How stars such as Stacey Solomon, Zara McDermott and Taylor Ward could see earnings slashed as Amazon introduces stringent new rules on ‘annoying’ affiliate posts

by

It appears employers have realized how celebrities like Stacey Solomon and Zara McDermott are using loopholes to make money, and they’re now changing the rules to potentially reduce those earnings.

Affiliate linking allows the person sharing the link to earn a commission whenever someone buys a product or service through it. They usually showcase these items on a dedicated ‘storefront’ page.

As previously reported by Daily Mail, 36-year-old Stacey could significantly boost her income by posting links to Amazon products on Instagram. She promotes a variety of items, from comfortable outfits and home decor to more expensive gadgets.

Recent updates to Amazon’s terms of service will limit how creators can earn money through affiliate links, especially when promoting products on social media.

Starting April 14th, these new guidelines include a significant change to how stars earn commission. Commission will now be calculated only on purchases of the exact same product version (ASIN) linked on the product detail page.

This update removes the previous workaround, so stars will now only receive commission on purchases of the specific item they linked.

Okay, let’s break down a recent policy change I’m seeing a lot of questions about. Basically, Amazon is now expanding what counts as a ‘disqualified purchase’ – meaning a purchase that won’t count towards certain programs. Now, it’s not just about using banned words in your ads. Any product bought by a customer who came to Amazon through any paid or boosted ad – even if your keywords are perfectly fine – could be considered a disqualified purchase. It’s a broader net they’re casting, so it’s really important to be aware of this if you’re running ads on any platform that directs traffic to Amazon.

However, the updated rules state that any posts that have been promoted (‘boosted’) won’t qualify for commission payments.

The new rules also limit pre-orders to 180 days. This stops sellers from benefiting from promotions if customers cancel before the order is finalized.

To comply with new rules, celebrities will need to do more than just post pictures of sponsored products. Their posts must now include original thoughts, explanations, or creative additions to provide extra value for their audience.

Similar to Stacey, Zara often showcases beauty products in her Instagram videos, directing viewers to her Storefront to purchase them.

She’s advertised a wide variety of products, with prices ranging from a £12.99 collagen cream and a £32.99 Revlon hair dryer, to more expensive items like a £299.99 coffee machine and a £256.00 Le Creuset casserole dish.

Taylor Ward has also been updating her home in Saudi Arabia with items from the popular store, and is letting her followers purchase some of the same pieces through her online shop.

I’ve been following her for a while now, and on Monday she shared a recommendation for a baby sleeping bag that costs £54.99. It reminded me she’s also promoted other things recently, like a £100 LED face mask and a pretty expensive coffee machine for £380!

Okay, so I’m totally checking for any news on Stacey Solomon, Zara McDermott, and Taylor Ward, and the Daily Mail actually reached out to their people for a statement! I’m dying to know what they’re going to say, seriously, I’m glued to my feed!

For celebrities and influencers with a big audience, the Amazon Affiliates program can be a great way to earn money. They can receive a significant 6% commission on sales of popular items like clothes, high-end beauty products, and watches.

Even expensive items like electronics earn you 2.5%, while less expensive beauty products and luggage offer a 4% return.

In a video posted on Thursday, the mother of five said she’d noticed some negative comments recently, and wasn’t sure if they were from ‘trolls’ or if they reflected a wider feeling. She said this led her to want to ask a question.

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

It’ll be similar to when I share something online and a lot of you ask where I got it. If it’s from Amazon, I usually just post the link. But with affiliate links, it’ll automatically show where it’s in stock and offer the best price.

As a lifestyle expert, I occasionally recommend products and, full transparency, I do earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. It’s not a huge income, definitely not like running ad campaigns, but I genuinely focus on finding things that are a great fit for my audience, and that’s what matters most to me.

I’m not going to do that, but if the regular links bother anyone, I’ll share them anyway, even if it upsets them.

Stacey admitted the negative comments were bothering her. She said she was starting to worry that people didn’t like her work.

Read More

2026-04-13 18:19