4 APAC Creators unbox their YouTube Shopping journey

Dewi Vanow (Indonesia)

For those who have yet to follow you, please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your channel!

Hello, my name is Dewi. I've had a YouTube channel called DEWI VANOW since 2020, and I started actively uploading in 2022. From the beginning, I've consistently made Shorts about my interests: unique items, snacks, arts and crafts, toys, and occasionally I upload fun family activities.

How did you get started with YouTube Shopping?

I got to learn about YouTube Shopping at a YouTube Shopping Bootcamp. I applied what I learned by linking shopping links in all my old videos, and now I always include links in every new video I create.

Beyond direct revenue, how has the YouTube Shopping affiliate program indirectly impacted your channel's growth or audience engagement?

My channel has grown more than before. My videos are being shared more by my audience as a reference for purchases, and they find it helpful when they want to buy the same items as me.

Coincidentally, I often make videos about unique items, so it can be difficult for them to find the right name for those products. Now, with the links provided, they just have to click. It's also very helpful for me because I don't have to answer "Where did you buy it?" questions one by one.

How do you typically research and select products to feature? What criteria are most important to you when deciding if a product is a good fit for your audience and your content?

From the beginning, I've really loved unique items, unique snacks, and arts and crafts. So, I usually just focus on what I like and what piques my curiosity. This often becomes a draw for my audience, encouraging them to watch and even buy the same items I have.

Could you share a specific example of a product integration that performed exceptionally well, and what do you think contributed to its success?

The most recent example is "MESIN MINUMANKU RUSAK" (My Drink Machine is Broken), which was uploaded on July 7, 2025. This video is about a unique item: a DIY Miniature Boba Drink Machine made with resin. This time, instead of my usual review format, I presented it as a funny drama. It turned out to be very popular with my audience, reaching 11 million views as of today.

Mai Trinh Hồ (Vietnam)

For those who have yet to follow you, please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your channel!

I am Mai Trinh Ho – currently a content creator specializing in fashion and beauty. It's truly an honor for me to share my journey of building content on YouTube, what I've done and learned, as well as things I haven't achieved yet. I hope this will inspire and energize those who are just starting out YouTube or wish to transition into YouTube Shopping.

How did you get started with YouTube shopping?

I was already doing Shopee affiliate marketing through YouTube and was quite satisfied with the income. But with YouTube Shopping, I achieved unprecedented revenue growth. The revenue I used to struggle to earn in 30 days, I can now achieve in just 24 hours after optimizing with YouTube Shopping. It truly feels like a dream! There's a dedicated section where I can copy and paste product links, which is very simple. It is also convenient that my revenue is managed directly on YouTube transparently, which gives me absolute peace of mind.

Beyond direct revenue, how has the YouTube Shopping affiliate program indirectly impacted your channel's growth or audience engagement?

When I started with YouTube Shopping, what impressed me most was the simplicity and effectiveness of its features. I want to emphasize three prominent points.

• Direct Product Integration in Videos: This is the most valuable feature. With YouTube Shopping, products are displayed right below the video, and I can even set them to appear precisely when I mention the product in the video. This shortens the viewer's shopping journey, significantly increasing conversion rates.
• Easy Product Tagging: Adding products to videos only takes a few simple steps in YouTube Studio, saving me time to focus on content creation.
• Detailed Performance Reports: I can accurately track clicks, purchases and revenue by each video. This data is extremely important for me to optimize my content strategy and select more suitable products.

The features I just shared are truly a solid foundation for YouTube Shopping to become a perfect bridge, naturally and effectively connecting shopping and content creation. It not only helps content creators like me grow but also brings practical value to the audience themselves, the smart consumers, by giving them access to honest reviews from trusted creators. This is truly a win-win solution in the digital age.

How do you typically research and select products to feature? What criteria are most important to you when deciding if a product is a good fit for your audience and your content?

My experience with YouTube Shopping isn't vast, but it can be summarized by the word "Tâm" (heart/integrity) – always prioritizing content value. Every video must truly be useful, answer questions, and provide honest, objective advice to the audience. It's because of this trust that even if my views aren't "super huge," my purchase conversion rate is very impressive. I often share 5-10 products in one video, delving into pros and cons and organizing them by segment to make it easy for the audience to choose. Initially, I also wondered how viewers could easily find specific products in a long video. Fortunately, YouTube has timestamp features and the ability to set the shopping cart to show products at specific segments, making it easy for viewers to find exactly what they need. Currently, I continue this approach, focusing only on optimizing video editing to keep it fresh and engaging.

