YouTube is expanding its shopping and affiliate tools by adding Amazon to its YouTube Shopping affiliate programme in the United States. The integration gives eligible creators a new way to recommend products directly within their videos, Shorts and livestreams while earning commissions from qualifying purchases.
The move brings Amazon products into YouTube’s existing shopping system, allowing product recommendations to become part of the viewing experience rather than remaining limited to links placed in video descriptions.
Amazon Products Can Now Be Tagged Directly
Eligible creators can select Amazon products through the product picker in YouTube Studio and attach them to their content. YouTube says creators can choose from a selection of Amazon products available for tagging.
The platform will also provide a curated catalogue featuring requested and trending products. If a creator cannot find a particular Amazon product they want to recommend, they can contact YouTube Creator Support and submit the product for consideration.
This gives creators more flexibility when featuring products that are relevant to their content and audience.
Automatic Tagging Simplifies Product Recommendations
The integration also includes an auto-tagging option. When enabled, YouTube may review a creator’s recent uploads and automatically identify eligible Amazon products that can be tagged.
Amazon products may also be included in automatic tagging for future uploads. The feature is designed to reduce the amount of manual work required from creators who regularly feature products in their content.
Creators can review and manage the tags through YouTube Studio. YouTube’s broader auto-tagging system can also identify products using information such as video titles, descriptions and captions.
Creators Get Access to Shopping Performance Data
The Amazon integration gives creators access to shopping-related performance information through YouTube Studio. Creators can view aggregate data covering clicks, sales and revenue.
However, the reporting has some limitations. YouTube states that creators cannot see which specific Amazon products or individual videos generated particular purchases. Instead, the available reporting provides an overall view of shopping activity connected to their Amazon affiliate activity.
The arrangement gives creators another way to track how product recommendations are performing without relying solely on traditional affiliate links in descriptions.
Amazon Commissions Follow AdSense Payments
Amazon commissions are handled through the creator’s existing AdSense payment arrangement. YouTube notes that commissions are locked on a monthly cycle and paid according to the applicable AdSense payment schedule.
Commission balances can also change when customers return products. In some cases, returned purchases may reduce the balance enough for reported revenue to temporarily become negative.
US-Based Eligibility Requirements Apply
The Amazon integration is currently available to eligible creators participating in the YouTube Shopping affiliate programme in the United States.
Creators must be enrolled in the YouTube Partner Programme and the US YouTube Shopping affiliate programme. They must also have an active account in either the Amazon Influencer Programme or Amazon Associates Programme and link their YouTube channel to the relevant Amazon account.
Only creators who meet these requirements can use the Amazon product-tagging feature and earn commissions from qualifying sales.
International Viewers Can Still See Product Tags
Although the programme is limited to eligible US creators, the audience viewing tagged content does not necessarily have to be located in the United States.
YouTube Shopping can automatically match tagged products with trusted local merchant offers when suitable options are available. This can allow eligible international purchases to generate commissions. If a local match is unavailable, the shopping tag may direct viewers to the Amazon US storefront or another applicable storefront.
This approach allows creators to reach viewers in different markets while keeping product discovery connected to YouTube’s shopping system.
Amazon Expands YouTube’s Creator Commerce Push
Amazon’s addition strengthens the connection between YouTube content and online shopping. Creators can now place Amazon product recommendations directly within videos, Shorts and livestreams, while viewers can discover products without relying only on links in descriptions.
For YouTube, the integration expands the range of products available through its affiliate shopping ecosystem. For eligible creators, it adds another route to earn commissions from product recommendations while keeping product discovery and shopping more closely connected to their content.
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