Stars Face Earnings Cuts Due to Amazon’s New Rules

For influencers, the chance to add to their bank balance can be too good to pass up, so it's no surprise that some top up their fortunes with lucrative Amazon affiliate links.

However, it seems that bosses have cottoned on to the loopholes that allow names such as and to cash in, as they've announced a series of changes to rules that could see earnings slashed.

Affiliate linking sees the original poster earn a commission for every product or service sold as a result of customers purchasing items through that link, and they typically display all of these items on a 'storefront.'

Previously Daily Mail revealed how Stacey, 36, could add hundreds to her finances by sharing links to Amazon items on Instagram, promoting products ranging from cosy co-ords and home accessories to costly electronics.

However changes to Amazon's operating agreement mean there will tighter restrictions on how stars can earn content from these links, and more crucially, around social media posts used to promote them.

The news may be welcome by some of these stars' fans, with Stacey herself previously sharing concerns her affiliate links were 'annoying.'

In these new guidelines, which come into affect on April 14, a key change comes in the way that stars earn commission, stating there  will be an 'updated calculation of onsite commission income to apply only to Direct Qualifying Purchases of the same ASIN variant as the linked product detail page.'

This means that in the past stars could earn commission from users who go on to buy other Amazon items if they've clicked an affiliate link, even if they don't buy the actual item that the star was promoting.

However, this change means that the workaround has been eliminated, and stars will only earn commission if the exact item they link to is bought.

The new rules also include an 'expansion of disqualified purchases to include products purchased by customers referred through any paid or boosted advertisement linking to Amazon, regardless of whether prohibited keywords are used.'

Some stars may rely on social media managers and agencies to 'boost' their online content and get them more views to increase the numbers clicking on affiliate links.

But the new guidelines mean any of these posts that have been 'boosted' won't be eligible for commission.

Other changes include a 180-day limit on items that are pre-ordered, preventing stars from cashing in on early promotions, if buyers cancel their order before it goes through.

Stars will also have to widen their social media scope on posts promoting these links beyond a simple snap with the item in hand, as rules state original content must have 'commentary, analysis or transformation for additional value.'

Like Stacey, Zara has previously promoted an array of beauty products in routine videos on Instagram, guiding fans to her Storefront if they want to pick them up for themselves.

Products she's promoted range from £12.99 collagen cream, and a £32.99 Revlon hair dryer, all the way up to a £299.99 coffee machine and £256.00 Le Creuset casserole dish

Taylor Ward has done the same, adding swanky additions to her home in Saudia Arabia from the retail giant, while noting her followers can pick them up from her own 'Storefront.' 

On Monday, the mother-of-three shared a post plugging a £54.99 baby sleeping bag, with previous posts plugging a £100 LED Face Mask and a £380 coffee machine.

Daily Mail has contacted representative for Stacey Solomon, Zara McDermott and Taylor Ward for comment. 

Amazon Affliates can be lucrative for stars with a large following, with items such as clothing, luxury beauty and watches offering a hefty 6 per cent commission.

Even pricey pieces like electronics provide a cut of 2.5 per cent, while lower-price beauty and luggage has a 4 per cent cut on offer.

Stacey previously hit back at trolls who , but it remains to be seen whether these changes will have a long-term impact.

The mum-of-five said in a clip on Thursday: 'A couple of trolls over the last few days, well I don't know if they're trolls, maybe this is how everyone's feeling and that's why I need to ask a question. 

'Does that really upset people? Or is it any different to doing an ad with a brand? 

'I would earn more if I did an ad with the actual brand than an affiliate link so I don't know if it offends everybody or if it's really annoying or no one wants it.

'It would be the same as when I share something and loads of you will ask me where it's from and if it's from Amazon I'll just put the link on but at least with the affiliate where it's got the most stock and things like that. and the best price. 

'So it helps me, I do earn a very small commission on it, nothing like what you'd get for an ad campaign but I can find the right one if that makes sense.

'But I won't do it... I would just share the normal links if it really offends people and p*** people off.'

Stacey concluded: 'Those couple of trolls are really getting to me. I'm like "oh my god maybe people just hate this".'