🗞️ THE WEEKLY DOWNLOAD
💰 YouTube Tests Shorts Bonuses and Brand-Funded Affiliate Offers
Photo by Tommao Wang on Unsplash
YouTube is piloting a Shorts bonus program for select YouTube Partner Program creators in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea. It's invite-only, with no way to apply. Creators who accept and hit the monthly upload target in their invitation earn a minimum payment, plus a possible extra bonus based on valid, engaged Shorts views. YouTube says that extra bonus isn't guaranteed.
In the same October 16 Creator Insider update, YouTube highlighted brand affiliate campaigns in YouTube Studio's Shopping Hub. Eligible creators can review exclusive offers there, including bonus amounts, commission rates, and active dates.
Why It Matters: Both programs reward consistent, product-focused content. Check your YouTube Studio notifications and Shopping Hub, and read the terms carefully before you commit to an upload schedule.
🔗 Google Adds More Links to Websites in AI Search
On October 15, Google announced updates to AI Mode and AI Overviews. Google says it's adding more inline links, showing them higher in responses, and making the related-article links at the end of some answers more prominent, with image thumbnails. It's also testing a dedicated section for official websites, plus clickable creator and publisher names on video results that link to Search profiles in AI Mode.
Search profiles are currently available in the U.S., Canada, and India for creators 18 and older with at least 10,000 followers on YouTube, Instagram, X, or TikTok.
Why It Matters: More visible links could mean more clicks back to your blog or channel, but Google didn't share any traffic numbers, so don't count on an instant boost. If you meet the follower minimum, see whether you can claim a Search profile.
🛍️ AliExpress Joins YouTube Shopping's Affiliate Program in the U.S.
On October 20, AliExpress announced a "global strategic affiliate partnership" with YouTube. After launching in South Korea in March, AliExpress says the partnership is expanding to the U.S., Brazil, the U.K., and Germany, with more markets to follow in phases.
Eligible creators will be able to find AliExpress products in YouTube Studio and tag them in long-form videos, Shorts, and livestreams, earning commissions on qualifying sales. AliExpress says creators who meet YouTube's channel and Shopping affiliate requirements can apply through YouTube Studio. It didn't share commission rates or an exact launch date.
Why It Matters: More products to tag means more ways to earn, but a low price doesn't make a good recommendation. If AliExpress shows up in your Shopping Hub, check the commission rate, shipping times, and reviews before you tag anything.
🔎 WORTH A CLOSER LOOK
Thinking About Self-Publishing? Here's What KDP Changed This Fall
Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash
Self-publishing through Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) still has one of the lowest barriers to entry of any side hustle. But this fall, Amazon has been tightening how quickly new books can go out.
KDP's help pages now list two weekly limits: you can create up to two new titles per format each week and submit up to two new titles per format for publication. Ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers each count separately, and both limits reset every Sunday at 12:00 a.m. UTC. Updates to books you've already submitted don't count. Author news sites report that the creation limit started September 21 (down from ten) and the submission limit was added October 5.
KDP also now says reviews of low-content books, such as journals and notebooks, may take three to four weeks because of higher-than-normal publishing volumes.
The benefits: For most authors, two new titles per format each week is plenty. And since July 7, ebooks priced from $2.99 to $12.99 on Amazon.com can qualify for the 70% royalty option, up from a $9.99 ceiling.
The limitations: Series launches and multi-format releases now take more planning. If you publish planners or journals, especially dated or seasonal ones, a three-to-four-week review could cost you your selling window.
The risk: Strategies built on publishing in volume, like dozens of quick low-content books, are getting harder. And these rules have already changed twice this fall, so they may change again.
The Takeaway: If you're thinking about self-publishing, focus on one well-targeted, genuinely useful book rather than a flood of quick ones, and check KDP's help pages before you set a launch date.
☕️ FROM MY DESK
A Surprise Payout From a Book I Wrote in 2023
I got a notification this week that I'd received a payout from books I've published in the past. I wrote a book, Making Time for Myself, back in 2023, and I'm still getting payments, even though I'm not marketing it at all.
That's the beauty of Amazon. With so many shoppers on the site, if you write a book that's niche enough to reach the right people, they will find your book!
It was a lovely surprise to get the message that a payout had been deposited into my account. It's a wonderful feeling when you realize that something you did (in this case, writing a book) is still making an impact three years later, and you're still reaping the benefits.
Now, imagine what that could look like on a larger scale. This is what's possible when you self-publish.
What I'm Learning: A book written for the right niche can keep finding its readers long after I've stopped promoting it.
💡 ONE THING TO TRY
Find the Old Work That's Still Working for You
Photo by Hannah Olinger on Unsplash
Before you make something new this week, look back. Open the analytics or sales report for the platform you use most, whether that's YouTube, Pinterest, Amazon, or your blog, and set the date range as far back as it goes. Find one older piece that's still getting views, clicks, or sales without any help from you.
Your Next Step: Give that piece a quick refresh this week. Update the title or description, fix any broken links, and point readers to something newer.
Until next time,
Emily
Have a side hustle you’re curious about or a tool you’d like me to explore? Hit reply and let me know. I may feature it in a future issue!
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