Is it okay to use affiliate links on YouTube when you talk about various products and services in your video? Like, your Amazon Associates link or otherwise? Most people say affiliate links are not allowed. However, after some research through YouTube’s Terms of Service, their policy, help section, and consulting with a lawyer, I feel as if it IS okay to use affiliate links. Here’s why.
In YouTube’s Terms of Service, section 4.D., it says, “You agree not to use the Service for any of the following commercial uses unless you obtain YouTube’s prior written approval: … the sale of advertising, sponsorships, or promotions placed on or within the Service or Content…”
I consulted with a lawyer who specializes in working with online creators. His opinion is that, “The sale of promotions,” is vague as to whether an affiliate link is considered a sale.
The problem I see with this is that MCNs actually make the bulk of their revenue from promoting other brands across their network. Brand integration is becoming more and more common.
YouTube’s Partner Program Policy Guidelines says, “Do not embed third party advertising, sponsorships, or promotions placed on or within your video content. YouTube does allow you to upload paid product placements provided you give us notice first.”
The first part of that is spelled out in more detail on the Paid Product Placements help page. It means that you cannot create your own pre-roll or mid-roll ads and permanently make it a part of the video file when a comparable YouTube ad unit already exists. To me, this seems to be an example of what section 4.D. of YouTube’s Terms of Service is referring to.
The second part of the Partner Program Policy explicitly states that paid product promotion in your videos is totally fine as long as you give them notice first. When you upload a video to YouTube, it gives you a box to check to let them know that the video contains paid product placement. According to their Help section, this is how you notify them of paid product placement.
What is considered product placement?
“Paid product placements are defined as pieces of content that are created specifically for a sponsor and where that sponsor’s brand, message, or product is integrated directly into the content. A typical example of a paid product placement is one in which a marketer pays a partner to specifically mention their product or brand in what would normally be the editorial part of the content.”
It makes sense to me that affiliate links would be considered paid product placement, so check that box and you should be set.
Remember, I’m not an authoritative voice on this matter. This is just what I think based on the research I’ve done. If you use affiliate links, you do so at your own risk.
YouTube’s Terms of Service
http://goo.gl/PGy7JJ
Policy Center: Spam, deceptive practices, and scams
http://goo.gl/dan3gt
YouTube Help: Paid Product Placements
http://goo.gl/ZYGjVN
YouTube Partner Program Policies
http://goo.gl/mi1SuS
MysteryGuitarMan: Dubstep Power Tools
http://goo.gl/Xy196f
On Video Creators we discuss how to leverage YouTube as a social platform and use it to build an audience, spread our message, and change lives. If you’re a YouTuber or an online video creator, we’d love to have you subscribe and join us!
SUBSCRIBE!
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=videocreatorstv
FREE EBOOK: “The Secret to Building your YouTube Audience”
http://videocreators.com/the-secret-to-building-your-youtube-audience/
THERE’S MORE GOODNESS FOR YOU HERE
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/videocreatorstv
Website: http://videocreators.com
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/videocreators.com-youtube/id649667452
T-Shirts: http://videocreators.spreadshirt.com
SCHEDULE
— Tuesdays: YouTube and Online Video News —
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvxDZJe1lbabcEjD8qZWIDv-pyBXz1snW
— Wednesdays: YouTube Tips, Tricks, Advice and Ideas —
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvxDZJe1lbaaEfLsIhbhQpoJRCcAyi4MC
— Thursdays: Questions & Answers —
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvxDZJe1lbabPKJuXL3PTeP3fPQrEaGSz
— Monthly: Google+ Hangouts —
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvxDZJe1lbabxmw1Hrktw1BOE64QgNd_G
LET’S CONNECT!
VideoCreatorTV’s accounts
— http://www.facebook.com/videocreators
— http://gplus.to/videocreators
— http://videocreators.tumblr.com
Tim Schmoyer’s personal accounts
— http://gplus.to/timschmoyer
— http://www.facebook.com/timschmoyer
— http://twitter.com/timschmoyer
— http://instagram.com/timschmoyer
OTHER CHANNELS I’M A PART OF
ReelSEO: http://www.youtube.com/user/reelseo
Family Vlogs: http://www.youtube.com/user/godrox
Thanks to Jay Nolan for editing this video! Jay is in the Seattle, Washington area and does freelance video production. http://jaynolanfilm.com/
source
So how about if you have a link to your own website that has an affiliate link on it for the product in your video?
