YouTube enables Amazon product tagging for US creators

YouTube announced on Thursday that eligible U.S. creators can now tag Amazon products directly within their content, allowing them to earn commissions on sales generated through these tags. This new integration is available across shorts, long-form videos, and livestreams.

The feature replaces the previous method where creators manually added Amazon Associates links to video descriptions. The native integration allows creators to tag high-demand and trending products from Amazon’s catalog directly within their videos. Creators can also request additional products through YouTube Support.

An automatic tagging option is also included, where YouTube's systems scan recent uploads and automatically tag eligible Amazon products. Eligibility requires creators to be enrolled in both the YouTube Partner Program and the Shopping Affiliate Program, and to link an active Amazon Influencer or Associates account to their YouTube channel.

Earnings are displayed in YouTube Studio, but breakdowns by product or individual video are not provided. Commissions are deducted if a purchased item is returned. While the integration is currently limited to U.S. creators, the product tags are visible worldwide. For international viewers, YouTube may substitute local merchants to enable commission earning, or redirect to Amazon's U.S. site if no local option is available.

This expansion aligns with YouTube's broader strategy to compete with platforms like TikTok Shop in markets such as Southeast Asia and India. The company has previously introduced mobile-friendly "Shopping Product Stickers" for Shorts to improve conversion rates.