How to Enroll in Amazon Vine Program: Costs and Requirements 2024
Imagine browsing Amazon for that perfect addition to your home. You find a product that catches your eye, but how do you know it’s the right choice? Like the majority of shoppers, you will likely turn to a section which affects customers’ buying decision the most: product reviews. While many factors can influence purchase behavior, none of them stand even relatively close to customer reviews: as much as 98% of shoppers consider reviews a valuable source of information affecting their purchase decisions.
But what’s the secret behind securing those influential reviews that can propel your product to the top of search results? The answer is: Amazon Vine program — a unique initiative that connects sellers with top-tier reviewers, known for their detailed and honest feedback.
In this guide, you’ll discover how to enroll in the Amazon Vine Program, understand its costs and explore the program’s benefits. We’ll gladly share some of our tips on maximizing the impact of the Vine program too!
Introduction to Amazon Vine
What is the Amazon Vine Program?
The Amazon Vine program is not just another marketing tool; it’s an exclusive, invite-only initiative that helps sellers generate trustworthy reviews for their new products.
Handpicked reviewers, known as Vine Voices, are the backbone of this program. These experts receive products for free to provide honest and detailed reviews that buyers can rely on when making a final decision. In an era where 9 out of 10 consumers read reviews before making a purchase, having your product evaluated by such credible sources can be a decisive factor in a buyer’s journey.
How Does the Amazon Vine Program Work?
Understanding the workings of the Amazon Vine program is essential for any seller considering participation. Here’s a simple breakdown:
1. Invitation to Vine Voices
Amazon carefully selects and invites top reviewers based on their history of providing insightful and helpful reviews. These individuals form the elite group known as Vine Voices.
2. Product Selection by Sellers
Sellers who are part of the program choose products they wish to submit for review. These products are then distributed to Vine Voices at no cost.
3. Product Choice by Vine Voices
Vine Voices have the opportunity to choose products they are genuinely interested in reviewing. Depending on their Vine Status, they have specific limits:
Tier | Request Limit | Requirements for Upgrade/Maintenance |
Silver | Up to 3 items/day (≤ $100 each) | N/A (Entry Level) |
Gold | Up to 8 items/day (any value) | Review 80 Vine items and 90% of orders within a 6-month evaluation period |
4. Review Process
Vine Voices test the products and publish their reviews on Amazon. These reviews are prominently marked with a green stripe to indicate their inclusion in the Vine program, lending them additional credibility.
How to become Eligible for the Vine program?
Seller Requirements
As of recently, the VIne Program is only available to sellers who hold a Professional selling account and meet the following criteria:
1. Amazon Brand Registry
You must be a brand owner who have successfully completed the Amazon Brand Registry.
2. Product Requirements
Products listed must be in a ‘New’ condition to ensure they reach Vine Voices in excellent condition.
3. FBA Onsite requirement
You can’t join the Vine Program if you are part of, or were ever part of the FBA Onsite program. Amazon is hoping to change it in the future, though no certain information is available.
4. Review Criteria
To qualify for the Vine program, products should have fewer than 30 reviews, targeting those needing more customer feedback. What this also means is that if your product already has 28, you will only get a maximum of 2 Vine Reviews.
5. Listing Details
The Amazon product listing should include at least one image and a thorough description to ensure Vine Voices have enough information about the product.
6. Stock Requirements
There must be enough inventory available for distribution to Vine reviewers.
7. Buy Box Status
Products must have a Buy Box status on their listing, ensuring they are purchasable.
Customer (Vine Voices) Requirements
1. Active Review History
Amazon only invites those users who have a consistent and active history of reviewing products on the marketplace, and not just any, but informative and helpful ones as it is precisely how Amazon expects them to review products should they become Vine Voices.
2. Account Status
Prospective Vine Voices need to maintain Amazon accounts in good standing, free from any breaches of community guidelines or review policies.
3. Purchase History
A track record of verified purchase reviews shows that the reviewer has experience purchasing and using the products they review, enhancing the credibility of their feedback.
