Overview
We’ve evolved the Wayward Associates program to better align with Amazon’s latest updates and to give brands more control over publisher partnerships.
Wayward now operates on top of Amazon Creator Connections (ACC), allowing you to offer bonus commissions that help your products stay competitive and prioritized in publisher content, while continuing to track performance through Amazon Associates.
This guide walks through what changed, how the program works today, and how to get set up.
What changed on March 9, 2026?
On March 9, 2026, Amazon introduced updates to the Associates program that reduced ASIN-level reporting visibility for creators and publishers.
Because of this, the Wayward Associates program has been sunset, and we’ve transitioned to a new model built on Creator Connections.
Note:
All Associates sales tracked prior to March 9, 2026 will continue to be billed as usual.
Moving Forward:
We’ve introduced a Creator Connections bonus commission model, designed to give you more flexibility and control over how you incentivize creators and publishers.
With this model, you can:
Offer custom or elevated commission rates through Wayward
Increase your chances of being featured in high-performing publisher content
Prioritize top partners with more competitive payouts
Wayward will continue to honor your existing commission structure by treating your previous Associates rates as bonus commissions on top of Creator Connections, where applicable.
Your Amazon Attribution and Walmart programs remain unchanged.
How to get started:
✅ Already connected to Creator Connections?
You’re all set from an integration standpoint, but we recommend reviewing your commission setup to ensure you’re fully participating in the program.
To maximize visibility and performance:
Set or increase bonus commissions through Wayward
Ensure your rates are competitive with other brands
You can update and manage your bonus commission rates directly in your Wayward dashboard at any time.
⚠️ Note: Brands that don’t offer bonus commissions may see reduced placement in publisher content, as creators prioritize higher-paying opportunities.
If you have not yet connected Creator Connections:
You’ll need to connect your Creator Connections integration to begin participating in the program.
To get started:
Log in to your Wayward dashboard
Navigate to Brands → Creator Connections
Follow the step-by-step Instructions to set up your Creator Connections integration
Fees & billing
Following March 9th, 2026:
You will not be charged fees on all Creator Connections revenue. Fees only apply when you offer a commission rate on Wayward that is higher than the standard Creator Connections rate.
You’re only billed the incremental difference. If Creator Connections pays a creator 10% and you set a 15% bonus rate through Wayward, you’re billed on the 5% difference — not the full 15%.
Important: There are no fees for simply connecting your Creator Connections account.
Managing your program
Controlling bonus commissions
You have full control over which creators receive bonus ACC commissions. To disable a creator from receiving bonus rates, simply disable the respective creator within your Wayward dashboard. This does not affect their standard Creator Connections rate — only the bonus you’re offering through Wayward.
Recommended starting strategy
We typically recommend setting the minimum Creator Connections rate when launching your first campaign (10%). This lets you offer a base rate to everyone in Creator Connections while fine-tuning your program with increased bonus rates through Wayward for specific high-value partners.
Expanding creator reach
We’re actively expanding the program to bring more creators into the network, giving your brand broader reach and new partnership opportunities. This includes additional bonus opportunities for creators, which helps keep them incentivized to prioritize your products in their content.
Publisher content & boosted placements
The Boosted ACC Commissions program through Wayward is the only way to maintain your presence in boosted content we produce for publishers like NBC, Reviewed, Mashable, and others. By offering competitive bonus rates, your products stay prioritized in upcoming publisher shopping content.
Analytics & reporting
We’ll be rolling out new features and platform updates to make it easy to track analytics and results from this new program. Stay tuned for updates on enhanced reporting within your Wayward dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Brand Referral Bonus apply to Creator Connections sales?
No. The Brand Referral Bonus only applies to Attribution-tracked sales, which cannot be combined with Amazon Associates (the program that powers Creator Connections tracking).
Does Creator Connections support Attribution links?
No. Creator Connections is an extension of the Amazon Associates program. Once opted in, creators earn the CC commission on sales driven through their normal Associates links. Our Attribution program is separate and promotes through Amazon Attribution links.
Can I run bonus Creator Connections commissions through both Wayward and another platform?
We’d recommend choosing one platform to avoid duplicate commissions and fees. The advantage of running through Wayward is substantially lower fees compared to other platforms — you only pay on revenue where bonus commissions are facilitated, not on 100% of ACC revenue.
Can I still use Wayward for Amazon Attribution alongside other platforms?
Yes. For Attribution-based tracking, you can use both platforms without any risk of duplication or overlap. Attribution sales are based on last-click to a specific link, so there’s no conflict. The choice between platforms only matters for ACC bonus commissions.