For kids & families: What is a paid product placement, sponsorship, and endorsements on YouTube?

When you watch a video, you may see this symbol pop up. It means that whoever made the video might have gotten something from a company in exchange for making the video. For example, if a video has a toy in it, the company who made the toy might get money by showing that toy to you. That toy is there because they want you to buy it.

What is Paid Promotion

Paid promotion on YouTube refers to the use of advertising to promote a YouTube video or channel. This can be done through YouTube's own advertising platform, called YouTube Ads, or through third-party advertising networks that partner with YouTube. When a video or channel is promoted through paid advertising, it is more likely to be seen by a larger audience, as it will be placed in front of a targeted group of users who are more likely to be interested in the content.

Paid promotion on YouTube can be a useful way for creators to increase the visibility of their content and reach a wider audience. It is done in three ways paid product placement, sponsorship, and Endorsement.

What is a Paid Product Placement

A paid product placement is a marketing strategy in which a company pays to have its products or services featured prominently in a film, television show, or other form of media. This can be accomplished through various means, such as having the product appear in the background of a scene, being used by a character, or being mentioned by name.

The goal of a paid product placement is to increase brand awareness and sales by associating the product with a particular show or movie. Paid product placements are a common form of advertising, and they can be an effective way for companies to reach a large and engaged audience.

What is Sponsorship

Sponsorship on YouTube refers to a paid partnership between a YouTube creator and a brand or business. The brand provides the creator with financial support, and in return, the creator promotes the brand's products or services in their videos or through other forms of content on their channel. This can involve the creator mentioning the brand, showing the brand's products in their videos, or creating videos specifically for the brand. Sponsorships can help YouTube creators monetize their channels and generate income from their content.

What is Endorsement

Endorsement on YouTube refers to a situation where a YouTube creator promotes a product or service in their videos or other content on their channel. This can involve the creator mentioning the product, showing the product in their videos, or creating videos specifically for the purpose of promoting the product. Endorsements can be a form of advertising and can help to generate income for YouTube creators. In some cases, YouTube creators may be paid by a brand or business to promote their products or services. However, endorsements can also be unpaid, and a creator may simply choose to promote a product because they genuinely like it and want to share it with their audience.

Do I need to notify YouTube if my video has a paid product placement, endorsement, or other commercial relationship?

You are required to notify YouTube when you have a paid promotion in your video. You just need to follow the steps below −

Step 1

Open YouTube and click on your profile picture.

Step 2

Open YouTube studio.

Step 3

Click on content.

Step 4

The list of all your videos will open. Select the video.

Step 5

Click on the edit.

Step 6

Scroll down.

Step 7

You will see the paid promotion option. Tick the checkbox.

Step 8

After ticking the checkbox, click on save.

Step 9

The changes will be saved.

Where not to include paid product placements, sponsorships, and endorsements

Following Google Ads policies means that you cannot include paid promotions of the following products and services in your content −

• Illegal products or services

• Sex or escort services

• Adult content

• Mail-order brides

• Recreational drugs

• Pharmaceuticals without a prescription

• Online gambling sites not yet reviewed by Google or YouTube

• Services to cheat on exams or tests

• Hacking, phishing, or spyware

• Explosives

• Fraudulent or misleading businesses

This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, Shorts, and any other YouTube product or feature. This list is non-exhaustive. Don't post content if you think that it might violate this policy.

Wrapping Up

There are several advantages to using paid promotions on YouTube −

• Increased visibility

• Targeted advertising

• Measurable results

• Greater control

• Professional appearance

Start using it to increase your profits.