What is the cost of the Amazon Vine program?
Enrollment Fee is charged per parent ASIN when enrolled in the Vine program. Keep that in mind, as child ASINs are not subject to this.
Fee Structure (Effective October 19, 2023):
Units Enrolled | Vine Enrollment Fee |
1-2 | 0 |
3-10 | $75 |
11-30 | $200 |
*** IMPORTANT NOTES
1. Fees are applied seven days post-publication of the first Vine review.
2. Enrollments made before October 19, 2023, incur a $200 fee regardless of units.
3. Fees are determined by the number of units enrolled, not by the number claimed or reviewed.
4. Sellers can adjust enrollment tiers if no units are claimed. Once claimed, changing tiers is not allowed; sellers can only stop enrollment.
Here are some quick examples to give you a better understanding of the fees you’ll inquire should you want to participate in the Vine Program:
Example 1: Three Units Enrolled: Seller pays $75 after the first review.
Example 2: Two Units Enrolled: No fee charged.
Example 3: Parent ASIN with Five Child ASINs, Two Units Enrolled: No fee charged.
Example 4: Four Units Enrolled, Two Claimed: $75 fee after the first review, as enrollment initially included four units.
How Many Products Can you Enroll in the Vine Program?
Vine Program Enrollment Limits by Seller Tier
| Tier | Product Enrollment Limit |
|---|---|
| Basic Tier | Up to 5 products |
| Plus Tier | Up to 10 products |
| Premium Tier | Up to 20 products |
*** IMPORTANT NOTES
1. New ASINs can be added either 90 days post-enrollment or after all units receive reviews.
2. Upon reaching the review cap, the product is automatically unenrolled, allowing space for new ASINs.
How to Enroll in Amazon Vine Program?
While the enrollment process may appear complex, it is designed to be accessible, even for those new to Amazon’s systems. Once you’ve made sure you’re eligible for the enrollment, which includes signing up for a Professional selling plan and completing the Amazon Brand Registry, and your products fall under the aforementioned requirements, you can begin the process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1:
Log into your Amazon Seller Central account and navigate to the Vine program section.
Step 2:
In the newly opened window you’ll see the information about your current Vine enrollments (if you have any), and a list of recommended items. Unless you see the product you want to enroll in the recommendations, navigate to the search bar and type in your product ASIN and click on “Begin enrollment”
Step 3:
On the Enrollment Details page, enter the number of units you wish to enroll (between 1 and 30).
Enrolling Product Variations in Amazon Vine
- Step 1: Select “Add Variations” to choose the product variations you wish to enroll.
- Step 2: Confirm your selection by clicking “Add Variations” again.
* Recommendation
Opt for “All product variations in stock” to give Vine Voices a wider selection. This approach helps increase the likelihood of receiving objective feedback, as reviewers can choose from a full range of options.
Step 4:
Click “Enroll” and review the Vine program’s terms and conditions, click “Enroll” again to finish the process. You will receive a confirmation message, stating that your enrollment has been submitted.
Managing Your Vine Products
You can access your Vine dashboard at any given time to oversee your enrolled products. The main page displays your most recent enrollments, while older ones can be located by searching their ASIN or SKU. Key actions you can take include:
1. Viewing the status of orders and reviews for your Vine products
2. Canceling any active enrollments
3. Checking enrollment details such as the date, available units for Vine Voices, and total enrolled units
4. Monitoring the number of units claimed and the Vine reviews published
Is Amazon Vine worth your time? Vine Pros & Cons
Vine Pros
Trustworthy & Informative reviews
Vine Program enables you to gain access to high-quality reviews from customers who are respected by both Amazon and its community.
Also, what sets Vine reviews apart from any other commentary on the product, are their informativity. Unlike the majority of users who leave their mere impressions after using the product, it brings little to no value to buyers who haven’t made up their mind. According to the survey, 74% of shoppers rely on reviews as a primary source of information about products they’ve never purchased before.
