): Tool shoutout: Granola AI for meetings/notes
• (47:00-49:31): Book recommendation: The Culture Code by Claude Rapelli
• (49:42-50:13): Jared’s focus for 2026: less, but higher ROI (SEO/agency, Amazon Influencer, podcast)

Business Idea Donation & Triple Threat Segment

Business Idea Donation (36:44)

• Local consignment/decluttering service: Offer to sell neighbors’ unused or unneeded items via Facebook Marketplace/OfferUp for a commission, targeting busy people with garages/full of stuff—effing as a value-added community service and business.

Triple Threat Segment (43:18)

• Marketing Tactic: Short-form video for local businesses (plumbers, vets, etc.), showing real on-the-job clips to build instant trust.
• Tool: Granola AI for smart, action-oriented meeting notes and recaps.
• Book: The Culture Code by Claude Rapelli—how language and culture shape successful marketing.

Actionable Takeaways

• Use Amazon Creator Connections for higher commissions and easier brand partnerships.
• Target products that have proven sales velocity—don’t just accept “free stuff”.
• Systematize outreach with clear, info-rich messages—and include your ASIN, address, and cross-platform plans.
• Batch process your outreach and filming for efficiency.
• Repurpose review videos across platforms (Amazon, YouTube, Instagram) for greater brand appeal.
• If you accumulate too much stuff, consider reselling, donating, or batch sales events.
• Build real relationships with brands for repeat collaborations.
• Optimize video thumbnails and titles for clickability but keep the message direct and focused on customer concerns.

Closing Note

This episode is packed with hands-on strategies, practical workflow tips, and specific answers to both side hustlers new to the Amazon Influencer Program and seasoned video creators ready to level-up and maximize their commission income.

Big Idea: The modern Amazon Influencer playbook is less about sheer content volume and more about smart selection, targeted outreach, data-driven pitching, and leveraging cross-platform visibility to create sustainable and scalable side income.

Learn more:

• Jared’s Amazon Influencer Quick-Start Guide: 201creative.com/aip
• The Niche Pursuits Podcast
• SideHustleNation.com deals (for the latest sponsor offers)

“Let’s go out there and make something happen. Hustle on.” —Nick Loper