Is CPA/affiliate marketing prohibited on YouTube?

Johnny12345 · 06-22-2009, 12:30 PM

I spent some time reading YouTube's terms of service and other related help documents, but haven't found any real answers. I've heard some people say that you're not supposed to promote affiliate products or CPA offers on YT because it's considered "spamming."

I don't want to take a chance of getting banned, so can anyone explain YouTube's rules (as related to internet marketing)?

For example...

Can you simply make a video that shows a domain name that would then redirect anyone who goes to it to an affiliate or CPA offer?

Or...

Can you display an (obvious) affiliate link at the end of a video?

Also...

Can you use the words "Free Trial" in the title of a YouTube video (or is that spamming)?

Thanks,

Johnny

Steve Taylor · 06-22-2009, 12:47 PM

I would not display an obvious aff. url in the vid.

You can put a URL in the video to your home page or blog, then redirect them to the offer.

Also in the decsription part put your url including the http.
-Steve

J Bold · 06-22-2009, 03:38 PM

It's not spamming to put your own URL on your own youtube video or in that box on the right corner of your own video, but it's considered spamming to put your url in the "comments" of a certain video. Also, best to not use your affiliate link at all. Otherwise, absolutely nothing wrong with it, this is used by many, many marketers.

TheCren · 06-22-2009, 03:42 PM

It's not considered spamming. I have several accounts that promote affiliate products through the use of videos and they haven't gotten banned.

I wouldn't use an obvious aff. link anywhere. That's just a common rule. But I don't think it would get you banned - nor in any other YT trouble.

J Bold · 06-22-2009, 03:47 PM

What i meant to say was it's spamming to post your links in the comments of someone else's video. You see that all the time and it's so stupid because it's just obvious the more net-savvy public these days. That and it's annoying as H-E-2l's.

Johnny12345 · 06-22-2009, 06:47 PM

It just seems like CPA marketing (especially) is difficult to do with videos because you have to worry about upsetting YouTube AND the CPA network. Ever since Robert Plank got banned from YouTube (seemingly without reason), I've been hesitant to even try it.

Johnny

fizfaz · 06-22-2009, 06:56 PM

I think should not be a problem if you're put your link in the your video detail. Many marketers do that but don't spam your link to someone else video.
But if you're promoting any affiliate product or CPA offer, just make sure that the advertiser allowed you to do get traffic from YT or else you might get banned by the advertiser. Alternatively, you can blank the referrer

06-22-2009, 12:30 PM	#1
Johnny12345 John Palmieri, Copywriter War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Posts: 791 Thanks: 132 Thanked 117 Times in 93 Posts	Is CPA/affiliate marketing prohibited on YouTube? I spent some time reading YouTube's terms of service and other related help documents, but haven't found any real answers. I've heard some people say that you're not supposed to promote affiliate products or CPA offers on YT because it's considered "spamming." I don't want to take a chance of getting banned, so can anyone explain YouTube's rules (as related to internet marketing)? For example... Can you simply make a video that shows a domain name that would then redirect anyone who goes to it to an affiliate or CPA offer? Or... Can you display an (obvious) affiliate link at the end of a video? Also... Can you use the words "Free Trial" in the title of a YouTube video (or is that spamming)? Thanks, Johnny

06-22-2009, 12:47 PM	#2
Steve Taylor Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: , , Canada. Posts: 842 Thanks: 18 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts Contact Info	Re: Is affiliate marketing prohibited on YouTube? I would not display an obvious aff. url in the vid. You can put a URL in the video to your home page or blog, then redirect them to the offer. Also in the decsription part put your url including the http. -Steve
	Ask...Because you never stop learning.

06-22-2009, 03:38 PM	#3
J Bold Formerly "redicelander" War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Walla Walla Posts: 2,856 Blog Entries: 10 Thanks: 778 Thanked 589 Times in 368 Posts Social Networking	Re: Is CPA/affiliate marketing prohibited on YouTube? It's not spamming to put your own URL on your own youtube video or in that box on the right corner of your own video, but it's considered spamming to put your url in the "comments" of a certain video. Also, best to not use your affiliate link at all. Otherwise, absolutely nothing wrong with it, this is used by many, many marketers.
	Announcement: I just changed my username. Now J Bold, not redicelander. Same person! Travel Treasures Hotsheet: Passive income in the $1.87 TRILLION niche "I know that this works because I've done this before and made $50-$150/day"

06-22-2009, 03:42 PM	#4
TheCren HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 285 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 20 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts Social Networking	Re: Is CPA/affiliate marketing prohibited on YouTube? It's not considered spamming. I have several accounts that promote affiliate products through the use of videos and they haven't gotten banned. I wouldn't use an obvious aff. link anywhere. That's just a common rule. But I don't think it would get you banned - nor in any other YT trouble.
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06-22-2009, 03:47 PM	#5
J Bold Formerly "redicelander" War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Walla Walla Posts: 2,856 Blog Entries: 10 Thanks: 778 Thanked 589 Times in 368 Posts Social Networking	Re: Is CPA/affiliate marketing prohibited on YouTube? What i meant to say was it's spamming to post your links in the comments of someone else's video. You see that all the time and it's so stupid because it's just obvious the more net-savvy public these days. That and it's annoying as H-E-2l's.
	Announcement: I just changed my username. Now J Bold, not redicelander. Same person! Travel Treasures Hotsheet: Passive income in the $1.87 TRILLION niche "I know that this works because I've done this before and made $50-$150/day"

06-22-2009, 06:47 PM	#6
Johnny12345 John Palmieri, Copywriter War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Posts: 791 Thanks: 132 Thanked 117 Times in 93 Posts	Re: Is CPA/affiliate marketing prohibited on YouTube? It just seems like CPA marketing (especially) is difficult to do with videos because you have to worry about upsetting YouTube AND the CPA network. Ever since Robert Plank got banned from YouTube (seemingly without reason), I've been hesitant to even try it. Johnny

06-22-2009, 06:56 PM	#7
fizfaz Active Warrior Join Date: May 2006 Location: , , . Posts: 38 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is CPA/affiliate marketing prohibited on YouTube? I think should not be a problem if you're put your link in the your video detail. Many marketers do that but don't spam your link to someone else video. But if you're promoting any affiliate product or CPA offer, just make sure that the advertiser allowed you to do get traffic from YT or else you might get banned by the advertiser. Alternatively, you can blank the referrer
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