Considering that the same product can provide a benefit which the other customer may, however, consider a downside, it is important to evaluate the product not just based on other’s overall impressions, but also based on its specific features. And that’s precisely what Vine Voices do, as their task is to review the product from every possible perspective.
Product Development Opportunities
Vine Voices, known for their insightful and practical feedback, play a crucial role in identifying product weaknesses and uncovering windows of opportunities. Use their feedback to further enhance your product’s qualities.
Drive More Traffic
People are naturally drawn to crowded places, as they usually indicate that something worthwhile is happening there. Similarly, when your product has numerous reviews, it signals to potential buyers that it’s popular and trusted.
Vine Cons
Limited Availability
The Amazon Vine program is currently exclusive, accessible only to sellers who have registered their brands in select regions. Among them are:
1. USA
2. Canada
3. United Kingdom
4. France
5. Germany
6. Italy
7. Spain
8. Japan
Affordability
The cost of participating in the Amazon Vine Program can be substantial, particularly if your budget is limited. As you provide products for free to gain reviews, a comprehensive cost analysis needs to be conducted beforehand so you can anticipate possible gains or losses after applying for the program.
Bad Reviews
You need to understand that Amazon Vine doesn’t guarantee positive feedback if your product misses on qualities which are important to customers. If a Vine customer leaves a negative review, you can’t do much about it but listen to the complaints and apply improvements to your product. Of course, you can Report a Vine review, but only in case it goes against any of the Amazon’s rules.
If you feel like your product doesn’t deserve this review and you think otherwise, reporting won’t affect anything. Deal with the fact that your measurements of what’s considered “good” can differ from other people. Instead, accept the feedback as it is and relook at the issues arising from using your product.
How to Maximize the Impact of the Amazon Vine Program?
Offer a competitive price
While reviews are a major factor for 94% of buyers, price closely follows at 93% in influencing purchasing decisions. It’s important to keep your pricing competitive, as Vine reviewers are known for their honesty about whether a product justifies its price.
Optimize your product listings
To make the most of the Amazon Vine Program, ensure your product listings are top-notch. After all, you wouldn’t want to receive a negative review because your listing wasn’t descriptive enough and led to customer confusion? A fully optimized listing includes:
1. A descriptive title.
2. Bullet points designed to accentuate your product’s key selling points.
3. Clear and concise product descriptions.
4. High-quality, informational images & videos.
Providing detailed information about your product allows Vine reviewers to form accurate expectations, therefore attracting only the most suitable customers.
Reply to customer questions
Your product page should be a place where you engage with customers. Both buyers and sellers can answer questions in this section, with seller responses prominently identified with a badge above the reviews.
Taking the time to address these questions not only enhances your professional image, but also shows that you are actively managing your listings. You can also gain insight into potential customer queries by reviewing competitor questions. This information can significantly enhance customer comprehension and satisfaction if you incorporate it into your product descriptions, bullet points, or images.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the impact reviews can have on your product sales, we hope you will consider Amazon’s Vine Program as a way-to-go strategy to give your newly launched products the initial boost they need. It comes at a cost, but proves especially effective compared to other marketing methods, thanks to its trusted reviewer insights that elevate both visibility and brand credibility.
At Weby Corp, we specialize in helping sellers like you leverage Amazon’s tools to maximize success. Our expert team is ready to assist you with every aspect of the Vine program—from initial enrollment to managing reviews and optimizing your product listings. Reach out to us and start boosting your sales on Amazon today!
Table Of Glossary
FAQ
No, once an ASIN is submitted, you cannot modify the number of units or add more child-ASINs to that enrollment.
If at least one unit has been claimed, re-enrollment of the ASIN or any variation of the parent ASIN is not permitted.
If no reviews are received or the first review appears more than 90 days post-enrollment, the Vine fee will not be charged.
Refunds are not available as Vine encourages genuine feedback, whether it's positive or negative, in line with our Community Guidelines.
The fee for enrolling in Vine is charged once per parent ASIN, seven days after the first Vine review for that product is published.
