YouTube Discontinues Product Tagging Feature, Focusing on Shopping Affiliate Program
Source: TikTok
YouTube has decided to discontinue its product tagging feature (as of April 19th), which was part of a pilot program that started in 2021 with a select group of creators. This feature allowed creators to tag third-party products.
According to YouTube, feedback and learnings from creators during the program helped them realize the need to provide creators with more opportunities to earn from product tagging. Therefore, they are shutting down the pilot program and focusing more on the YouTube Shopping affiliate program. Creators will still be able to tag their own products in their videos, though.
Through the YouTube Shopping affiliate program, eligible creators in the US can earn a commission from purchases on tagged products from brands across various verticals, including beauty, apparel and footwear, home, and tech. Brands such as Sephora, Levi's, Macy's, Wayfair, West Elm, Lenovo, and Samsung are included. The program has been successful in its early stages and is viewed as a long-term solution to help creators earn from product tagging. YouTube is now opening up this program to all eligible creators.
YouTube is following in the footsteps of TikTok by investing more in an affiliate model that enables creators to monetize their content through product tagging. With over 150 billion views generated across videos, Shorts, and live streams that feature product tagging, a commission-based structure could help creators earn more than the few hundred dollars they were reportedly paid in the pilot program.
Although there is still some pushback from creators around affiliate programs, YouTube's move is the latest in a greater push for brands wanting to work with creators in a pay-for-performance capacity.
