YouTube is shutting down its product-tagging tool as of April 19th, according to Insider, and is instead moving towards affiliate marketing with its own YouTube Shopping affiliate program, which will allow “creators in the U.S. to earn commission from purchases on tagged products in their videos and Shorts, and will now begin to move to this model for all creators.”
According to YouTube: “The YouTube Shopping affiliate program allows creators to tag products featured in their videos from third-party merchants. Creators and YouTube earn commission if you buy products from third-party merchants featured in the video through a direct link. These affiliate offers will have a label noting that they are commission-based.”
In a statement to Insider, YouTube said: “We strongly believe that YouTube is the best place for creators to build a business and that an affiliate model will be the most beneficial way for creators to earn money at scale,” YouTube reportedly said in a message to creators.
The platform added that it’s “invest[ing] in the affiliate program as a long-term solution,” but doing so involves “phasing out the ability to tag products from other brands and related short-term incentive programs.”
The support page informs creators that they can create a better watch experience for users, earn more money and use seamless Creator tools. However, your channel has to be part of the YouTube Partner Program, have more than 20k subscribers and be based in the U.S.
