YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program Guide

If you’ve been looking for a fresh way to earn money online or boost your YouTube channel’s revenue, the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program might just be the game-changer you’ve been waiting for. This program lets creators like you monetize your content by promoting products and earning commissions—all while delivering value to your audience.

Sounds exciting, right? Let’s dive into what the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program is, how it works, and how you can get started today.

What Is the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program?

Simply put, the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program allows creators to recommend products featured on YouTube and earn a commission when their viewers buy through their links. It’s like being a trusted friend who shares great finds, but you get rewarded for it.

Unlike traditional ads, this program blends seamlessly into your content, making product promotion feel natural and authentic—no sales pitches needed.

How Does the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program Work?

If you’re eager to start earning with the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program, it’s important to know that there are actually two different ways to get started, depending on what kind of seller or creator you are.

Creator

Promote Other Brands’ Products: No Shopify Store Needed

Want to earn commissions by sharing cool products you love but don’t have your own store? Good news! You don’t need a Shopify store to join this part of the program.

Here’s how it works:

1. Once you qualify and join, you gain access to a dashboard full of products from various brands.
2. Pick products that fit your channel’s vibe and add affiliate links in your video descriptions, pinned comments, or product tags.
3. When your viewers click your links and make a purchase, you earn a commission.

Note: YouTube tracks clicks, sales, and earnings automatically, so you can focus on creating great content.

Who’s eligible? Usually channels in the YouTube Partner Program with 10,000+ subscribers from select countries like the U.S., Philippines, India, and more.

Merchant

Sell Your Own Products: Shopify Store Required

If you sell your own merch or products, YouTube Shopping lets you feature them directly on your channel, but you need to connect a Shopify store or another supported ecommerce platform to get started.

Here’s the scoop:

1. Connect your Shopify store to your YouTube channel using Shopify’s Google & YouTube app.
2. Sync your product catalog so your items appear on your channel’s shopping tab, video pages, and even during live streams.
3. Manage orders, inventory, and shipping through Shopify while YouTube takes care of showcasing your products.

Who qualifies? Channels with at least 1,000 subscribers that meet YouTube’s monetization and content guidelines.

Which Path Fits You?

• If you’re a creator who loves sharing great products but doesn’t run a store, affiliate marketing is your ticket to earning.
• If you want to sell your own gear directly on YouTube, then getting your Shopify store connected is the way to go.

What Are the Benefits of the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program?

The YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program offers unique advantages for both Creators who promote products and Merchants who sell them. Here’s how each group can benefit:

For Creators

• Earn Extra Income With Your Content
  You’re already making videos, so why not turn your passion into profit? By recommending products through affiliate links, you can earn commissions on sales generated from your audience with minimal extra effort.
• Seamless Product Integration
  The program lets you naturally showcase products that match your channel’s style. It’s a great way to build trust and start successful brand collaborations—without sounding too salesy.
• Access to Diverse Products
  You get a broad marketplace of items from multiple merchants. This variety means you can pick products that truly resonate with your niche and audience interests.
• Performance Insights & Analytics
  YouTube provides detailed reports on clicks, sales, and earnings, so you can see what’s working and adjust your content or promotion strategy for better results.

For Merchants

• Expand Your Sales Channels
  Connecting your Shopify store (or supported e-commerce platform) to YouTube lets you showcase your products directly on video pages, live streams, and the shopping tab—reaching engaged viewers in a fresh, interactive way.
• Increase Product Visibility
  Merchants gain access to YouTube’s vast audience, enhancing discoverability and driving more traffic to their products.
• Streamlined Order Management
  Through Shopify’s integration, merchants can efficiently manage orders, inventory, and shipping, simplifying the selling process.
• Data-Driven Marketing
  Merchants receive analytics on product views, clicks, and purchases originating from YouTube, helping them optimize their marketing and inventory strategies.

How Do You Join the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program?

The YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program enables creators to monetize their content by tagging products from participating merchants, allowing viewers to shop directly from videos. Merchants can expand their reach by having their products featured by creators. Here’s how both creators and merchants can get started.

Creator Eligibility Criteria

To participate in the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program as a content creator, you must meet the following conditions:

• You are enrolled in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
• Your channel has more than 10,000 subscribers.
• Your content is not categorized as a “Made for Kids” channel.
• Your channel is not classified as a music channel or Official Artist Channel, nor is it associated with a music label or distributor.
• You are located in one of the supported countries:
  • United States
  • South Korea
  • Indonesia
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines
  • India
  • Singapore

These requirements ensure that creators in the program have a sizable and engaged audience, produce original content, and follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines and advertiser policies.

Steps to Join:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. From the left menu, select Earn.
3. Under Programs, click Join Now next to the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program.
4. Review and accept the program’s Terms of Service.
5. Once enrolled, you can start tagging products in your content.

Note: The “Join Now” option will only appear if your channel meets the eligibility criteria.

Merchant Participation Requirements

Merchants seeking to feature their products on YouTube through affiliate collaborations must meet the following prerequisites:

• You must be based in the United States (merchant onboarding is currently limited to U.S. businesses).
• You are required to set up a Google Merchant Center account with an active product feed.
• You must integrate your store using the Google & YouTube app on Shopify, which allows product syncing to YouTube for tagging and discovery.

This setup enables eligible merchants to make their products available to YouTube creators for affiliate promotion, providing a direct path from product visibility to purchase.

Steps to Join:

1. Download and install the Google & YouTube app from the Shopify App Store.
2. In your Shopify admin, navigate to the Google & YouTube section under Sales Channels.
3. Locate the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program card and click Get Started.
4. Set a default commission rate for creators promoting your products.
5. Configure commission eligibility settings, including pending and attribution periods.
6. Add your billing profile (credit card or monthly invoicing).
7. Review and accept the program’s Terms and Conditions.

Note: The YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program card will only appear if your store meets the eligibility criteria.

Tips to Succeed with the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program

Success with the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program isn’t just luck—it takes smart moves. Whether you’re new or aiming to earn more, these tips will help you make every product mention count.

1. Be Authentic

Your audience can tell when you genuinely love a product, so only promote what you truly use or believe in. Authenticity builds trust and keeps viewers coming back for more. Honest recommendations turn casual watchers into loyal buyers.

2. Create Product-Focused Content

Videos like reviews, unboxings, and tutorials help show how a product works. If you’re a merchant, finding the right influencer to share your product can make a big difference. Helpful content builds trust and boosts your chances of making sales.

3. Optimize Your Descriptions

Your video description is prime real estate — use it wisely with clear, direct calls to action. Make your affiliate links easy to find and encourage viewers to click. A well-written description boosts conversions and helps your channel grow.

4. Engage With Your Audience

Answer comments and questions to build a community that trusts your advice. Interaction shows you care and keeps viewers engaged longer. The stronger your relationship, the more likely they are to follow your recommendations.

5. Keep an Eye on Your Analytics

Track which videos and links bring in the most sales, and focus on what works best. Analytics give you the insights to fine-tune your strategy and grow your affiliate earnings. Don’t be afraid to experiment and learn from the data.

Conclusion

The YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program offers creators and merchants an easy way to earn money by sharing products they care about. It lets you add shopping links to your videos or showcase your own products to millions of viewers. With the right approach, you can grow your audience and earn income without feeling pushy.

Whether you’re recommending products you love or selling your own items, this program helps you connect with your viewers naturally and build trust. It’s a smart way to turn your passion into profit while keeping your content authentic and engaging.

Book a discovery call with us today and let us help you maximize your YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program success!