Nothing to Wear! Dress like you mean it!

I kicked off this blog about 9 months ago to share outfit inspiration and styling tips for all types of events and occasions- especially for women 40 and up, like myself. I wasn’t aiming to become an Amazon Influencer—I didn’t even know what that meant when I started this. I just loved hunting down fashion finds on Amazon that look way pricier than they really are. I’ve missed being a part of the fashion scene, and this is my way of expressing myself without actually working in the industry. The blog has been doing great and keeps growing, but somehow my little hobby has grown into a full time job.

When I began recommending products on Amazon in my blogs, I stumbled upon an article about becoming an Amazon Influencer. I knew right away this was an incredible opportunity! I could write my blog, endorse products, and earn money on the side—truly a win-win situation! As I delved deeper into the Amazon Influencer program, I quickly realized that it wasn’t open for everyone, however, the alternative Amazon Associates program allows anyone to join. The caveat being you must secure three sales within the first six months to keep your account active. I thought, “No problem at all.” I would become an Amazon Associate, build a substantial following, and generate a fantastic side income. Easy enough! I soon discovered that this would be far more challenging than I initially imagined. While my original intent was to write a blog about fashion, I found myself utterly captivated by affiliate marketing. It wasn’t just about the income; it was incredibly gratifying to know that someone purchased an item because I recommended it—such a rewarding and almost addictive feeling!

I continued as an Amazon Associate for about 7 months, and made a whopping $25 total—woo hoo, I’m rich! Sure, I was selling items, but the commission averages only around 4% for clothing and accessories. The products I recommended hovered around $20-$30, so go ahead and do the math—hardly impressive. I spent countless hours crafting my blogs, digging for products to recommend, inserting links, adding descriptions, and so on. An entire Sunday just to write one article? My pieces might have appealed to many women, but when it came to affiliate marketing, everything felt like a confusing enigma. I couldn’t shake the urge to keep pushing forward, especially with all these TikTok tales of “I made six figures last year through affiliate marketing.” Really? How in the world are those people cashing in six-figure incomes? I mean, I was thrilled to make $20 after dedicating 15-20 hours a week on top of my full-time job and being a mom to two extremely active tweens. I spent countless hours sifting through Google, hoping to find others like me who were struggling to earn anything. What I found instead were inflated stories about unimaginable wealth and get-rich-quick schemes. I kept wondering, “What am I missing here?”

I had a lot of friends and family insist that I should make videos and try on products, which felt completely outside my comfort zone and nowhere near what I initially intended to do—which was write fashion blogs. A few more months passed, and I thought, why not? I might as well give it a shot, right?

I’ll share my experience teaching myself how to make one of those supposedly perfect videos that Influencers churn out effortlessly online. It’s hard to believe they make it look so easy—because trust me, it was anything but. My very first video took an exhausting 8 hours to produce, and it was only a minute long. How on earth do they manage to do this daily? Between setting up what I thought was the right lighting, hunting for a filming spot, deciding on the overall aesthetic, and then the editing—it’s honestly overwhelming. I could have really benefited from a class on this, but instead, I subjected myself to a grueling self-taught process. I can’t stress enough: spare yourself the torture and find someone who actually knows what they’re doing. Don’t make the mistake I did and waste countless hours figuring it all out alone.

I produced a few videos, and while they were somewhat entertaining, they still weren’t generating many sales. The mystery lingers… My seemingly fun idea of starting a side hobby writing a fashion blog has morphed into this affiliate marketing venture and content video creation, and honestly, I can’t quite figure out how I ended up here. Sure, my competitive nature and desire to succeed often pushes me, but is this obsession really justified? My mind kept bringing me back to “If they can do it, why can’t I? ” That’s what I was left questioning.

Okay, so I’m writing blogs, shooting videos, linking products, still not successful. Next steps, find out how to be an Amazon Influencer. As I did my research on this, I discovered it was a very coveted program to be a part of. Amazon provides you a storefront, they advertise your ideas occasionally, you can post product review videos and generate income from those sales. It was a world of difference from what I was currently doing and a huge time saver as they provided you with all the tools to be successful. Okay, so what did I do? I set out to be an Amazon Influencer.

