YouTube is enhancing its e-commerce experience by introducing shopping product stickers in Shorts videos. These new stickers officially replace the traditional shopping buttons, giving creators and brands a more interactive way to showcase products within their content.
This update is part of YouTube’s ongoing effort to make Shorts a powerful space for product discovery and shopping, while blending commerce seamlessly with short-form entertainment.
What Are Shopping Product Stickers?
Shopping product stickers are tappable visuals that creators can place directly inside Shorts. Unlike the older shopping button that sat below the video, these stickers appear within the video itself, making them:
- More noticeable – stickers are part of the content flow.
- More engaging – viewers can tap directly on the product.
- Better for conversions – reduces friction between discovery and purchase.
When viewers tap a sticker, they’re taken to a product page where they can learn more or complete a purchase — all without leaving YouTube.
Why the Change from Buttons to Stickers?
YouTube is leaning into the TikTok-style shopping experience, where stickers and embedded visuals feel more natural than static buttons.
The shift brings several advantages:
- Higher visibility – stickers stand out compared to subtle buttons.
- Stronger engagement – interactive shopping feels less like an ad.
- Improved click-through rates – viewers are more likely to tap a product directly within the video.
- Better creator flexibility – stickers can be placed strategically to match the storytelling.
This makes Shorts not just entertainment, but also a shoppable format.
How Creators Can Use Product Stickers in Shorts
If you’re a creator with shopping features enabled, you can start adding product stickers to your Shorts:
- Upload a Short as usual.
- In the YouTube app or Studio, choose Add Shopping Products.
- Select products from your connected store or affiliate catalog.
- Place stickers on-screen during editing.
- Publish — viewers can now tap the stickers directly.
Pro tip: Place stickers where they’re visible but not disruptive to your content.
Benefits for Creators and Brands
The introduction of stickers opens up new opportunities:
- Stronger monetization – creators can drive affiliate sales or promote their own products.
- More organic integration – products blend with the content rather than feeling like ads.
- Increased conversions – stickers simplify the path from interest to purchase.
- New storytelling formats – creators can highlight products dynamically.
For brands, this update transforms Shorts into a powerful social commerce channel.
Impact on Viewers
For viewers, stickers make shopping:
- Faster – no need to scroll down to find buttons.
- More engaging – products appear in sync with the content.
- Seamless – the experience feels natural within Shorts.
This is especially useful for impulse purchases, trending items, and influencer-driven product recommendations.
Final Thoughts
By replacing shopping buttons with product stickers in Shorts, YouTube is making shopping more interactive, creator-friendly, and effective.
This update benefits all sides:
- Creators get better monetization options.
- Brands gain stronger exposure in short-form content.
- Viewers enjoy a smoother, more engaging shopping journey.
As YouTube continues to expand into social commerce, expect product stickers to play a central role in how Shorts blend entertainment and shopping in 2025 and beyond.
