Need a more efficient way to partner with Amazon? Look no further than Levanta!
The up-and-coming software company is the perfect solution for Amazon sellers and publishers that need better integration of marketing efforts.
Call them the new kids on the affiliate block.
With their platform, you can test a new stream of revenue on the Goliath that is Amazon.
What is Levanta?
Developed in 2022, Levanta is affiliate marketing software created by a well-known trio in the affiliate channel.
Seattle-based entrepreneurs, Ian Brodie, Rob Schab, and Spencer McKenney, were the brains behind the product.
They describe Levanta as a “complete marketing suite,” providing data-driven solutions to help sellers and publishers increase returns from Amazon.
Rob announced the launch in early 2023, touting the software’s ability to “build better transparency, relationships, and data collection for both publishers and Amazon sellers.”
The Big Why Behind Levanta?
When I worked at my agency years ago, I’d often get asked “Can your team manage my affiliate efforts on Amazon?”
My response was always, “I wish I could, but Amazon is a black box.”
Agencies, let alone sellers, have no insight into their affiliate efforts via Amazon Associates.
They are simply passengers on the Amazon bus, with the company driving all commission and attribution window changes.
In any event, a company wanted to form a direct partnership with a rock star Amazon creator, they couldn’t measure the return on their investment.
Thus, the Levanta founders spotted this opportunity.
Their research showed there was demand on both sides – Amazon sellers wanted more control and creators wanted higher commissions for what they promoted.
Levanta Features
Levanta offers a suite of features for brands and publishers. However, there are perks for Amazon too.
Amazon has implemented a reward system called the “Brand Referral Bonus” program to incentivize sellers who engage in “non-Amazon Marketing”. This program offers an average 10% bonus for revenue generated through non-Amazon marketing efforts.
Plus, the more new external traffic you send to Amazon, the better organic search rankings your products may see.
This is a triple-win situation for Amazon Sellers, publishers, and Amazon.com.
Levanta for sellers
Outside of a few benefits like the Brand referral bonus, there are platform features worth noting for sellers:
- Easy Onboarding: Creating an Affiliate Amazon program can be done in minutes. Integration requires creating an account and linking a seller’s Amazon account to Levanta.
Moreover, their onboarding demo and knowledge hub are great resources for finding any answers or solutions.
- Customized Commissions: Amazon has standardized, low commission rates but Levanta’s platform allows sellers to set commissions for affiliate partnerships on an individual product level. You can even customize a private rate for an influencer.
- Reporting Dashboard: Levanta has an easy-to-read, self-service dashboard that provides performance stats. This way sellers can track the impact of their efforts and make decisions about their affiliate marketing campaigns based on real data from past results.
Levanta for creators
Creators can benefit from Levanta’s software as well:
- Unique Product Catalog: Levanta offers a unique product catalog with thousands of products that can be browsed by category or searched by keyword.
This makes it easier to find the right product for your affiliate campaigns.
- Automated Tracking: With Levanta, creators don’t have to worry about manual tracking. It keeps track of all clicks, conversions and commissions with up-to-date data so they can always be sure that they are getting the right attribution for their work.
- Higher Potential to Earn: Creators have access to higher commission rates than what is offered on Amazon, allowing them to make more money for their business. From my research, there are over 400 brands currently with a 20% average commission rate. Plus, they released a deals section highlighting products with discounted prices and/or attractive commission rates. See below.
My Experience Using Levanta
I was introduced to Levanta in March 2023 via the client I was managing. I’m always down to learn about new affiliate software so I was excited to connect with the founder and see the tech.
Using the platform as an Amazon Seller
Given I was representing my client, I would consider myself in the seller’s shoes. I found Levanta to be very user-friendly. The interface was easy to navigate and I had no trouble getting around and finding what I needed.
I didn’t have access to the client’s Amazon storefront, but I know it took him only a few minutes to get it all set up.
Once inside the software, the best practices of affiliate marketing kick in.
Recruiting and activating new affiliates are key. Outside of their normal help center, they are continuously putting out great resources like this recruitment ebook. I found it helpful because the Amazon sellers need to actively recruit partners. Ultimately, the program won’t take off unless work is put in regularly.
It took my client some time to see traction in their Levanta affiliate program. Setting the expectation that it takes at least six months to witness progress is crucial..
I tested this software in their early release, so they were still making tool updates and adding more creators.
I do believe as Levanta grows, the opportunities for Amazon sellers will increase as well.
Using the platform as an Amazon Creator
Anyone that knows me, knows I like to see things from all angles.
I’ve always been a big advocate of being a publisher in your program. It’s free and easy to create a publisher account in any affiliate network.
Like many others, Levanta was no exception.
Anyone with a branded sign-up link is automatically approved. Therefore, feel free to send that branded link to either your work or personal email address at any time.
Levanta did clarify for me their criteria for creator applications is a minimum of 5K subscribers and/or followers. How strict they are with that? I’m not sure.
This is the view of the Creator Dashboard UI.
As you can tell, I haven’t been active with my partnership invites.
There are a range of unconventional brands on there but that is the world of Amazon. They sell weird stuff, and people promote weird stuff.
I do enjoy the messaging system they built. It’s nice you can keep the communication all within the software.
Pros and Cons of using Levanta
Levanta, the newbie in the market, serves up an array of perks and areas for improvement that I’d like to outline.
Product Pros
Product Cons
Getting Started with Levanta
Getting started with Levanta is a breeze.
First things first, you will want to create an account.
Next, once approved, you should begin exploring the Amazon Marketplace and consider the products you want to promote as part of your business.
If you are on the Amazon seller side, you can still join for free. You’ll just need to upgrade to one of the paid plans offered.
Pricing Plans
Levanta offers three paid plans for customers, ranging from $120 to $750 per month. If you commit to the annual plan, there is a 20% discount knocking the monthly fee down to $120. If monthly is more your jam, then it bumps it up to $150 a month.
On top of the monthly SaaS fee, there is a performance fee which is common in the affiliate marketing channel. That cost is 3.5%-5% of affiliate sales revenue.
If a brand is looking for a customized solution, they can contact them via their form here.
Final Thoughts on Levanta
In the rapidly evolving world of affiliate marketing, it’s crucial to stay informed about the various platforms that offer lucrative opportunities. Overall, Levanta is a quality opportunity for anyone looking to do just that. Brands have the ability to drive new, high-qualified traffic. With that increase in traffic, Amazon rewards with better organic search rankings and a kickback for generating sales.
It’s performance-based, so the risk is low and you are only paying on real revenue generated. Not clicks or sponsored ads.
I have confidence that as the company scales, its competitive advantage over using Amazon Associates will shine through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you still searching for answers? Your search ends here.