The biggest challenge when starting was how to introduce products without making the content feel "commercialized" or making viewers feel like I'm just selling. I always believe that commission is good, but more important is maintaining the audience's trust. I really don’t want to recommend unsuitable products, which might lead to viewers wasting money and losing trust in me. Therefore, I try to thoroughly dissect every product, ensuring its authenticity and usefulness. This transparency has helped me build trust and, from that, increase my income.

Could you share a specific example of a product integration that performed exceptionally well, and what do you think contributed to its success?

YouTube Shopping was truly a shock for me because I never thought my income could increase tenfold – it's incredible. Fortunately, people's mindsets are more open now; they are no longer strict about embedding links. They understand that this feature truly saves shopping time, and they also understand that for content creation to be valuable and sustainable, like my 4-year commitment with so much effort put into testing products and researching applications, a solid economic foundation is definitely needed to maintain the passion.

Honestly, in the early years of doing YouTube, I also faced huge economic difficulties and even doubted myself. I remember in 2020, I had to borrow money to buy an old camera, shoot videos in my small rented room next to a construction site, waiting for them to stop working to dare to shoot. Looking back, I realize no journey is easy. If you ever feel like giving up, think about successful figures – none of them started without challenges. YouTube is a platform of value; as long as you continue investing, you will surely achieve. I had a video that initially only got 2000 views in 10 months, but then it unexpectedly went viral, and that very video brought me my first 1000 dollars. Gradually, from 5-6 such videos, people came to know Mai Trinh Ho, and eventually I got the opportunity to share my journey with you today via this blog!

Scarlet Sister (Korea)

For those who have yet to follow you, please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your channel!

Hello, I'm Scarlet Sister, a cosmetic developer-creator who shares useful tips. Based on my expertise as a former cosmetic developer, I create practical beauty content that helps women in their 20’s and 30’s save time and money. My style is to break down complex cosmetic information into easy-to-understand terms, delivering it in a friendly way, just like your older sister.

Why and how did you get started with YouTube shopping?

Honestly, I had been waiting a long time for the YouTube Shopping feature to launch. Viewers watching my videos often left comments like, "Where can I buy this?" or "I saw your video and bought it right away!" I realized then that my content was already naturally leading to purchases. This fueled a strong desire to create a structure where viewers could find products more quickly and conveniently. So, as soon as YouTube Shopping was introduced, I didn't hesitate and jumped right in.

Beyond direct revenue, how has the YouTube Shopping affiliate program indirectly impacted your channel's growth or audience engagement?

The YouTube Shopping affiliate program has gone beyond simple monetization; it has played a significant role in my channel's structural growth and enhanced viewer engagement.

First, it established a solid foundation for content operation. With shopping revenue steadily complementing ad revenue, I was able to form a new production team and actively reinvest in video quality. This laid the groundwork for systematically refining both our content planning and production capabilities.

Second, it deepened trust with my viewers. The ability for viewers to instantly purchase products featured in my videos made the shopping experience more intuitive and convenient. Because I only recommend products I've personally used and verified, both trust in my recommendations and channel loyalty have simultaneously increased.

Third, it expanded collaboration opportunities with brands. Beyond mere viewership numbers, the performance based on purchase data—such as "this video actually sold X number of units"—became a powerful trust factor for forming strategic partnerships with brands. Now, I've established myself as an influential partner who not only introduces products through content but also drives actual purchase conversions.

How do you typically research and select products to feature? What criteria are most important to you when deciding if a product is a good fit for your audience and your content?

The first question I ask myself when choosing a product is, "Why should someone use this product?"

Rather than just focusing on popular products, the most important criterion for me is whether it can genuinely help viewers who share similar concerns as mine. As a cosmetic developer, meticulously checking ingredients and technology is fundamental, but even more crucial are sincerity and trust.

So, I always ask myself two things: 'Would I buy this with my own money?' 'After watching my video, would I still want to buy it myself?' If a product doesn't pass this test, no matter how good it seems, I won't feature it. I believe that my true responsibility as a creator is to only introduce products that I've carefully considered and genuinely resonated with alongside my viewers.

Could you share a specific example of a product integration that performed exceptionally well, and what do you think contributed to its success?

The first is the "Coupang Quality of Life Upgrade Items" video. I repurposed existing long-form video content by selecting only Coupang affiliate products and creating short-form content using YouTube Shopping tags. The short, intuitive format emphasized the key benefits of the products. As a result, the video was featured in YouTube's "Trending Shorts" section and received an explosive response. The featured products sold out, with pre-orders continuing for over a month. This remains a prime example of successfully repurposing existing content flexibly and maximizing the synergy between YouTube Shopping and Shorts. Furthermore, as seasonal content, although uploaded last summer, it continues to generate revenue this summer as well.

