It wasn’t so long ago that we wondered if YouTube would ever start to flex its marketing muscles. Now it is trying to squeeze more money out of the ads on its homepage and just today it introduced the YouTubevertorial. Starting with music and videogame partners, YouTube will begin inserting click-to-buy links below select videos. Right now, these affiliate links connect to iTunes and Amazon (see them at the bottom of the screenshot above?), but more are coming. From the Google Blog post on the subject:
Click-to-buy links are non-obtrusive retail links, placed on the watch page beneath the video with the other community features. Just as YouTube users can share, favorite, comment on, and respond to videos quickly and easily, now users can click-to-buy products — like songs and video games — related to the content they’re watching on the site. We’re getting started by embedding iTunes and Amazon.com links on videos from companies like EMI Music, and providing Amazon.com product links to the newly-released video game Spore(TM) on videos from Electronic Arts.
This is just the beginning of building a broad, viable e-commerce platform for users and partners on YouTube. Our vision is to help partners across all industries — from music, to film, to print, to TV — offer useful and relevant products to a large, yet targeted audience, and generate additional revenue from their content on YouTube beyond the advertising we serve against their videos
The affiliate links work with claimed user-generated videos as well (i.e., ones that use a potential advertiser’s content without permisssion). In June, Citi analyst Mark Mahaney suggested that YouTube could grow to become a $500 million business by next year simply by pumping up its display ads. It is going to have trouble hitting that revenue number now, but at least Google is thinking creatively.
Anyone want to take a guess at how many of those 5 billion views a month can be turned into advertorials?
What took so long, people? I mean, this is the ultimate no-brainer. This was so easy to implement; why didn’t they do this a year ago?
Well I was hoping to beat YouTube to the punch on making an announcement. I have been developing this on my site http://NowScene.com. It seemed only logical for YouTube which is now becoming the place for artitsts to get exposure, to incorportae links for people to purchase MP3s. I show a link to Amazon next to every live music video I display. Works pretty well. But because the video title also contains location information. I inform my customers to click the link then remove any extra text from the artitst information for better results. But I will make improvements in the future.
More power to YouTube’s success with this. I certainly believe in the concept since I developed this too. More improvements in the future since this the site is still early stage. But I wanted it documented that I did this first before YouTube made their announcement today.
-Randy O
Founder http://NowScene.com
These are both non-obtrusive and provide value to the viewer. I also think this will be a huge earner for YouTube – I have two younger siblings who listen to a lot of music through YouTube and also use iTunes!
times must be really tough first facebook with live search now google with youtube.
I could be wrong but this seems like something they should have done a long time ago. I guess better late then never.
Peter
http://www.thewebwar.com
Why not place the links inside the video player itself. This will expose the links to all of the off site embeded views.
depending on the type of video, music is an integral part of the experience. They should find a way to sell music users can put in the video and watchers can buy.
Imeem has had this for some time, but it is in the embed itself and is available off-site via these embeds Example here:
http://www.mefe...thers/11457434/
Why not do this on YouTube video embeds?
About time!
good ,it is a nice model, but our nation don’t like it .i’m from china
You guys have other things to worry about than to bother about ads. Got milk?
As long as it doesn’t take away our attention. Don’t be greedy, at least not yet.
non-intrusive and innovative concept indeed. they can use the same concept to display ads
YouTube is getting that gUaP
This is the perfect ad integration for YouTube – both unobtrusive and useful. FAR better than pre-roll ads, or even post-roll ads.
I am kind of pissed Google issn’t doing that already with any Youtube content provider that wants to monetize their videos. Why all this US-only partnering limitations. If Google could enable AdSense monetization for all webmasters of the world, then why aren’t they just monetizing Youtube videos for all people that upload videos to Youtube all over the world, right now.
Google is loosing off on billions of dollars of revenue by not activating monetization right now. And most importantly, there are tens of thousands of talented and dedicated Youtube uloaders that are totally missing out.
You could be getting millions of views on your Youtube videos today, you’d currently still be making peanuts only if you are a US-based Youtube partner (secret but probably low sub $2 per 1000 views at current display based monetization levels)
Invideo ads monetize 10x more, so why don’t they just allow all uploaders to activate that from their Youtube account. Basic thing, let youtube users associate their Youtube account with their Adsense account if they want, blam, click, start monetizing.
Youtube should display one-click purchasing using Froogle like price comparison options as well for any specific product which are in the video.
Now a days people have become real smarter.
What do u think?
Yay, we have a new competitor! http://www.qoof.com
Oh wow, how creative!
Well I was hoping to beat YouTube to the punch on making an announcement. I have been developing this on my site NowScene.com. It seemed only logical for YouTube which is now becoming the place for artitsts to get exposure, to incorportae links for people to purchase MP3s. I show a link to Amazon next to every live music video I display. Works pretty well. But because the video title also contains location information. I inform my customers to click the link then remove any extra text from the artitst information for better results. But I will make improvements in the future.
More power to YouTube’s success with this. I certainly believe in the concept since I developed this too. More improvements in the future since this the site is still early stage. But I wanted it documented that I did this first before YouTube made their announcement today.
-Randy O
Founder NowScene.com
what does Google actually want to do? so many new things all of the sudden?
I believe 2008 is lucky for them ..
nicovideo-like
another good way to make money. go google.
http://gatesand...s.blogspot.com/
Wait…Am I dreaming this one up or is YouTube scamming folks!!!
I clicked on the link next to the video that says “free ringtone”, it took me to my-ringer.com to get the “FREE” ringtone. I entered my phone number and I get a SMS message that says I have been signed up for $19.99/month ringtone sunbscription package. This looks like the traditional Jamster/Thumbplay scam. Someone needs to sue YouTube for this!!!
and…just go tcofirmation that my account has been charged $19.99!!! I guess monetization is on the way for YouTube
When will people learn that sites like these have low CPM?
People still pay for music? If they had a button at the bottom that linked to the song on The Pirate Bay, I might use it.
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Why not place the links inside the video player itself. This will expose the links to all of the off site embeded views, what does Google actually want to do? so many new things all of the sudden?
I believe 2008 is lucky for them ..
I show a link to Amazon next to every live music video I display. Works pretty well. But because the video title also contains location information. I inform my customers to click the link then remove any extra text from the artitst information for better results.
I show a link to Amazon next to every live music video I display. Works pretty well. But because the video title also contains location information. I inform my customers to click the link then remove any extra text from the artitst information for better results.
This looks like the traditional Jamster/Thumbplay scam. Someone needs to sue YouTube for this!!!