As India gears up for the festive season, YouTube has introduced its affiliate program to the country, allowing content creators to tag products in their videos and earn from referrals.
The initiative is part of a collaboration with Walmart-owned e-commerce giant Flipkart and fashion retailer Myntra, offering a new revenue avenue for YouTube’s growing creator community in India.
Eligible creators who participate in YouTube’s partner program and have at least 10,000 subscribers can access the affiliate program, which allows them to integrate products from these catalogues into their videos, Shorts, and live streams.
YouTube also allows select creators in India to display their own merchandise on their channels, further expanding monetization options.
The affiliate program arrived in India after the company tested various shopping-related features in the U.S.
YouTube introduced affiliate links on Shorts in 2022 and allowed bulk tagging of products across video libraries in 2023 to help creators monetize older videos.
In August, YouTube expanded its collaboration with Shopify to grant creators access to an extensive product catalogue.
Additionally, YouTube’s new affiliate hub and shopping collections make it easier for creators to connect their audiences with products.
YouTube highlighted that this seamless product discovery experience will be available across long-form videos, Shorts, and live streams, accessible on mobile, web, and connected TVs.
“By making product discovery seamless across every format… we’re amplifying the impact creators can have and making it easier than ever for them to connect with their audiences,” the company stated in a blog post.
India remains a pivotal market for YouTube, boasting over 400 million users and more than 110,000 channels with subscriber counts above 100,000.
Since the launch of Shorts in India in 2020, the format has been viewed over a trillion times, demonstrating the nation’s enthusiasm for short-form video content.
Praanesh Bhuvaneswar, founder of influencer marketing platform Quroz, welcomed the move as beneficial for creators, particularly smaller influencers who may have limited access to brand partnerships.
He cautioned, however, against overselling, adding, “This is a milestone event for Indian consumers and brands, and it is great news for creators.”
Beyond India, YouTube’s affiliate program is also active in South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, marking a broader push by the platform into social commerce across Asia.
Read Also: UAE becomes first country to reduce legal age limit for drivers in GCC
Join Our Community: WhatsApp Group 1
Join Our Community: Telegram Channel
