The Amazon Influencer Program is one of the easiest ways to turn your favorite products into passive income. But like any platform, there’s a learning curve, and sometimes, it’s costly.
If you’re not earning as much as you’d hoped or you’re just getting started and want to set things up right, this post is for you.
Here are 10 of the most common mistakes new influencers make when building and promoting their storefronts and what they should do instead.
What Not to Do When Starting Your Amazon Influencer Storefront
1. Treating Your Storefront Like a Static Page
The mistake: You build your storefront, share the link once, and expect commissions to roll in.
The fix: Treat your storefront like a living page. Update your lists, rotate featured products, and make it part of your ongoing content strategy.
- Update for sales, seasons, and trends.
- Remove underperforming items.
- Align your lists with what your audience needs right now.
2. Making Too Many Lists With No Strategy
The mistake: Creating 15+ random Idea Lists, hoping more equals better.
The fix: Start with 3 to 5 tightly themed, value-driven lists. Think quality over quantity. Each list should solve a problem or answer a question your audience has.
- Use titles that are searchable and clickable.
- Focus on categories your audience already asks about.
- Keep each list aligned with your niche or content pillars.
3. Skipping Sales Events or Not Prepping Early Enough
The mistake: You wait until Prime Day or Black Friday to update your lists. By then, it’s too late.
The fix: Plan your sales-focused lists in advance. Include titles like those recommended in this earlier article.
- Add new lists 2 to 3 weeks ahead of key shopping dates.
- Refresh older ones so your links stay relevant.
- Promote them early and often.
4. Using Boring or Generic List Names
The mistake: Naming your lists things like “Stuff I Like” or “Random Favorites.”
The fix: Make your titles helpful, searchable, and specific. Examples:-
- “Small Apartment Storage Must-Haves”
- “Affordable Wellness Products I Actually Use”
- “Tools That Help Me Run My Business”
Think like a customer searching for a solution. Use keywords your audience would type into Google or Amazon.
5. Not Mentioning Your Store Often Enough
The mistake: You share your store link once in your bio and never talk about it again.
The fix: Create content around your lists. Promote them naturally and regularly.
- Mention them in blog posts, social captions, emails, or tutorials.
- Link to individual lists, not just the main store.
- Share behind-the-scenes of how you use featured products.
People don’t mind being reminded, especially if what you’re sharing is useful.
6. Forgetting to Build Trust
The mistake: Dropping a link to your Amazon store without context.
The fix: Be transparent. Share why you use a product, what it’s helped you with, and what people should know before buying it.
- Add short, honest captions to each item in your list.
- Use affiliate disclosures when necessary.
- Don’t recommend products you haven’t tried or wouldn’t use.
Audience trust leads to clicks and conversions.
7. Promoting Everything You’ve Ever Bought
The mistake: Treating your storefront like a digital junk drawer.
The fix: Curate. Only include what fits your brand or your audience’s needs.
- Organize by theme or purpose.
- Use the “notes” feature to explain why you recommend it.
- Archive or remove items that no longer make sense.
8. Ignoring Performance Data
The mistake: Never checking what’s converting (or not).
The fix: Regularly review your Amazon reporting dashboard to see:-
- Which lists get the most clicks.
- Which products earn the most.
- Which promotions drive sales.
Then use that data to tweak your strategy and optimize your best-performing content.
9. Not Repurposing Content Around Your Lists
The mistake: Creating new content constantly instead of building around what’s already working.
The fix: Turn one list into multiple pieces of content.
- A Reel showing your three favorite products.
- A blog post featuring “Work-from-Home Setup Essentials”.
- A pin linking to your “Budget-Friendly Kitchen Finds” list.
- A carousel showing before/after results using one product.
10. Going in Without a Plan
The mistake: Signing up, building a few lists, and winging it.
The fix: Start with a system. Use a tracker, build a promo plan, brainstorm strong list titles, and batch your content in advance.
- Schedule reminders to refresh your lists monthly.
- Keep track of what you’ve promoted and where.
- Align your store with your broader content strategy.
Want a Done-for-You System?
Grab the Amazon Influencer Starter Kit, a step-by-step toolkit to help you plan, launch, and grow your storefront with clarity and confidence. Includes:-
- Launch checklist.
- List strategy planner.
- 30-day content calendar.
- List name inspiration.
- Plug-and-play CTAs and so much more.
Anna is a solopreneur, writer, and creative entrepreneur who left her 9–5 after paying off over $40,000 in debt to pursue a more intentional life. She founded The Writer Entrepreneur to empower others to build debt-free, freedom-driven lives through smart planning, goal-setting, and online income streams. She has been featured on HuffPost, YouQueen & Fitnancials among others. Learn more about Anna HERE.
This post may contain affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase through those links. Read full disclosure HERE.