YouTube has long been a place where people can create awesome content and then monetize it for extra cash. However, in the past few years, top creators have been able to make enough to quit their day jobs – so much so that being a YouTuber is increasingly a potential career path.
At the same time, Shopify is one of the best places to build online retail stores. It’s easy to use and has tons of integrations. Many Shopify store owners already advertise their businesses through social media and may even leverage YouTube.
Nowadays, Shopify store owners can do more than advertise products on YouTube. Because of a collaboration announced in 2022, people can buy products directly from a shop owner’s videos.
Additionally, when properly executed, Shopify merchants can effectively synchronize their inventory, customer, and sales data across Google, YouTube, and Shopify. Shopify can manage all of your business’s sales across different online platforms, offering unparalleled convenience and accuracy.
Here’s how you can leverage the power of Shopify YouTube integrations.
Requirements for Shopify YouTube Integration
Like other ways to make money directly on YouTube, Google has some requirements. They don’t let just anyone link a shop, and you’ll have to prove you’re the authorized person. For this reason, your first step is to have the same email address as the administrator of your YouTube and Shopify accounts.
In addition, you must abide by Google’s other rules for YouTube monetization. This includes content standards, minimum subscriber counts, and not being marked as “made for kids.” Music channels must be official artist accounts, and you’ll need to get full monetization approval.
Finally, the feature is only available in certain countries.
How to Connect Your Shopify Store to YouTube
Connecting your store to YouTube requires several steps, but it isn’t complicated. For many shop owners, the hardest part is creating content and qualifying for monetization. You’ll have to agree to Google’s terms and set up payments, too. However, once you’re ready to go on YouTube, the rest of the process is easy.
Connect Shopify and YouTube accounts
Before you can sell Shopify YouTube products, you’ll need to connect your accounts. To do this, go to YouTube Studio. Then, go under monetization, then shopping. Click on “Connect Store,” then “Shopify.” YouTube will lead you through the rest of those steps one by one, so after you’ve found the right place to connect your accounts, it’s easy.
Enable Google Shopping
Just as you need to connect the accounts through Google, your Shopify store will need some software. Specifically, the Google Channel or Google Shopify app. This app will enable you to showcase your products on YouTube while also syncing everything with your Shopify account.
Better yet, the app pairs with the rest of Shopify by integrating payments (through Google payments), inventory, shipping, and more. In other words, your YouTube channel becomes a conduit of direct sales without the risks of selling more than you have inventory. Similarly, you won’t have a lot of extra administrative work that takes you away from what you love – being creative.
Sync Your Products and Descriptions
The Google & YouTube app synchronizes your products and relevant information from your Shopify store with the Google Merchant Center. You can conveniently update your Google product feed directly from Shopify. This saves a lot of work since you won’t need to write new product descriptions or
For eligible stores selling in the United States, products synced to Google Merchant Center using the Google & YouTube app have the possibility to appear in free search listings on the Google Shopping tab.
7 Best Ways How to Promote Your Shopify Store on YouTube
A YouTube integration for your Shopify store is a no-brainer, especially if you are also a content creator. But how can you make the most of the integration? Here are seven ideas to start implementing today.
1. Sell Your Products Directly on YouTube
By connecting your YouTube channel, viewers can quickly discover your products and shop directly from your videos, YouTube Shorts, and livestreams. In this sense, Shopify YouTube can act similarly to people sending Superchats or Superthanks to YouTubers who might not have a virtual store. At the same time, people can get more shopping options than just going to your site and browsing.
Shopify merchants have the option to showcase their products on YouTube using three different methods:
a) Merchants have the option to tag and pin products during a live stream, and consumers can watch while they browse. This approach has several advantages. For instance, you can showcase those items during the stream and leverage the power of impulse buying. Similarly, you can reduce the number of returns for those items due to people being more informed about the purchase.
b) On-demand videos can also display a curated list of products on a product shelf below. The so-called “merch shelf” is super popular with influencers and other YouTube personalities, though those items often come drop-shipped through Spring or other services. However, as a Shopify store owner, you can also showcase featured items and leverage an established fulfillment process.
c) Additionally, a new tab will be added to a merchant’s YouTube channel, showcasing their full range of products. From that page, customers can buy things. This technique works well because it can attract the curious browser. Some people want to know what you sell but might not go to your website. This way, potential buyers have an opportunity to see everything from right within YouTube.
No matter how you do it, direct Shopify YouTube sales are an excellent way to increase your store’s profits.
Further Reading: Shopify Apps: The Definitive 25 You Need to Know
2. Leverage YouTube Ads
Most of us have gotten annoyed at the YouTube ads, right? Often, that’s because the ads are irrelevant or, like with Sunday night football, there are too many. Nonetheless, YouTube ads are a great way to market your Shopify store.
In this case, you’ll pay for advertising on someone else’s videos or another location on the page. As with other ad campaigns, you can set a budget and other specifications through your Google account.
Done right, this Shopify YouTube method will drive traffic to both your store and your channel. And because of the integrations, you can sell those products to anyone who visits without making them navigate to another page.