I applied online and was denied almost instantly. Apparently, you need to have some kind of established following on a social media platform to even be considered. So, what’s next? Tik Tok! As a mom in my late 40s, I never imagined this would be the route I would take to build a following, but it seemed to be the only way into the Influencer program. I already had a Tik Tok account with a whopping 2 videos featuring my dogs—how exciting. I think I managed to scrape together about 8 followers—great. Was I going to let that deter me? Of course not! Determined as ever, I set my sights on getting to 1000 followers within a couple of months. This suddenly turned into my third job. I initially started writing a fashion blog, then signed up as an Amazon Affiliate, began making videos for content, and now I’m going all out campaigning on Tik Tok for those elusive 1000 followers. Are you tired yet?

What did this chapter entail? I mastered the art of gaining followers and uncovered an effective strategy to captivate interest—essentially, a reciprocal follow. Followers are a crucial aspect of one’s identity on social media, and while I joke about it, I realized this is the truth. People accumulate followers much like they do with art or any other passion—they’re consumed by it. I didn’t fully understand this obsession until I became part of it, and the transformation happened quickly. Every time I gained a new follower, I celebrated and eagerly shared the news with my daughter, niece, or husband, exclaiming, “I got another one!” My excitement echoed as if I’d just won the lottery. One follower after another came my way, and by the new year, I proudly reached my goal of 1,000 followers! It felt like winning an Oscar, and I imagined giving a heartfelt speech: “I’d like to thank my husband, my friends, my family, and God for this incredible journey. Your unwavering support made this possible.”

Lets recap, I launched a fashion blog, became an Amazon Affiliate, learned and started producing video content, and suddenly I’m a Tik Tok influencer? I was convinced I would soon be the one giving advice on how to make 6 figures in affiliate marketing. So, obviously, I thought it was time to apply to be an Amazon Influencer. Surely they would consider me now with my 1000 followers, right? I applied, and what do you know? I was denied again. Can you believe it? My mental state at that point was a complete mess. My dreams seemed to be crumbling all around me—how could this happen? I had spent months writing, recommending, recording, and desperately trying to get complete strangers to be my friend on Tik Tok. How could things go so wrong?

Next steps: I will dive deeper into my research! What am I missing? The findings clearly indicated that engaging with people on TikTok is essential. I will leave comments on their pages, watch videos in full, and follow accounts from the bottom up (TikTok lingo). So, now I’ve committed to engaging actively. I’ve commented on countless videos by various creators. What better way to utilize my limited spare time? I stayed up late, commenting, liking, sharing, and following. Who needs sleep when you have 1000 of your closest friends keeping you entertained? Priorities, am I right?

Another recap, I launched a fashion blog, became an Amazon Affiliate, started producing video content, became a TikTok Influencer, and somehow managed to become a super engaged bestie to all my fake friends on TikTok. Then, it happened- I was finally “accepted” into the Amazon Influencer program. The stars finally aligned, or so they say—was this really it? Was this my break into a fantasy world where I could try on cute clothes all day that were gifted to me and get paid loads of money for it? I can’t help but wonder, are all my dreams really coming true, or is it just a mirage?

Now that I finally made it, it was time to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I set up my Amazon Storefront and confidently started creating 2-3 collages or idea lists each day, alongside producing engaging videos to promote products. The first few days flew by, and I earned about $5. A little while later, I added another $5 to my earnings. I thought, “How could this be?” So, I delved into the commission guide and discovered that as an Amazon Influencer, my commission is now 2% instead of 4%. What a surprise! This means that for every $25 shirt I sell, I earn just $0.50. But no worries, I’m on the path to six figures—sure, it may take time, but I’m making significant strides and by my calculations, will make it by the time I’m 95.

So, what’s next? Honestly, it’s completely understandable to feel unsure at times. Tonight, all I wanted was to immerse myself in writing. The thought of promoting anything or giving advice just felt overwhelming—I simply craved the act of writing itself. That’s truly what I’ve wanted from the very beginning. The path to Amazon Influencer fame and financial success may seem distant, and that’s perfectly alright. I’m learning to let go of that relentless competition with myself. What resonates most with me through this journey is the importance of engaging in what I love when the moment calls for it. The joy I find in clothing, sharing outfit ideas, and writing—should never feel like another job. This endeavor is fueled by passion, and to preserve that spark, I must honor my inspiration. It serves as a creative outlet, providing an escape from the daily stresses of life.

So, my wealth isn’t measured in dollars; it came from a transformed mindset, It’s a relentless rat race out there, with everyone chasing after their elusive quick win. But I’ve already won. I’m blessed with a beautiful family, cherished friends, a fulfilling job, and a hobby that brings me joy. You might have stumbled upon this article seeking the secret to becoming a successful Influencer and building an empire, but my hope is that you realize what you already possess is more than enough!

Xoxo,

Jenn