For Shopee sellers, this marks a new marketing opportunity: your products can now appear in YouTube videos, Shorts, and live streams through creator promotions. But before you jump in, there are key requirements and strategies to be aware of.

Here’s what the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Programme actually is, how it works, and how you, as a Shopee seller, can benefit.
 

What is a YouTube Shopping Affiliate?

YouTube Shopping Affiliate isn’t an online store where people buy products directly. Instead, it’s a marketing programme where YouTube creators promote Shopee products in their videos and Shorts.

Here’s what happens:

• The creator tags a Shopee product in their video.

• Viewers watching the video will see a “View Product” button.

• When they click it, they are sent directly to the Shopee product page.

• If they buy, the creator earns a commission, paid 60 to 120 days later, after checking for returns.

It lets buyers discover products naturally while watching videos, and it helps sellers get traffic from content without needing to create it themselves.
 

Why This Matters to Shopee Sellers

For Shopee sellers, the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Programme offers a new way to get your products seen and sold without paying for ads upfront.

Here’s why it’s valuable:

Free Promotion from Creators

You don’t need to produce content yourself. If your product is attractive, YouTubers might promote it in their own videos (like reviews or unboxings), giving you exposure at no cost unless a sale happens.

You Only Pay for Results

It’s a performance-based system. You pay a small commission only when a sale is made, not for clicks or views. This makes it lower risk than traditional ads.

Reach New Shoppers on YouTube

YouTube has a massive audience in Malaysia. If your product is featured in relevant videos like fashion hauls, gadget reviews, or home tips, it can reach new buyers who are already interested in that type of item.
 

However Not All Products Are Eligible

Even though the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Programme is a great opportunity, not all of your Shopee products will be eligible to appear on YouTube. Here's why:

Products Are Selected, Not Automatically Included

Shopee sends your product data to Google Merchant Center (GMC) to display on YouTube, but not everything gets through. Due to limited space, Shopee will only submit selected products, prioritising those that:

• Have high-quality images

• Offer competitive commission rates

So even if you have hundreds of products, only a few might show up on YouTube.

Certain Categories Are Not Allowed

Google has strict rules. Products in the following categories cannot be promoted, even if they’re allowed on Shopee:

• Alcohol

• Gambling-related products

• Pregnancy/fertility and health supplements

• Foods/drinks high in salt, sugar, or fat

If your product falls into any of these, it won’t appear on YouTube.
 

Stores That Violate Policies Can Be Blocked

If your store sells counterfeit items or keeps violating Google’s policies, Google may suspend your entire Merchant Center account. That means all your products will be disqualified from YouTube Shopping, even the ones that follow the rules.

To be eligible, you need quality listings, compliant products, and a clean track record.

Tips for Getting Your Products Featured

If you want your Shopee products to show up on YouTube and get promoted by creators, you need to follow certain quality and compliance standards. Here’s what Shopee recommends:

Submit High-Quality, Top-Performing Products

Focus on your best-selling items, especially those that already do well in Shopee's affiliate programme. These have a better chance of being selected and promoted by YouTubers.

Use Clean, Google-Compliant Images

Make sure your product photos:

• Don’t have any text, store logos, or watermarks

• Use plain backgrounds (white or neutral)

• Look clear and natural (no heavy editing)

Images that don’t follow these rules will likely be rejected by Google.
 

Avoid Prohibited Product Categories

Double-check that your items don’t fall into restricted categories like alcohol, supplements, or junk food. Even if they’re allowed on Shopee, they won’t be approved for YouTube Shopping.

Ensure Accurate and Complete Product Info

Make sure your titles, descriptions, and details are complete and accurate. If the product information is vague, incomplete, or misleading, Google may reject it.

The better your product listing looks, the more likely it will be approved and picked up by creators for YouTube promotion.

Get Ready for Creator-Led Commerce

The YouTube Shopping Affiliate programme gives Shopee sellers a new way to reach customers, by letting creators do the product promotion for you. But for your products to stand out and be selected, your listings need to be clean, compliant, and well-managed.

With features like centralised product management, bulk editing tools, and performance analytics, BigSeller simplifies the process of maintaining high-quality listings, making it easier to meet Shopee and Google’s requirements.

Selling across multiple marketplaces? BigSeller also supports multi-channel operations, helping you manage inventory and pricing across Shopee, Lazada, TikTok, and more from a single dashboard.

Try BigSeller for free and claim your 7-day VIP trial coupon today!

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