Convenient, right?
Further Reading: 18 Ways How to Promote Your Shopify Store on Facebook
3. Leverage Livestreams for Flash Sales
Many of us love live streams because they offer an opportunity to consume content in real time. Similarly, we can interact with our favorite content creators by making comments, asking questions, or just chatting.
What if you could leverage this medium for your Shopify YouTube sales?
You can.
In fact, live streams can be an incredible driver of sales through YouTube. For example, you can discuss existing products and how people can use them in their homes. When people see an item working, it helps them decide if the product is worth it for them. It’s sort of like going to the store and checking it out.
Similarly, livestreams are great for flash sales and product launches. Set the flash sale so that people can buy those items, either through YouTube or the site, for a special price during the stream. If the item is a first-time launch, this approach is even more effective because you don’t have reviews yet. People get to virtually “see” the item, ask questions, and buy at a special price. Then, they’ll leave reviews that drive sales.
4. Invite Influencers on Your Live Shopping Streams
Sometimes, Shopify YouTube sales efforts are best made with other people. As I’ve said many times, influencer marketing is a hugely popular and effective way to reach potential customers. If you have an influencer network (or don’t mind reaching out), ask an influencer to stream with you.
When you have an influencer collaboration for a live shopping stream, encourage them to invite their own audience. Doing this lets both their audience and yours meet each other to talk about some great products. Not only does this technique increase your sales, but you may have a higher follower count. Plus, an overlapping brand community provides lasting benefits for both of you.
Of course, you’ll want to provide some incentives to the influencer. For instance, you can offer them a share of the revenue from your stream. If they bring their audience, it’ll naturally increase the compensation they get. Offering a flat fee can also help encourage influencers to participate. And if you are going to release a new product, be sure to send the influencer a sample ahead of time so they’ll have something to say.
Further Reading: Shopify Affiliate Marketing: How to Leverage Influencers to Grow Your Shopify Store
5. Post Your TikToks and Reels on YouTube Shorts
Reusing and adapting content across platforms is something I’ve advocated for a long time. After all, this practice is efficient, cost-effective, and allows creators to build audiences on multiple platforms.
This technique is even more valuable in the context of Shopify YouTube sales: Shorts are a great way to show off your products and let people buy them immediately. In addition, you’ll still get multiple uses out of your content.
Inexpensive advertising, anyone?
Further Reading: How to Make YouTube Shorts: A Guide for Newbies
6. Create Educational Content for YouTube to Increase Product Demand
There’s one reason why nineties-style infomercials worked: Explaining a product makes people more likely to buy it. While the shelf or on-page appeal of shiny packages can be exciting, if people don’t see the value, you’ll likely discount it heavily.
Educational Shopify YouTube videos help solve the problem. Create demonstration videos of your products and make the item available through your store – no browser needed. For more impact, you can also make videos about relevant topics to help establish your brand as an expert in its niche.
Once people try your product and love it, they may feel encouraged to share your videos. Over time, you’ll create a feedback loop where customers discover your products and tell their friends, who tell more friends.
Bonus: share the video link on social media. This technique helps with content discovery.
Further Reading: How to Make a YouTube Video in 6 Easy Steps (for Beginners)
7. Embed YouTube Videos in Your Shopify Store
Although Shopify YouTube videos are very effective on the video site, it’s also worth adding the video directly to your Shopify store. A quick look around the Web finds thousands of sites with embedded YouTube videos, especially since YouTube keeps the video on its server. Besides, viewers might discover another video from the same creator, boosting view count.
Guess what? E-commerce sites do this, too. So should yours, since this practice benefits both your site and your channel. Video sells, no matter where it’s posted.
Luckily, it’s easy to embed YouTube videos into Shopify. There are several ways you can do this, but unless you want to add another widget to your shop, the easiest way is with HTML coding.
HTML embedding requires a few simple steps.
First, open the target YouTube video and ensure that you have the right one for your Shopify page. Then, at the bottom of the playback window, click the “share” button. You should see a video link in the text box.
Just above the text box, you’ll see a row of buttons. One of them has the HTML symbol <>. Click on that to obtain the embed code, which will look like a long string. Copy the code.
Next, open the backend of the relevant web page. This might be a landing page or the front page. Add a content box in the desired location, then paste the embed code. Save this, and you’re done.
For a product page, the process is a bit different. Once you’ve gotten the embed code, go to your product listing and select the one you want. Scroll down to the “product description” box, and click the HTML symbol again (all the way to the right). Paste the link, save it, and you’re done.
Easy, right?
Conclusion
Ultimately, the Shopify YouTube collaboration provides abundant opportunities for shop owners to boost their sales. Once you connect Shopify and YouTube, the two platforms promote each other by sharing traffic. Even better, you can use all the YouTube tools to grow your business without adding a lot of extra administrative work. Shopify keeps track of all your sales like it always does, even if the sale happens through YouTube.
Further Reading: How to Ace Shopify Marketing in 2024: 5 Best Strategies to Try
Hero Photo by Allison Saeng on Unsplash
