- Social shopping has begun to take form on YouTube, from shorts to live videos.
- Last month, YouTube launched the ability for some creators to make money through affiliate links.
- Shopping efforts are a main focus for the platform this year.
Social shopping has emerged this year as a major focus for YouTube.
YouTube Shifts Focus To Social Shopping With Shorts, Affiliate Links
At VidCon, the annual conference for creators, industry professionals, and fans, YouTube Shopping made a splash. Michael Martin, YouTube Shopping general manager, and Bridget Dolan, managing director of YouTube Shopping partnerships, each spoke about the platform’s new affiliate program. And inside the conference center, fans lined up to participate in YouTube’s immersive shopping installation: Drop Shop. The booth featured exclusive creator merchandise, and products from brands and creators like Dream, Smosh, and Blogilates.
YouTube Shifts Focus To Social Shopping With Shorts, Affiliate Links
While some shopping tools, like the merch shelf, have existed on YouTube for years, social shopping kicked into high gear on YouTube this year with the launch of the platform’s new affiliate marketing program.
YouTube Shifts Focus To Social Shopping With Shorts, Affiliate Links
YouTube had been laying the groundwork for the new program for years. In 2021, YouTube began quietly testing shopping tools like product pins with a small group of creators. Creators didn’t earn affiliate commissions from those sales. Instead, YouTube paid a monthly rate to use the feature. Some earned between $50 to $100 each month for using the feature, according to documentation viewed by Insider. Then, earlier this year, that pilot program and related short-term incentive programs ended, making way for an official launch.
YouTube Shifts Focus To Social Shopping With Shorts, Affiliate Links
The new affiliate program, which launched in June, lets creators earn commissions from third-party merchants when they tag products in their videos, including…
YouTube Shifts Focus To Social Shopping With Shorts, Affiliate Links
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YouTube Shifts Focus To Social Shopping With Shorts, Affiliate Links