YouTube BrandConnect is a self-service platform that connects creators with opportunities for branded content campaigns. Brands can use our proprietary influencer dashboard to execute their branded content campaigns and identify creators to work with.
The YouTube BrandConnect platform features:
- Opportunities to earn money working on branded content campaigns that are aligned with your preferences
- Self-service tools within YouTube Studio to manage campaigns from beginning to end
- A customizable Media Kit, with audience insights tailored to your channel, so you can pitch yourself to brands and secure deals. Learn how to use your Media Kit.
- Best practices and resources to help guide you
With YouTube BrandConnect, you can effectively manage your campaigns, retain creative control, and choose who to work with.
Availability and eligibility requirements
To participate on the YouTube BrandConnect platform, your channel must meet these minimum eligibility requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- In the YouTube Partner Program
- Based in the United States or India.
- No active Community Guidelines strikes
Your channel must also follow YouTube’s monetization policies, including:
- YouTube Terms of Service
- YouTube Community Guidelines
- YouTube Platform Policies
- Any applicable terms that you agree to, including the YouTube BrandConnect Self Service Platform Terms
Turn on YouTube BrandConnect
To turn on YouTube BrandConnect for your channel:
- Use a computer to sign in to YouTube Studio.
- In the left menu, click Earn.
- Click the BrandConnect tab. This tab will only surface if your channel is eligible.
- At the top of the screen, click Get Started or at the bottom of the screen click Let’s Go.
- Review and accept the YouTube BrandConnect Terms of Service.
Manage YouTube BrandConnect
Set your preferences
Once you’ve accepted the YouTube BrandConnect Terms of Service, you’re eligible to get branded content opportunities. Brands can now discover you, but signing up does not guarantee the availability of branded content opportunities.
Opportunities from brands are surfaced directly in YouTube Studio where you can review the details. Your preferences will automatically filter opportunities to make sure that they’re relevant, acceptably priced, and calendar-friendly. You can change your preferences to improve your matches to suit your needs:
- Use a computer to sign in to YouTube Studio.
- In the left menu, click Earn.
- Click the BrandConnect tab.
- Click Set preferences.
- To set preferred pricing, click Set your suggested price
Deal management
You can view the details for each opportunity in your dashboard by clicking SEE DETAILS. Each opportunity includes a high-level overview of the campaign’s timeline. The campaign timeline lets you work through each stage of the deal and view where you are in the process. The campaign’s timeline will include three high-level stages: offer, video production, and payment.
Offer
The “Offer” section will outline the details for your campaign and include more info about the brand:
|
Price |
The amount of money you can earn for this deal. The final amount that you can earn from the deal will vary based on factors including, but not limited to campaign size and creator reach. You can negotiate the price for each opportunity. |
| Campaign goals | The brand’s goals for the campaign. |
| Deliverables | What you must deliver to the brand for the campaign. |
| Additional requirements | If included, this field includes requirements from the brand. |
| Product or service provided | A description of the product or service given to you by the brand in exchange for your services. |
| Talking points | Ideas the brand wants to get across to viewers with the campaign. |
| Campaign call to action | An action the brand wants you to encourage viewers to perform. For example, a call to action can be to go to a website, or to register for an account. |
| Description box | Any details the brand wants you to include in the Description box of your content. |
| Product information | An overview of the brand, any relevant product information, and a link to the brand’s website. |
|
Questions |
If you have more questions about the offer, you can get in touch with the brand through YouTube Studio, by clicking Contact Brand. |
Responding to Offers in the United States
If you are based in the United States, you can perform the following actions on these offers: Accept, Decline, Counter or Discuss. If you Accept you will be asked to sign an agreement with the brand. If you choose Counter, you can negotiate a new price to participate in the opportunity. If you choose Discuss, you can reach out to the brand to learn more about the offer. If you accept and fulfill the agreement terms you will be paid by YouTube BrandConnect for your participation. Make sure you understand the terms of any agreement you sign with a brand.
Responding to Offers in India
If you are based in India, you can perform the following actions on these offers: Interested, or Decline. If you select Interested we will share your contact details with the brand so they may contact you to negotiate a deal, including payment terms, price, and contract language. To proceed with a deal, you will sign an agreement directly with the brand and you will be paid by the brand. Make sure you understand the terms of any agreement you sign with a brand.
Video Production
Once you’ve accepted a brand deal, you can work on the content for your campaign. The “Campaign video” section outlines next steps for you to upload your content, as Unlisted, and submit it to the brand for review and approval. If the brand has any feedback, you will get an email with your brand partner’s comments.
In addition to brand reviews, your content is also reviewed against Google Ads policies and Community Guidelines. Once your content is fully approved, you get an email and status update in YouTube Studio. You can publish your content right away, or schedule when you want it to go live. Make sure you publish according to the timeline you agreed to with the brand.
Payment
For creators in the United States, in the “Payment” section, you can find performance and payment info, such as, but not limited to:
- Total proposed pricing for participating in a branded content campaign
- Processing updates so you know whether your payment was approved and sent to AdSense.
- Payment summary so you can view your performance and payments.
Revenue
For creators in the United States, YouTube BrandConnect will pay you the price 30 days after your video goes live through AdSense. To find the total amount of money that you’ve made through YouTube BrandConnect:
- Use a computer to sign in to YouTube Studio.
- In the left menu, select Analytics.
- From the top menu, select Revenue.
- Find the Revenue sources card.
If you’ve made money through YouTube BrandConnect during the selected time period, a “YouTube BrandConnect revenue” row will surface on the card. Learn more about where your revenue comes from.