The YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program offers a fantastic opportunity for content creators to monetize their channels while providing viewers with a seamless shopping experience. By tagging products from various brands and retailers, creators can earn commissions when viewers make purchases through their content. This article will guide you through the workings of the program, eligibility requirements, product tagging process, and how to track your earnings. Let’s delve into the details.

How the Program Works

When you tag products in your videos, Shorts, or live streams, a Shopping button will appear on your content. This button allows viewers to browse and explore the featured products without leaving the watch page. If viewers click on a product, they will be redirected to the merchant’s site, and if they make a purchase, you will earn a commission on their entire purchase.

Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program, your channel must meet certain criteria:

  • It must meet the subscriber threshold and be approved for monetization.
  • It should not be a channel intended for kids or a Music/Official Artist Channel.
  • It must not have Community Guidelines strikes in sensitive policy areas.
  • Note that affiliate product tags will not appear on videos that contain claimed content.

Tagging Products in Your Content

To tag products in your videos and Shorts, you can follow these steps:

  1. During the upload flow, go to “Tag products” and select the available stores or search for specific brands or products.
  2. Each product will display the total price and the commission rate you would earn, which is a percentage of the total price.
  3. You can tag up to 30 products and remove any unwanted ones by clicking the Trash icon.
  4. If you included links in your video description while drafting, they may be suggested for tagging.

Tagging Products in Existing Content and Live Streams

To tag products in existing videos and Shorts, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Content tab in YouTube Studio and select the desired piece of content.
  2. Access the Details page and navigate to Products.
  3. For live streams, you can tag products and even feature a specific product by pinning it to the stream. Viewers can see tagged products by tapping the Shop icon without leaving your stream.

Tagging Products on Mobile and Desktop

For mobile live streams, follow these steps:

  1. During the setup for a mobile live stream, tap the Shopping button and pin the product you want to feature.

For desktop live streams, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Live Control Room, select “Stream” or “Manage” from the left menu.
  2. Below the live stream preview, click the Shopping tab.
  3. Search and select products using the plus icon.
  4. You can tag up to 30 products and remove them by clicking the Trash icon.
  5. You can also pin one item during your live stream to prominently feature it.

Commissions and Payment

Here are some essential points to consider regarding commissions:

  • You earn commissions on the entire basket size, meaning you receive commissions for all items purchased by viewers after clicking on your product tags.
  • Payment is made through your AdSense account, typically 60 to 120 days after the purchase, to account for returns and payment timing.
  • If a viewer returns an item, the commissions earned for that item will be reversed.
  • Different brands may have varying conversion windows, allowing you to earn commissions for up to 30 days after a viewer clicks on your tagged product.

Best Practices for Tagging Products

To maximize the effectiveness of tagging products, consider the following:

  • Only tag products that are easily identifiable and prominently featured in your content or are meaningfully related to it.
  • Tag products that are used as intended or align with the manufacturer’s guidelines for safe usage.
  • Encourage viewers to explore your tagged products and consider tagging products in both new and existing videos, particularly your most popular ones.
  • Note that you may still go through the process of tagging products even if they won’t be visible to viewers due to restrictions on your content (e.g., made for kids or contains claimed content). Familiarize yourself with these restrictions beforehand.

Tracking Your Earnings

To keep track of your earnings, follow these steps:

  • Go to YouTube Studio Analytics and navigate to the Revenue section.
  • Click on the Affiliate chip to access channel-level data, including estimated revenue, product clicks, number of orders, and total sales.
  • Additionally, you can visit the Studio Earned page and go to the Shopping tab for more detailed information, including top-earning products and content.

Conclusion

The YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program provides content creators with an excellent opportunity to earn additional income by recommending products they love. Simultaneously, it enhances the shopping experience for viewers by offering a seamless way to explore and purchase featured products.