#033: Unlocking Passive Income Using Amazon With Kathleen Kobel

Written By Brooke Ring

Episode #033: Passive Income with Purpose—Making Amazon Work for You with Kathleen Kobel

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

Brooke Ring
Next

#032: Money Talk for Creatives: Building Financial Confidence with Samantha Eck