Another memorable case is the video introducing empty cosmetic containers. While the viewership isn't exceptionally high at around 300,000 views, the number of orders exceeded 2,000. Many consumers purchased 3-4 items at once, so the actual quantity sold is expected to be close to tens of thousands.

This case demonstrated that even affordable products can achieve high conversion rates when there's a clear target audience and a genuine motivation for use. It was an experience that showed even smaller creators like me, who target a specific age group in a particular country, that YouTube Shopping can be a sufficiently profitable structure.

Cuddle Cloud (India)

For those who have yet to follow you, please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your channel!

Hey everyone! I'm Arya, a 22-year-old girl who’s absolutely obsessed with all things cute and crafty. Creating content on YouTube has always been my dream, and after trying out a few different channels along the way, I started Cuddle Cloud just a year ago and it quickly became something really special.

It’s now a cozy little corner on the internet for anyone who loves relaxation, creativity, and a bit of fun. What began as a simple way to share my love for making cute things has grown into an amazing community of over 1 million subscribers (still feels unreal to say that!). It’s a mix of crafting, journaling, and aesthetic routines — perfect for anyone who enjoys calm, cozy content.

Why and how did you get started with YouTube shopping?

YouTube always finds new ways to help creators connect more meaningfully with their audience, and YouTube Shopping was one of them. One day while browsing through YouTube Studio, I noticed the Shopping tab and I was instantly curious. I decided to try it out, and honestly, getting started was so much easier than I expected.

All I had to do was tag the products I use directly on my videos. As someone in the craft niche, my viewers constantly ask where I get my supplies from. Before this, there wasn’t a direct way to share links within the video itself, but now, with YouTube Shopping, I can tag the exact products I’m using, and my audience can shop them instantly. It’s honestly been a game-changer and has made both my workflow and my audience’s experience so much smoother.

Another feature I love is the ability to create collections. For example, when I did a desk makeover video, I created a collection called Desk Makeover Essentials and tagged every single product I used. That way, anyone looking to do a similar makeover could browse the collection and shop everything easily in one place. It’s such a helpful tool for creators and viewers alike.

Beyond direct revenue, how has the YouTube Shopping affiliate program indirectly impacted your channel's growth or audience engagement?

More than just revenue, YouTube Shopping has helped me build a stronger connection with my audience. As I mentioned earlier, my viewers often ask about the products I use in my videos, but before, the only way to share links was through community posts or by replying to individual comments. That made it a bit of a hassle for viewers to find what they were looking for, and with so many comments, it wasn’t always possible to reply to everyone.

With the YouTube Shopping feature, I can now tag all the products directly in the video. It’s super simple, and my viewers can check out or buy the items with just one click. Many people have personally messaged me saying things like “Thanks for tagging the products, you’re the best!” and honestly, that feels really special. It’s that little moment of knowing I’ve helped someone that makes it all worth it.

Since then, I’ve noticed more people engaging with my content and sticking around on my channel. Making things easier for my audience has definitely helped grow a more connected and loyal community.

How do you typically research and select products to feature? What criteria are most important to you when deciding if a product is a good fit for your audience and your content?

I always make sure that whatever I feature on my channel is something I personally use and genuinely love. Since most of my audience comes to my channel for cute, useful, and aesthetic craft-related content, I try to choose products that match that vibe.

I usually go for items that are good quality, visually pleasing, and easy to use. I also keep in mind what my audience might be looking for, whether it’s journaling supplies, desk decor, or organizing tools. If I wouldn’t use it in my own setup, I wouldn’t recommend it. I want people to trust that if I tag something, it’s something I truly stand by.

Could you share a specific example of a product integration that performed exceptionally well, and what do you think contributed to its success?

Most of my viewers are younger and absolutely love cute things, so I always try to feature products that match that vibe. One video that really took off was when I shared a super cute sticker set. It was affordable, adorable, and just right for the kind of videos I make. I tagged the product in the video, and to my surprise, so many people clicked on it. Thousands of my viewers ended up buying the same set, and they all loved it! I received so many sweet messages saying how happy they were to find something so cute and affordable.

I think what made it work so well was that it truly connected with my audience, especially the younger ones who love fun stationery. Plus, the budget-friendly price made it even more appealing. It was the kind of product that just clicked with what they were looking for.