YouTube Shorts can drive millions of views, but turning those views into affiliate income requires a specific strategy. Unlike long-form videos, Shorts don't have clickable links in the description when viewed in the mobile feed, which is where most people see them. This guide covers the practical methods that work for youtube shorts affiliate marketing, from placing links and codes to leveraging companion videos.
The core challenge is guiding a viewer from a 60-second vertical video to your affiliate link. It requires a clear call to action and using the few placement options YouTube gives you. Once you master the workflow, you can build a powerful new income stream for your creator business.
Why Shorts are a powerful affiliate channel
While the limitations are real, the advantages of using Shorts for affiliate marketing are significant.
Discovery: The Shorts algorithm is designed to push content to new audiences. A single successful Short can put your recommendation in front of hundreds of thousands of potential customers who have never seen your channel before.
Volume: You can create and test Shorts much faster than long-form videos. This allows you to experiment with different hooks, calls to action, and products to see what resonates with your audience without investing days in a single video.
Authenticity: The short-form format thrives on genuine, low-production-value content. A quick video sharing something you genuinely love can feel more authentic and trustworthy than a polished, 20-minute sponsored review, often leading to higher conversion rates.
How to use youtube shorts affiliate marketing links
Because the description link isn't clickable in the Shorts feed, you have to be more creative. Here are the three most effective places to direct your audience.
1. The pinned comment
This is the single most important placement for your affiliate link. It's the only place where you can reliably put a clickable link that viewers can access directly from the Shorts feed.
Your workflow should be:
- Upload your Short.
- Immediately after it goes live, post a comment with your affiliate link and a clear call to action.
- Pin that comment so it's the first one everyone sees.
Your call to action (CTA) in the video itself—whether spoken or as a text overlay—should be direct and simple: "Get it at the link in my pinned comment!" or "Download link is in the pinned comment."
Remember to include a clear disclosure, such as (ad) or (affiliate link), in your comment. This is required by the FTC and builds trust with your audience. For more details, read our guide to FTC disclosure for affiliate links.
2. The related video link
YouTube allows you to link a Short to one of your long-form videos. When you do, a clickable link with the title of your long-form video appears directly above your channel name on the Short.
This is an incredibly powerful feature. It lets you use the massive reach of Shorts to drive traffic to a dedicated long-form video where you have more time to explain the product and where affiliate links in the description are clickable.
The strategy:
- Create a "hub" video, like a review or a "top 5" list, that features the product you're promoting.
- Place your affiliate links clearly at the top of that video's description.
- Create multiple Shorts that act as teasers or highlight specific features.
- Link all of those Shorts to your main "hub" video.
3. The Shorts description (with a catch)
You should still paste your affiliate links in your YouTube Shorts description, but you can't rely on it. Links in the description are not clickable in the mobile Shorts feed.
They only become clickable when a viewer:
- Watches the Short on a desktop computer.
- Navigates from the Short to your channel page and watches it there.
Since these scenarios represent a small fraction of total views, consider the description a secondary placement. The pinned comment and related video are your primary tools.
Using affiliate codes instead of links
Sometimes, a simple, memorable code is more effective than a link, especially for mobile apps. A code can be displayed as a text overlay throughout your video and is easy for a viewer to remember and type in later.
This method works especially well when the code provides a direct benefit to the viewer. For example, the Tokime Partners program gives every creator a unique code that their viewers can enter after downloading the app to receive 100 free coins. This creates a strong incentive for the viewer to use your code over anyone else's.
You can combine this with other methods:
- On-screen text: "Use code MYCODE for a free bonus!"
- Verbal CTA: "...and make sure you enter my code, MYCODE, to get 100 free coins."
- Pinned comment: "Download here: [Your Link]. Use code MYCODE for your bonus! (ad)"
This system is tracked through app affiliate tracking, which links the new user to you for life, even if they click someone else's link later.
The companion video strategy
The most sophisticated approach to YouTube Shorts affiliate marketing is building a content funnel. This combines the discovery of Shorts with the conversion power of long-form video.
| Step | Action | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Create | Film a 2–10 minute "pillar" video. This could be a review, a tutorial, or a listicle about the product or service. Place your affiliate link prominently in its description. | Drive conversions |
| 2. Repurpose | Edit 3–5 vertical clips (Shorts) from your pillar video. Each Short should highlight a single compelling point, feature, or moment. | Generate views & discovery |
| 3. Link | Upload each Short and use the "Related Video" feature to link it back to your long-form pillar video. Your in-video CTA should be "Watch my full review" or "See more in my linked video." | Funnel traffic |
| 4. Promote | Pin a comment with the direct affiliate link on every Short for viewers who are ready to convert immediately. | Capture immediate interest |
This strategy creates a flywheel. The Shorts feed new viewers to your long-form content, which converts them. The increased traffic and watch time on your long-form video can also help it rank better in YouTube search, creating a sustainable, long-term asset.
Promoting Tokime with Shorts
The strategies above are perfectly suited for promoting an app like Tokime, which offers cinematic anime short dramas.
A simple, effective workflow could be:
- Find a series: Watch a few series on Tokime and find one you genuinely enjoy.
- Create a reaction Short: Use the app's screen recording feature (or clips from the provided Marketing Kit) to create a Short reacting to a dramatic cliffhanger or a favorite character's moment.
- Add your CTA: Use a text overlay like, "I'm obsessed with this show! Watch it on Tokime. Use my code [YOURCODE] for 100 free coins."
- Pin your link: Add a pinned comment: "Watch [Series Name] on Tokime here: [Your Link]. Use code [YOURCODE] for a bonus! (ad)"
- Link a related video: If you have a longer video like "My Favorite Anime Short Dramas," link your Short to it.
Because Tokime Partners offers a lifetime revenue share, every viewer who signs up through your link or code becomes a source of recurring passive income. This makes the upfront effort of creating Shorts and companion videos a valuable long-term investment.
FAQ
Are links in YouTube Shorts descriptions clickable?
Not in the main mobile Shorts feed. They are only clickable when the Short is viewed on a desktop or directly on your channel page. For this reason, you should always use a pinned comment for your most important link.
What's better for Shorts: an affiliate link or a code?
Both are effective tools. A pinned comment link is essential for viewers who want to click through immediately. A code is excellent for on-screen or verbal CTAs, as it's easy for viewers to remember and use later, making it a great fit for app installs.
Can I reuse my TikTok videos for YouTube Shorts affiliate marketing?
Yes, repurposing content is a smart strategy. Just make sure you adapt your calls to action for YouTube's platform features. For example, direct viewers to the pinned comment or related video instead of a "link in bio."
How do I disclose an affiliate relationship on a Short?
The FTC requires clear and conspicuous disclosure. You can use a text overlay like #ad or #sponsored, mention it verbally in your video, or include a written disclosure like (affiliate link) in your pinned comment and description.