Just over a month after the launch of YouTube music – the replacement for Google Play Music, YouTube has also now launched a new merchandise shelf option for creators.
At the moment the feature is only available to content creators in the US who have more than 10,000 followers, and can only be seen by US viewers. The plan is to roll the merchandising option out worldwide in the near future.
A collaboration with Teespring, the shelf will appear below videos and link directly to the creator’s Teespring merch page. You can also now link the merch in at the end of your videos, instead of links to other video options.
YouTube’s new merchandise shelf
Benefits of the new shelf for creators include easier access to the merch for their fans, as well as easier advertising of the merchandise. Rather than having to link it in the description, it will be visible in it’s own window.
YouTube is also offering a bonus $1 per item sold to the creators if that item is purchased through the shelf feature. This is on top of their profits they make directly from Teespring, where creators can choose their own profit margins and pricing.
The feature comes to the eligible creators at no extra cost, and does not affect their other revenue streams on the site. Teespring also offer design support for all the creators so they can offer the best merchandise possible.
There is no set date for the new feature to be rolled out yet in Australia, but early testing has shown an average of 25% more units sold through the merch shelf addition according to TeeSpring. You can watch a 12 minute video discussing all the ins and outs of the new feature here. Or watch a brief video featuring an animated spider below.
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