YouTube's New Hype Feature and Shopping Program: Empowering Creators and Brands

In a move to empower creators, especially those with fewer subscribers, YouTube has introduced a new feature called "Hype." Announced at the Made On YouTube event in the United States on September 18, 2024, Hype provides creators with a new way to promote their videos and gain recognition, potentially reaching a broader audience.

How Hype Works

The Hype feature adds a dedicated button below the "Like" button. Viewers can tap this button to award points to a creator's video. These points then contribute to a weekly ranking of the top 100 most popular videos, curated based on Hype points received. Videos featured on this list are highlighted with a star icon, giving them greater visibility.

Benefits for Creators

Hype offers creators several key advantages:

Increased Visibility: Hype helps creators gain greater visibility and potentially climb the ranks of the most popular videos.

New Way to Support: It provides viewers with a new way to support their favorite creators.

Weekly Featured List: Videos with high Hype points are showcased on a weekly list of the top 100 popular videos.

Who Can Use Hype?

The Hype feature is available for new videos released within the last seven days, by creators with under 500,000 subscribers. To prevent abuse, each user can only give three Hype points per week.

Additional Features for Creators

Extra Hype Purchases: Viewers can purchase extra Hype points, enabling them to give more points to a video even after their weekly quota is exhausted. This feature can generate additional income for creators.

View Hype Givers: Creators can see who has given Hype points to their videos.

Successful Trials in Multiple Countries

YouTube has successfully piloted the Hype feature in Turkey, Taiwan, and Brazil, where it has helped promote over 5 million videos across more than 50,000 channels.

YouTube Shopping Launches in Indonesia

Alongside the Hype feature, YouTube is launching its YouTube Shopping affiliate program in Indonesia. This marks Indonesia as the first Southeast Asian country to gain access to this program, following its launch in the United States and South Korea.

How YouTube Shopping Works

Product Integration: Creators and brands can embed recommended products they sell directly into their YouTube videos.

Shopee Marketplace Integration: Transactions are not completed within the YouTube app but are directed to the Shopee marketplace.

Direct Product Access: Viewers interested in a product can click on its image to view details, pricing, variations, and make a purchase directly through Shopee.

What is YouTube's new feature called "Hype" designed to do?

The Hype feature is a new button below the "Like" button that allows viewers to award points to a creator's video. These points contribute to a weekly ranking of the top 100 most popular videos, giving greater visibility to creators, especially those with fewer subscribers.

How does the Hype feature benefit creators?

Hype provides creators with increased visibility, a new way for viewers to show support, and a chance to be featured on a weekly list of the top 100 popular videos.

What are the main benefits for creators using the YouTube Shopping affiliate program?

Creators and brands can integrate products they sell directly into their YouTube videos, directing viewers to the Shopee marketplace for purchases. This allows for direct product access and the potential for increased sales.

What regions has YouTube successfully piloted the Hype feature in?

YouTube has successfully piloted the Hype feature in Turkey, Taiwan, and Brazil, where it has helped promote over 5 million videos across more than 50,000 channels.

How does the YouTube Shopping affiliate program work?

The program integrates recommended products directly into YouTube videos, allowing viewers to click on the product image to view details, pricing, variations, and make a purchase through the Shopee marketplace.

Shaping the Future of Content Creation

With its innovative features, YouTube continues to evolve and provide its creators with new opportunities. The launch of Hype and YouTube Shopping in Indonesia showcases YouTube's commitment to empowering creators and brands to reach wider audiences and boost their business potential. This move solidifies YouTube's position as a platform for creators to thrive, engage their viewers, and drive success.