What’s different about copywriting for the A9 Amazon ranking algorithm?

Unlike optimizing your business web pages for the standard online search, running a proper content optimization in compliance with the A9 Amazon ranking algorithm is a completely different thing. The thing is that selling on such a restrictive ecommerce platform as Amazon will need a personally tailored approach to copywriting and content optimization, which requires its own unique combination of SEO skills, backed with your creativity. So, despite the A9 Amazon ranking algorithm has recently become even more similar to Google search engine, there are several principal points of difference sometimes making all general means of their content optimization be driven by completely diverse rules and ranking factors. That's why below I’m going to offer you some practical tips and useful recommendations for you to optimize your product listing in compliance with the A9 Amazon ranking guidelines and requirements valid for the moment. So, let’s finally delve into the matter and figure out what works well with the A9 on Amazon, and what should be probably reworked.

What’s Different About Content SEO with the A9 Amazon Ranking Algorithm

Let’s face it – you can’t just get down to writing Amazon product page copy, unless you’ve already got a clear understanding of the process – what’s legally recognized by the A9 Amazon search ranking algorithm, and what can be potentially harmful for your steady ranking progress in the longer run. Of course, every online entrepreneur selling on Amazon can simply keep doing a poor job with any given product listing. And it doesn’t necessarily mean that all the violators will be immediately punished with ranking demotion. Quite the opposite, in fact. I mean that they can simply have their product pages still ranked pretty well, besides for several months or even years. Nevertheless, everything inevitably ends up with the action taken by the A9 Amazon algorithm – and it’s fully capable of delivering a really severe (sometimes even irreversible) impact over their ranking positions in a precisely targeted product search over there. Put simply, there is a couple of things that must be avoided at all cost. Of course, if you don’t want to face those severe consequences resulting from improper content optimization.

Worst-Case Scenario with Amazon Content SEO

• Having the whole product page completely delisted (otherwise, deindexed) – either on a temporary, or permanent basis.
• Getting currently valid seller accounts suspended due to violating the main rules or optimization guidelines imposed by the A9 Amazon ranking algorithm.
• Under certain circumstances it may even lead to having your account banned, and it’s usually accompanied with the lion’s share (if not all) seller privileges withdrawn once and for all

Basic Restrictions for Product Page SEO on Amazon

As I already stated, when it comes to making a well-written product description copy and getting it optimized for the A9 Amazon algorithm the right way, there are several restrictions that often bring too many novice sellers into frustration. And they must be always given a very precise attention by every online entrepreneur selling over there, even if you feel like a real big-time seller. 

So,when running a full-scale content optimization for every section of your product listing on Amazon, make sure you have everything in place without breaking the following rules:

• Product Title – most commonly, title length varies within 50-200 characters allowed for different categories. Note, however, that exceeding the maximum character limit can make your product listing suppressed from Amazon’s list of the relevant SERPs. So, I recommend checking your Seller Central time to time – just to check those current character limitations by each given category, which are valid for the moment. Otherwise, your product page might as well be hindered by the A9 Amazon ranking algorithm so that you will inevitably lose the major part of prominence in product search over there.
• Product Description – has a standard limit of 2,000 characters allowed for nearly all product categories, with just a couple of exceptions in this rule. It means that unlike the original on-page SEO, your total writing space over there will be covering something around 200-250 words on average. Of course, sometimes it happens that a given item on sale doesn’t require too much explanation from the seller, but I personally believe that having a too thin product copy can be easily observed by the A9 Amazon algorithm as actually incomplete one, therefore making it potentially harmful for your ranking progress over there. Coming back to the point of exceptions in this rule, there are several extended types of product listings (also known as Enhanced Brand Content). They may be allowed for a broder writing space, as well as much wider inclusion of Product Images. Note, however, that it only works for Amazon sellers who qualify.

• Search Terms – this area of Amazon product listing is also known as the Backend Keyword Section, which is actually invisible for the live shoppers. In fact, this section should be well-optimized for ranking purposes solely. The A9 Amazon search algorithm has it with just 250 characters allowed particularly for those main target keywords, which failed to find their fitting place elsewhere throughout the rest of primary sections of your product listing. Note, however, that you are recommended to make a double-check for every search term included over there, mainly because having duplicative keywords repeatedly mentioned in your Product Title, Description, or the list of Bullet Points can easily prevent your listing from ranking promotion that you actually deserve. 

Bottom Line

Of course, it’s far not full information about the major guidelines for copywriting in compliance with the A9 Amazon search ranking algorithm. But I tried to cover the lion’s share of the most frequent pitfalls too often faced by novice entrepreneurs selling on Amazon without sufficient understanding of the A9 itself, Amazon major rules and general recommendations within the Seller Central account, which can sometimes contain a partially outdated or even conflicting information.