Why 99% of Amazon Influencers Get REJECTED On Their First 3 Videos

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So, you did it. You got that first ‘congratulations’ email for the Amazon Influencer Program. High five! But don’t pop the champagne just yet. You’re now at the one hurdle that stops a huge number of new influencers from ever making a single dime from onsite commissions: getting your first three shoppable videos approved. This, right here, is the real test. Amazon gives you three swings at the bat to get this right, and trust me, most people strike out on their first attempt.

If you’ve been staring at that locked storefront, getting totally confused by those vague rejection emails, or maybe you’re just terrified to even upload anything… you’re in exactly the right place. The reason so many people fail is that they think Amazon is looking for some perfect, cinematic masterpiece. They’re not. They’re looking for a very specific type of video, and they have a secret checklist of deal-breakers that get you an instant “no.” In this guide, I’m not just going to cover the common mistakes when applying for the Amazon influencer program onsite commissions; I’m giving you the exact, step-by-step formula that I and other top earners use to get approved on the very first try.

The Great Divide – Understanding the Two-Step Approval

First, let’s clear up the biggest point of confusion, because it gets everybody. Getting into the Amazon Influencer Program is only the first step. That first approval you got? That was based on your social media presence—your engagement on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube.

Amazon’s computers basically said, “Yep, this person has an audience.” But that doesn’t mean you can earn those sweet “onsite commissions” yet.

Onsite commissions are the whole game. This is what lets your videos show up on Amazon’s actual product pages, where millions of people can see them. When they watch your video and then buy, you earn a commission. To get the green light for this, you have to pass a manual review by submitting exactly three product videos. This is where everyone gets stuck. You upload your three videos, and then you wait for a real person at Amazon to watch them and give you a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. If they reject you, you only have two more attempts. If you fail all three times, you risk getting locked out of onsite commissions, and it’s incredibly difficult to get another shot.

So, what’s causing all these rejection emails? Let’s dive into the top mistakes that are immediate deal-breakers.

The 5 Deadly Sins of Your First Three Videos

This is the most important part of this whole video. Seriously. I’m giving you the secret checklist of what not to do. Avoiding these five things is more critical than anything else.

Deadly Sin #1: Making Claims and Promises

This is a big one, especially for products in health, wellness, or supplements. You absolutely cannot make medical or unproven claims. You can’t say a supplement “cured” your headache or that a cream “healed” your acne. Even something that sounds innocent, like “this athletic tape helped my joints heal,” can get you rejected.

My advice? For your first three videos, play it safe. Pick boring products. Seriously. Review a coffee mug, a desk lamp, or a phone stand. Stay away from anything you eat, drink, or put on your skin until you’re approved. Just show off the physical features and talk about your personal experience. Say, “I really enjoy using this,” not “This will fix your problem.”

Deadly Sin #2: Mentioning Forbidden Information

Amazon’s review team is super strict about this because things on their site are always changing. The number one rule here is: DO NOT mention the price. Don’t talk about sales, discounts, shipping, or any kind of promotion. Prices can change in an hour, so if you mention it, your video is instantly outdated and gets rejected.

The second piece of this is personal info. Seems obvious, right? But people slip up. Do not show shipping labels or any barcodes on the box. A QR code or barcode is considered private data and will get your video denied on the spot. Before you even hit record, throw a piece of tape over any barcodes or just cover them with your hand. And check your background! A license plate visible out a window has gotten people rejected.

Deadly Sin #3: Creating a Call to Action (CTA)

This is a tough habit to break if you’re a content creator, but for these three videos, you have to unlearn everything you know about CTAs. You can’t ask people to “like and subscribe.” You can’t mention your YouTube channel, your blog, or your Instagram. Any attempt to lead traffic away from Amazon’s website is a huge no-no and a fast track to rejection. The only goal of these videos is to help an Amazon customer decide to buy the product on Amazon. That’s it. You can go back to your usual CTAs after you’re approved.

Deadly Sin #4: Submitting the Wrong Number of Videos

The instructions are crystal clear: submit exactly three videos. Not two. And don’t get over-ambitious and send in ten. If you upload more than three, an Amazon employee has to review all of them. This just multiplies your chances that one of them has a tiny mistake, which will get the entire batch rejected. I’ve seen so many people think that more is better. In this case, it’s not. Submit three videos, all at the same time.

Deadly Sin #5: Poor Production Quality & Messy Backgrounds

Listen, you don’t need a Hollywood film crew, but you do have to hit a basic standard of quality. The two biggest culprits are audio and lighting. If your audio is full of static, has a dog barking in the background, or is so quiet no one can hear you, it’ll get rejected for “bad quality video.” Just film in a quiet room and do a quick test recording to make sure you sound clear.

Same goes for your video. It doesn’t have to be 4K, but it needs to be clear and well-lit. A shaky, dark video where you can’t even see the product isn’t going to work. Use a cheap tripod for your phone to keep it steady. And finally, your background matters. A messy room is distracting. Even worse, having other brand logos visible in the background can get you rejected. Amazon wants you to seem impartial. A clean, plain wall is your best friend here.

The First-Try Approval Formula

Okay, you know what to avoid. Now let’s talk about what to actually DO. Here is the simple, 5-step formula for a video that will sail through the review.

Step 1: Choose a Simple, Physical Product.
Walk around your house and find three basic things you own that are sold on Amazon. A water bottle, a book, a charging cable—anything like that. For these first three, avoid anything with complicated software or anything from the health category.

Step 2: Script Your Key Points.
You don’t need a word-for-word script, but you absolutely need a plan. Just jot down these three things:

• What is this product and why did I get it?
• Show 2-3 of its main features. Actually demonstrate it. Don’t just hold it—use it. Show how the lid on the tumbler screws on, how the tripod legs extend, or how the book’s pages feel. This is what Amazon really wants to see.
• Your honest final thoughts and who you’d recommend it to.

Step 3: Set Your Scene.
Find a spot with good, natural light, maybe near a window. Put your phone on a tripod for a stable shot. Make sure that background is clean and has no logos or clutter. Do a quick scan for any reflective surfaces that might accidentally show a barcode or personal info.

Step 4: Record Your Video.
Keep it short and sweet. Aim for about 60 seconds. You don’t have to be on camera if you’re shy, but showing your face can help Amazon see you’re a real person. Just focus on showing the product clearly and speaking with good, clean audio. Maybe do a practice run to get comfortable before you record the real thing.

Step 5: Upload and Tag Correctly.
Once you have your three videos, upload them to your Influencer storefront. Give each one a simple, boring title like, “My Honest Review of This Water Bottle.” For these first three videos, don’t create a fancy custom thumbnail; just let Amazon pick a frame from the video. It’s one less thing they can potentially reject you for. Make sure you tag ONLY the one specific product you’re reviewing. Then, submit all three together and get ready to wait. The review usually takes a few days to a week.

And that’s it. That is the formula. The secret to getting your first three videos approved isn’t about being a pro videographer. It’s about following the rules. It’s about avoiding those simple, easy-to-miss mistakes that get so many people rejected.

You’ve got this. You already passed step one, and now you have the exact playbook for step two. Don’t overthink it, don’t aim for perfection. Just follow the formula, avoid those deadly sins we talked about, and you’ll be on your way to earning onsite commissions. Once you’re approved, the rules get way more relaxed, and you can really start having fun and earning.