MANILA, Philippines (Apr 25) – YouTube Shopping is officially live in the Philippines, bringing a new way for Filipinos to buy products directly from videos they watch on the platform. This expansion includes a strengthened partnership with Shopee in Southeast Asia.
The launch today means viewers can now find and purchase items tagged in videos by their favorite creators without leaving YouTube or manually searching elsewhere. This transforms video e-commerce from clicking links in descriptions to a more integrated experience.
For eligible content creators in the Philippines, the YouTube Shopping affiliate program provides a new avenue for earning. They can tag products in both new and existing videos, as well as during live streams, offering a direct way to monetize their recommendations. Filipino creators Camille Co and Mond Salem of Hardware Voyage expressed excitement about the potential to easily share products they use and earn commissions.
This collaboration also offers significant opportunities for Shopee sellers looking to expand their reach. By partnering with a growing network of Filipino content creators through this program, sellers can tap into highly engaged audiences and potentially increase sales by presenting their products within trusted, entertaining content.
The move capitalizes on the booming digital landscape in the Philippines, including a vibrant creator economy with thousands of channels boasting large subscriber bases. It also aligns with the rise of video commerce in Southeast Asia, which accounted for 20% of the region’s e-commerce value in 2024.
Online users, particularly the increasingly influential Gen Z audience, are shifting towards video-first shopping experiences. Studies show consumers trust recommendations from YouTube creators more than other platforms, influencing purchase decisions. This partnership aims to meet the demand for more entertaining and seamless shopping journeys, directly addressing the preference of many Filipino Gen Zs to complete purchases on e-commerce platforms like Shopee after discovering products through content.
Sapna Chadha, Vice President for Google Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier, noted Southeast Asia is a key region shaping the future of shopping due to its engaged audience, digital economy, and creator community. She highlighted the rapid traction seen since the program’s regional debut. Vincent Lee, Head of Shopee Philippines, emphasized the partnership’s role in delivering engaging shopping experiences and helping local sellers and creators thrive in the digital economy.
The new affiliate program complements other monetization options available to Filipino creators, such as Ads Revenue, Channel Memberships, and Super features. Early results in other Southeast Asian countries show promising growth, with creators like Mai Trinh Hồ seeing significant revenue increases.
For advertisers, YouTube Shopping opens doors to directly connect ads with relevant creator content, potentially shortening the path from discovery to sale. Brands can use creator videos with product feeds in campaigns to reach new customers effectively. Categories like Beauty, Mobile & Gadgets, and Home & Living have already shown strong performance regionally.
To learn more about enabling YouTube Shopping on your channel and exploring these new opportunities, look for the relevant resources provided by YouTube.
