YouTube Adds Amazon Shopping Links for Eligible US Creators

YouTube has partnered with Amazon to allow eligible U.S. creators to tag products directly within their Shorts, regular videos, and livestreams. This integration will enable creators to earn commissions on qualifying purchases made through Amazon's attribution window. Previously, creators had to place Amazon affiliate links in their video descriptions.

Early tests show natively tagged Amazon products generate twice the click-through rate of those placed in video descriptions. This deal comes after four years of discussions between the two tech giants, despite past tensions, such as Amazon pulling support for Google's Alexa devices. The integration benefits both companies, as YouTube could share a portion of affiliate transactions, while Amazon gains another avenue for converting video views into purchases.

Both businesses are significant players in AI infrastructure, with Amazon Web Services leading the cloud infrastructure market and Google Cloud ranking third. Additionally, the partnership may help placate creators competing with platforms like TikTok and Meta, offering a more effective way to earn affiliate revenue without viewers navigating through video descriptions.