YouTube Shopping has officially launched in India, further enhancing the monetization options available to content creators on the platform. The feature, which allows creators to engage in affiliate marketing, was previously rolled out in markets including South Korea and the United States. Eligible creators will now have the capability to tag brands directly within their videos. At its inception in India, YouTube Shopping will collaborate with two leading e-commerce platforms and will be accessible across web browsers, mobile applications, and connected televisions (CTV), encompassing traditional videos, livestreams, and Shorts.
YouTube Shopping Now Available to Indian Creators
As of Friday, video creators in India can begin the application process for YouTube Shopping. Once a channel has received approval to participate in the affiliate marketing program, creators will gain the ability to tag products and retailers in their videos, livestreams, and Shorts. This functionality enables viewers to explore these products without navigating away from the video content.
YouTube Shopping will showcase tagged products within videos and livestreams
Photo Credit: YouTube
Upon clicking the product links and completing a purchase on the retailer’s site, creators will earn a commission from the transaction. YouTube has established partnerships with Flipkart and Myntra for this initiative. The commission rates for various products will be disclosed during the tagging process, with creators permitted to tag up to 30 products in one video.
Eligibility Criteria for YouTube Shopping
To qualify for the YouTube Shopping affiliate marketing program, certain requirements must be satisfied. Creators need to have their channels enrolled in the YouTube Partner Program, be based in India, and possess a minimum of 10,000 subscribers. Channels categorized as Made for Kids or those focused on music content are not eligible to participate.
Additionally, channels that have received Community Guideline Strikes in specific sensitive areas will be barred from joining the affiliate program. Product tags will not appear in videos that contain content that has been claimed, as per YouTube’s policies.
Steps to Enroll in YouTube Shopping
Qualified YouTube channels can register for the YouTube Shopping affiliate program through the YouTube Studio portal. The following steps outline the process:
- Log into YouTube Studio and select Earn from the sidebar menu.
- Go to Programs > Join Now.
- Review the terms of service displayed and accept them to enroll in the program.
