YouTube has an incredible monetization ecosystem for its creators. With multiple income streams beyond ad views, YouTube has unlocked several options, including Super Chats, Channel memberships, and YouTube Premium. One such powerful feature is YouTube Shopping.
Introduced in mid-2023, YouTube Shopping allows creators to seamlessly tag their products within their content. Viewers can discover the tagged products and buy them without leaving the platform. It is a win-win for both creators and audiences alike.
Let us explain to you more about this feature in the article.
What Is YouTube Shopping?
It is a built-in feature designed to make it effortless for viewers to purchase your products. This feature of shopping provides a real-time shopping experience for the audience and generates revenue for you as a creator on your channel. The products can be from your own store or from partner brands. Audiences can expect the Shopping element in the following areas:
- Products tagged in the Shorts video
- Linked in the description box.
- Product shelves below the video
- Pop-ups during Live Streaming.
According to a YouTube Shop team member, as of August 2024, over 2,50,000 creators have monetized through this feature. Many brands, including Sephora, Target, Walmart, and Home Depot, have been a part of this feature. Moreover, the Shopping feature has now officially expanded to Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and other markets of Southeast Asia
Eligibility Criteria For Creators To Enable The Feature
To enable YouTube Shopping for your channel, you must meet the following criteria:
- Your channel must be a part of the YouTube Partner Program.
- You must have at least 1000 subscribers.
- Your Channel must be in a country that supports the feature.
- The channel must not be set for kids as the shopping feature is limited to such channels.
- The channel must adhere to YouTube’s Terms of Service and comply with YouTube’s community guidelines.
Steps To Enable YouTube Shopping On Your Channel
The feature is being expanded into both Shorts and long-form video formats. The steps to enable the shopping tool are simple:
- You can access the Shopping tab in YouTube Studio. It supports major platforms, including Shopify, Spring, and SpreadShop, among others.
- It will allow you to manually add and tag products directly while uploading content, and even use the Chrome Extension to link the products.
- In the long videos, tags will appear like video chapters exactly at the points where they are referenced.
- Whereas in the Shorts video, viewers can see tappable product tags directly in the video.
- You can track the analytics of the shopping tool via YouTube Studio to check the revenue, sales, clicks, and performance of the products.
Perks Of the YouTube Shopping Tool For Creators
- Seamless Integration: With a seamless shopping experience, keep the viewers engaged on your channel for a longer time without redirecting them to other platforms.
- New Revenue Stream: Earn commission or direct sales through product listing
- Brand Partnerships: More opportunities for collaborations and a trusted source of shopping from viewers who already consider you as their go-to source for recommendations.
Conclusion
Over 70 billion people consume content on YouTube Shorts, as reported by YouTube, making the platform one of the most trusted places to find online content. YouTube Shopping offers a golden opportunity for creators to monetize their influence beyond ad views. It is a must-have tool for YouTubers to maximize their earning potential and take it to the next level. So, if you are eligible, ensure you take advantage of the perks it offers.