YouTube tests new feature to shop directly from videos

YouTube's new feature lets viewers check out products and purchase them directly from videos.

YouTube shopping

YouTube is testing a new way for users to shop from the platform. This feature lets creators add certain products to their videos. Viewers will be able to check out the listed products, and their purchasing options. This feature is the latest test from YouTube's test features and experiments hub.

This new feature on YouTube adds a shopping bag icon on the bottom left corner of the video. Viewers can click on this icon to know more about the products available to purchase through the product pages. YouTube is testing this feature with select creators, and only viewers in the US can see it for now. It will show up on YouTube's iOS and Android apps, and its desktop app as well.

This was first reported by Bloomberg in October last year. The report stated that YouTube is working with creators to sell their products directly on the platform. YouTube had already started asking creators to “tag and track” products featured in their videos. This data will also be linked to Google's analytics and shopping tools, the report added.

YouTube already has a section just below the description box where creators can list their merchandise. It features the products along with links to the original site where they can purchase them. The new feature would give creators to sell their products on YouTube itself. YouTube already earns through ads, and this new shopping tool would be another revenue generator for the company.

There's no word on when YouTube will expand this shopping feature to more regions. YouTube usually rolls out these features that are part of its experiments hub.