The product you choose matters more than editing or effects. A good pick is something you can honestly recommend, that your viewers might actually need, from a store they trust.
Start with what you own and use
The easiest videos to make, and the most believable, are about things you already have: the kitchen tool you use every morning, the phone stand on your desk, the water bottle in your bag. You can show them in real use and answer real questions about them. If you only know a product from its listing, say so, and don't describe experiences you haven't had.
Fit with your audience
Think about who watches you, or who you want to reach: new parents, students, people who cook, people who camp. Pick products that solve a problem they have. Staying with one or two themes helps people understand why to follow you, and helps platforms show your videos to the right viewers.
Price and commission
Commission is a percentage of the sale, and rates differ by program and by product category. A low rate on an inexpensive item adds up to very little per order; a costly item may pay more per sale, but fewer people buy it. Look up the rate in the program's current commission table, not in a forum or a video. And don't choose a product only because the rate is high: viewers can tell when a recommendation is about the commission.
Check reviews and the return policy
- Read recent reviews, especially the negative ones. Look for patterns: breaks after a month, runs small, missing parts.
- Check the seller. On marketplaces, prefer products sold by the brand or a well-known retailer.
- Check the return policy and shipping to your viewers' country. A product that's hard to return is a poor recommendation.
- Check that it's available where your viewers live. An Amazon.com product may not ship to Canada, and the reverse.
What to avoid
- Health and medical claims. Don't say or suggest that a product cures or prevents an illness, or replaces medical advice. Supplements, skin care and devices are where claims get creators in trouble.
- Knock-offs and counterfeits: products that copy a famous brand's name, logo or design. They break program and platform rules.
- Products your affiliate program or the platform restricts or bans (for example weapons, tobacco or adult products). Check both lists.
- Toys and products for children: the rules are stricter, and in Quebec, advertising aimed at children under 13 is generally not allowed.
- Anything you wouldn't recommend to a friend.
A quick checklist
- Would I recommend this to a friend?
- Can I show it in real use?
- Does it fit the people who watch me?
- Are recent reviews mostly good, and is it easy to return?
- Is it available where my viewers live, through a program I've joined?
If the answer to any of these is no, pick something else. There are always more products than you have time to film.