So if I'm approached to review a product I would use but was sent a free sample and I do the review in a vlog form instead of a static review. Obviously I would place a link in the description or an icard, would I have to mention I was approached to do the review and it was a sample? What if I don't mention that part? Would this work if a %off was offered to future buyers even if it isn't an affiliate product??
I have amazon affiliate links on almost all of my 1100+ tech reviews.
My channel always gets in trouble for it so the answer is NO ! unless your special
Youtube will allow affiliate links in the videos and You can also have paid product promotions in your videos as long as Youtube has been notified AND that information is disclosed in the video. I have done several reviews and product promotional videos on our Channel. As long as you follow their guidelines, Youtube will not bother you.
They will only allow the sell of products/services from approved merchant storefront sites or an associated website/domain that you own. You can also link to an approved crowd funding site. If you were paid to have a product in the video, you must disclose this to Youtube when uploading the video and it must be disclosed in the beginning of the video.
Question: YTB calls for a disclaimer at the beginning of a vid that promotes a product, right? Do I need to include it with affiliate marketing video? I don't think I've ever seen a disclaimer like that on any video.
So….. You don't know the answer…
Very good thing to discuss
Thanks for the information. You covered a lot in this video.
Hey Hey Hey!! Bro, STOP speaking, I just want the answer: YES or NO.
so Answers nothing And raises more questions, it would be nice if youtube Just said yes or no in plain English.
Thank you for this video. Has anything changed since you made it? Seems like every big YouTuber does affiliate marketing and I’m curious if YouTube allows it??
Can I use, my disabled youtube channel to affiliate links?
Do I need to be monetized on YouTube to share affiliate links in my descriptions?
Can I put affiliate links in my description even if I’m not yet apart of the YouTube partnership program?
Tim, I have affiliate links that need to be updated because the company now goes through it's own program with better rates and not through ShareASale. Can I update the links without affecting the progress of the video being suggested and pushed with YouTube. I just don't want to update things in the description if it will have a negative impact on my video progress. – Justin
When I clicked the monetization box, it say that you should first have a 1 000 hours views.
Good video – thanks … but somehow crazy that not even a channel with 500k subs is able to find out or get a clear answer on that. Would be nice if YT could clarify a bit … Just seen a guy with a big channel making a 'fake' website to get approval for his referral links (or actually hiding them) and then he's forwarding the links from his homepage to Amazon … which I think is even more against the rules.
Groww wants to share their app link and a tracking dashboard with my channel. So, please suggest me to do next.
>ᜰ꙰ꦿλƙßλɾデ═一✨<
Too long a video to basically say, I'm not really sure
So this video is over 6 years old, so has anything changed? What if the affiliate link is just placed down in the description for an item you reviewed or spoke about?
How exactly do you get paid?
Can I share my affiliate link of product in someone's video, in the comment
This was super helpful. I'm posting my first video with an affiliate link this Saturday so this was great. I explicitly explained that the link was affiliate so I think I should be good! Thanks!
How many links can we add in YouTube description
It is now 2020 and this old clip still tops my Youtube search results.
Youtube's TOS is truly vague and the best way to avoid any wrath from Youtube is to play safe.
There is now a Youtube "associated website" feature and use that to your advantage. Link your website to your Youtube channel and have it approved. Once approved, make a post containing all your affiliate links. Copy the URL of that post and use it as your "affiliate link" to all your Youtube videos.
That is the safest way to have an affiliate marketing business in Youtube. Tell me if you agree!
Can i still earn thru affiliate marketing links on youtube videos using copyrighted music? I understand that i will not earn thru ads if i use copyright music.
Question for you – I am a new brand ambassador for a brand whose items I have reviewed in the past. Can I go back in to those old video description boxes and update the links to affiliate links or is that not allowed because I wasn’t a brand ambassador at the time the video was filmed (and therefore was not verbally disclosed in the video)?
Also, if I received items for free and then created a video about the items I received and a follow up review, is that technically considered a paid promotion?
Thanks Tim,
I don't want to use YouTube monetization as part of my model, how does turning off monetization affect the TOS wrt affiliate links? Does turning off monetization effect or avoid this issue altogether since you're not competing with their own ad interests?
tim b. green
Finally, I’ve been trying to find this very info!! Thanks for the help!!
Please don't be a brain worm, be short and specific.
Hi do you have an update on this video? Thank you!
very helpful. but still im confused😬