- YouTube has expanded its Shopify partnership to boost its shopping affiliate program.
- The expansion aims to challenge TikTok Shop’s rapid growth in U.S. e-commerce.
- New tools for creators include a Chrome extension for easier product tagging.
As TikTok Shop continues to dominate the e-commerce scene, YouTube is stepping up its game by expanding its partnership with Shopify.
The goal? To onboard more brands into its YouTube Shopping affiliate program, giving creators access to thousands of new brands for their shopping videos. This move marks a significant upgrade from the few hundred brands previously available.
The expanded partnership now allows all eligible Shopify Plus and Advanced merchants in the U.S. to join the Shopping affiliate program. This development is a win for YouTube and a lucrative opportunity for creators and brands alike.
YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program
The YouTube Shopping affiliate program is a powerful tool that enables creators to earn money through their videos by tagging products from various brands. It also helps their audience discover new products seamlessly.
For brands, this platform provides an additional avenue to reach potential customers and boost sales.
The collaboration between YouTube and Shopify is set to significantly increase the number of brands that creators can feature in their videos, opening up new opportunities for both creators and businesses.
With this partnership, YouTube aims to strengthen its position in the U.S. e-commerce market and compete more effectively against TikTok Shop, which has been rapidly gaining traction.
YouTube vs. TikTok
TikTok has been making waves in the U.S. e-commerce space, with reports indicating that TikTok Shop is aiming for a tenfold increase in its U.S. business to reach $17.5 billion this year.
Despite being a newer player compared to YouTube, TikTok has been onboarding merchants at a fast pace. By the end of 2023, TikTok Shop had 500,000 merchants in the U.S., showcasing its rapid growth.
In response, YouTube’s expanded partnership with Shopify positions it as a formidable competitor.
By providing creators with more brands to feature in their shopping videos, YouTube is not only enhancing its affiliate program but also positioning itself to capture a larger share of the e-commerce market.
New Tools for Creators
To further support creators, YouTube is launching a new Chrome extension that will make it easier for them to save and tag products while browsing a brand or retailer’s website.
This tool is specifically designed for creators in the U.S. who are part of the affiliate program, streamlining the process of incorporating products into their videos.
The expansion of the affiliate program is part of YouTube’s broader strategy to boost its e-commerce efforts. Over the past few years, YouTube has been ramping up these efforts to generate more revenue, particularly as digital advertising growth slows.
The results have been promising, with YouTube reporting that people watched over 30 billion hours of shopping-related videos on the platform in 2023. Additionally, there was a 25% increase in watch time for videos that help people shop.
Boosting Creator Earnings with Enhanced Shopping Features
For creators, the expanded affiliate program and new shopping features represent a significant opportunity to increase their earnings.
YouTube has been actively working to provide more tools and features that help creators better market products and grow their revenue.
This partnership with Shopify, along with the new tools and features, underscores YouTube’s commitment to supporting its creators and helping them succeed in the competitive world of online shopping.
As YouTube continues to enhance its e-commerce capabilities, it is well-positioned to take on TikTok Shop and other competitors in the digital shopping space.
