If you run YouTube channel memberships, you’ve probably hit this wall: you want to sell exclusive merch to your members \u2014 a limited hoodie drop, signed prints, a members-only colourway \u2014 but there’s no way to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Join button’s perks stop at videos, badges and emotes. The YouTube merch shelf shows your products to everyone<\/em>. And YouTube Shopping’s Shopify integration has no concept of “members only.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n So how do creators actually do it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Discount codes in members-only posts.<\/strong> You post a 100%-off-the-markup code in a members-only Community post. It’s on a coupon site within hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Secret” product links.<\/strong> Unlisted products aren’t protected \u2014 anyone with the link can buy, and links get shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moving to a members platform.<\/strong> Fourthwall and Patreon have native members-only products \u2014 but you have to move your entire store there. If you’ve built your store on Shopify, that’s a painful migration to solve one problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s the setup that keeps your store on Shopify and takes about 10 minutes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Shopify admin, create a collection called something like “Members Only” and add your exclusive products to it. Your public merch stays exactly as it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe workarounds (and why they fail)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The simple way: lock the drop, post the key<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1 \u2014 Create a members-only collection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 2 \u2014 Lock it with Locket<\/h3>\n\n\n\n