YouTube has announced that eligible creators in the United States can now tag Amazon products within their videos, allowing them to earn commissions on sales generated through these links. This feature is applicable across various content formats, including shorts, long-form videos, and livestreams.
This update transforms product recommendations into a more direct revenue stream for creators, while simultaneously integrating Amazon’s extensive online marketplace into one of the most widely used video platforms.
Previously, YouTube operated a Shopping affiliate program with select retailers. The integration of Amazon’s vast catalog enables creators to recommend a broader range of products through a seamless process. Creators will no longer need to manually insert Associates links in their video descriptions, hoping viewers will remember to click them when making a purchase.
Instead, YouTube will provide a curated selection of popular and trending products from Amazon that creators can tag in their content. If a creator is unable to find a specific product to tag, they can request its addition by contacting YouTube Support.
The feature also includes an auto-tagging option. When enabled, YouTube’s systems can automatically analyze a creator’s recent uploads to identify and tag eligible Amazon products.
Creators will not receive detailed analytics for individual products or videos; however, they will be able to view their overall daily earnings in YouTube Studio. Should a viewer return an item, the corresponding commission will be deducted from the creator’s earnings.
Currently, only eligible U.S. creators can tag Amazon products, but these tags will be visible to viewers worldwide. YouTube may automatically match tagged products with local merchant offers to enable creators to earn commissions on international purchases. If no local merchant is available, the tag will direct viewers to the Amazon U.S. site, where commissions will be earned if a purchase is completed.
To qualify, creators must be enrolled in YouTube’s Partner and Shopping Affiliate programs, possess an active Amazon Influencer or Associates account, and link it to their YouTube channel.