In this episode, I sit down with Kathleen Kobel, an Amazon expert and passive income strategist, for a practical and eye-opening conversation on building revenue streams beyond your art or services. From flipping textbooks to becoming a successful Amazon influencer, Kathleen walks us through how creators—yes, even without a huge following—can start earning commissions through Amazon’s Influencer Program and create content that keeps working for them in the background.
If you’ve been looking for ways to diversify your income, monetize the products you already use, or add something scalable to your creative business, this episode is full of insights you can take action on today.
We talk about:
How Kathleen got started by reselling textbooks—and why simplicity is key when beginning
What the Amazon Influencer Program is and how it actually works
Why you don’t need a big following to earn commissions on Amazon
How to create UGC (user-generated content) that Amazon loves
The types of product videos that perform well (and how to start with what you already own)
How much time it really takes to see results—and why it’s still worth it
Product selection strategies that can make or break your earnings
Why Amazon does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to marketing
How this can be a truly passive income stream with upfront effort
Creative ways to repurpose content and save time
This is a must-listen for anyone looking to add passive income streams to their creative business without burning out or starting from scratch.
Tools and takeaways:
You can earn commissions even with a small or no audience
UGC sells—real content from real people builds trust
Repurpose what you’re already using and loving
Time investment up front can lead to long-term income
Diversifying income creates more freedom and stability
Amazon’s built-in audience means less pressure on you to “sell”
Passive income = more space to be creative elsewhere
Start messy—it doesn’t have to be perfect to work
Connect with Kathleen Kobel
Website: https://kathleenkobel.com
YouTube: Kathleen Kobel
Book: The Unconventional Business Model