YouTube is betting on social shopping as it ramps up efforts to get creators to link to products below their videos.
How YouTube's Affiliate Marketing Program Compares To Amazon's, Others
Last year, YouTube launched an affiliate-marketing program that the company had been quietly testing with a small set of creators since 2021. The program pays creators commissions for the sales they drive through clickable affiliate links.
How YouTube's Affiliate Marketing Program Compares To Amazon's, Others
Rivals Instagram and TikTok have both struggled to integrate shopping seamlessly into their platforms. Instagram shut down its native affiliate program in 2022, shifting focus to its Creator Marketplace that matches creators with brands for paid partnerships. Meanwhile, TikTok Shop has found success drawing in small businesses but struggled to convince larger consumer brands — and turned off some users who feel the app has been flooded with shopping videos.
How YouTube's Affiliate Marketing Program Compares To Amazon's, Others
While it’s still early days for YouTube’s native affiliate program, Business Insider’s conversations with several talent managers and creators suggest the tool may be having a hard time attracting creators who have a bevy of other affiliate options to choose from.
How YouTube's Affiliate Marketing Program Compares To Amazon's, Others
Five talent managers working with YouTube creators told BI their clients have yet to use YouTube’s affiliate program or that they weren’t familiar with the program. Their clients use other programs from Amazon, MagicLinks, and LTK.
How YouTube's Affiliate Marketing Program Compares To Amazon's, Others
Influencers have long used startups including LTK and MagicLinks, as well as the Amazon Influencer Program, to earn commissions from promoting products. Many personal-finance influencers work directly with programs from financial institutions, such as banks or investing firms, as well.
How YouTube's Affiliate Marketing Program Compares To Amazon's, Others
These established programs could make it hard for YouTube’s affiliate feature to compete.
Personal-finance influencer Kelly Anne Smith, who has 53,000 subscribers, said affiliate marketing is one of her top income streams — yet she doesn’t use…
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