How I Turned My Airbnb Into a Passive Income Stream
How My Airbnb Business Started Before Side Hustles Were Everywhere
I started my business in 2016, back when I had a full-time creative director job, an Airbnb to manage, and a blog I was trying to grow during nights and weekends. My blog was where I documented everything I was learning about hosting, systems, and running a short-term rental alongside a demanding job. There was no ChatGPT to speed things up, no AI tools, and no shortcuts. Content creation was slower and more manual, which meant every post had to be intentional.
Because time was tight, I asked for help. My sister stepped in and helped me write some of my early Airbnb blog posts. She would research conversations happening inside Airbnb Facebook groups, read through Reddit threads, and spend time on long-form platforms like Substack. At the same time, I shared everything I knew from firsthand hosting experience. Together, we created content that was genuinely helpful, rather than recycled advice.
At the same time, I was managing my Airbnb remotely while working full-time, which is still the reality for many hosts today. One of the properties that played a big role in shaping my approach is Kona Landing. Managing a short-term rental from afar forced me to get systems, products, and workflows dialed in, and it gave me practical knowledge that translated naturally into content.
How I Discovered Amazon Affiliate Income for Airbnb Blogs
One day, my sister casually said something that completely changed how I thought about my blog. She told me I could link products from Amazon directly inside my blog posts and earn money when readers purchase them. At the time, I already understood the basics of affiliate marketing because I was listening to Jenna Kutcher and learning about online business, but I had not fully connected how powerful this could be for Airbnb focused content.
That conversation led me to sign up for the Amazon Associates Program, and it quietly became one of the most aligned decisions I have ever made in my business. It allowed me to monetize content without compromising the experience for the reader or cluttering my site with irrelevant ads.
Why I Chose Amazon Links Instead of Traditional Blog Ads
I have always been intentional about user experience. We have all clicked on a recipe or home blog only to be overwhelmed by pop ups, autoplay videos, and ads that have nothing to do with why we are there. As a designer, that experience never sat well with me. Even worse, creators are often making pennies from all of that disruption.
Linking relevant Amazon products inside my Airbnb blog posts felt completely different. Instead of cluttering the page, I was recommending products I actually used and trusted in my own rentals. It allowed me to design my own version of advertising, one that felt helpful and aligned instead of annoying or distracting.
How One Airbnb Blog Post Has Made Me Over $30,000
That decision paid off in a way I never expected. I have one Airbnb blog post that has generated over $30,000 in Amazon affiliate commissions. It did not go viral, and I do not constantly promote it. It works because it solves a very specific problem Airbnb hosts are already searching for and recommends highly relevant products.
That post still earns money every single month. This is what passive income actually looks like. You do the work once, and it continues to show up for you long after it is published.
Why Amazon Makes Sense for Airbnb Hosts, Budding Side Hustlers, Busy Moms, and Entrepreneurs
Amazon has always aligned with my lifestyle. I have been shopping on Amazon for decades, long before two day shipping was standard. As a mom, an Airbnb host, and someone who works from home, I do not want to run to the store every time I need something. I want convenience, consistency, and products that are easy to reorder.
That same mindset applies to my audience. When I recommend products through Amazon, people already trust the platform and feel comfortable purchasing there. It creates a seamless experience for both the reader and the creator, which is especially important if you are building a side hustle alongside a full life.
How I Learned About the Amazon Influencer Program at Alt Summit
Years later, I attended a women led entrepreneur conference called Alt Summit. I had been going to Alt Summit for years realizing how relevant this conference is for Airbnb hosts. I unknowingly walked into a session called “How Jeff Bezos bought me a Tesla” focused on the Amazon Influencer Program. That session completely changed how I thought about Amazon as a platform.
Unlike Amazon Associates, which relies on blog links, the Amazon Influencer Program allows you to upload short product review videos that live directly on Amazon product pages. When someone watches your video and buys the product, you earn a commission.
Why Amazon Influencer Is a Natural Extension of Airbnb Hosting
The moment I understood how the Amazon Influencer Program worked, everything clicked. As an Airbnb host, I had already purchased thousands of dollars worth of products to furnish and maintain my spaces. That includes bedding, bathroom essentials, kitchen tools and gadgets, laundry supplies, pillows, and countless other hosting staples.
These products were already styled in real spaces across my Airbnbs and my home. I started filming review videos using products I already owned, and very quickly I started seeing income come in. Many of those products now live inside my Amazon storefront, which has become a central hub for everything I recommend.
What Most People Do Not Realize About Amazon Influencer Income
Amazon Influencer is not hard, but it is nuanced. There are layers to getting approved, knowing which products are worth reviewing, understanding video placement, and learning how creator connections and brand collaborations work. I chose to fast track my learning by investing in education instead of trying to guess my way through it.
Since then, I have reviewed over one thousand products, built consistent monthly cash flow, received free products from brands, and created income that continues even when I am not actively posting. One of the very first videos I ever made is still earning today.
Making Money Beyond Bookings With Your Airbnb
This is why I believe so strongly in this income stream for Airbnb hosts. It fits into real life. You can film when you have time, the videos stack and stick around, and you do not need a following to get started. Whether you are running an Airbnb full time or managing one alongside another job, this is a realistic way to make money beyond bookings using assets you already own.
How to Get Started With Amazon Influencer as an Airbnb Host
You can try to piece all of this together on your own, but there is a learning curve. The beginner Amazon Influencer course I am affiliating for walks you through how to get approved, even without a following, how to film your first review videos, and how the platform actually works so you can set this up correctly from the beginning.
If you already own or manage an Airbnb, you are sitting on thousands of dollars worth of products you have already purchased. This beginner Product Review Video Guide shows you how to turn those exact items into an additional income stream by creating simple review videos that live directly on Amazon, not on social media. It is a one time course with no upsells and walks you step by step through getting approved and earning onsite commissions, making it a smart next move for hosts who want to make money beyond bookings.
