Posting to the YouTube blog, spokespeople for the popular Internet video service have announced that YouTube is now embedding "click-to-buy" links in videos to make it easier for people watching YouTube content to buy products that interest them. YouTube is starting out by embedding links to iTunes Store music and Amazon.com products referenced by YouTube videos.

"This is just the beginning of building a broad, viable eCommerce platform for users and partners on YouTube," reads the blog entry. YouTube hopes to eventually offer relevant product links to targeted audiences with music, film, print and TV.

The click-to-buy links are retail links placed on the "watch page" beneath the video, with other community features. YouTube's hope is that its partners will use their content identification and management system to enable links.

The retail links are being added gradually to YouTube's library of music videos, and is currently only available to users in the United States. YouTube plans to expand the program to other content and product partners and make it available to international users as well.