YouTube Taps Amazon for Shopping Affiliate Programme Boost

YouTube has strengthened its push to connect video viewing directly with purchasing by adding Amazon to its Shopping Affiliate Programme. The programme allows eligible US creators to tag products from Amazon in their videos, earning commission on resulting sales.

Creators can add product tags to Shorts, long-form videos, and livestreams, providing viewers with a more integrated way to discover and purchase featured products. This feature reduces the reliance on affiliate links placed in video descriptions.

Amazon will provide YouTube with a curated catalogue of popular and trending products that can be tagged. Creators who cannot find a particular item will be able to request its addition through YouTube's support service.

YouTube also offers an auto-tagging option, which reviews recent and future uploads to identify eligible Amazon products featured in the content. To access this integration, creators must be enrolled in both the YouTube Partner Programme and its US Shopping Affiliate Programme, as well as have an active Amazon Influencer Programme or Amazon Associates Programme account linked to their channel.

Creators will be able to monitor aggregate daily clicks, sales, and estimated revenue through YouTube Studio. Finalised Amazon commissions will be paid through creators' AdSense accounts alongside their existing YouTube affiliate earnings.