Why Did Amazon Deactivate My Listing?

Have you ever seen a red alert on your Amazon seller account that says: “Your listing has been deactivated”? If so, you know how stressful and frustrating it can be.

Listing deactivation means that Amazon has removed your listing from its platform. It could happen because of the following:

Product quality issuesPolicy violationIntellectual property infringementCustomer complaintsSeller performance issues

Listing deactivation can have serious consequences for your online business. For instance, it can affect your sales, customers, and reputation. It also takes time and effort to reactivate your listing.

Let’s look at listing deactivation and how to prevent it. We will also show you how to reactivate your listing and how to minimize the impact of deactivation. Keep your Amazon business running smoothly!

Common Causes of Listing Deactivation

Amazon has many rules and policies for selling on its platform. They protect Amazon, its customers, and its sellers. They also ensure a high-quality, safe, and fair shopping experience.

When you sell on Amazon, you agree to follow these rules and policies. If you break them, Amazon may deactivate your listing as a penalty or a precaution. Amazon may also deactivate your listing if it gets complaints from:

CustomersBrandsAuthorities

Here are some common causes of listing deactivation:

1. Product Quality Issues

Your product does not meet Amazon’s standards for quality, safety, or authenticity. Your product may be defective, damaged, expired, counterfeit, or recalled.

2. Policy Violations

Your listing does not comply with Amazon’s guidelines and agreements. That means they may have:

Inaccurate or misleading informationProhibited or restricted productsInappropriate or offensive contentUnauthorized use of content

3. Intellectual Property Infringement

Your product or listing infringes on someone else’s intellectual property rights. This implies that you have:

Copied or imitated someone else’s design or invention without permissionUsed someone else’s brand name, logo, slogan, image, text, or music. You need the owners’ authorization to use them

4. Customer Complaints

Your product or listing has received negative feedback or reviews from customers. In this case;

Your product may have poor quality, performance, or functionalityYour listing may have false or deceptive claims or promises

5. Seller Performance Issues

Your account health or performance is below Amazon’s expectations or thresholds. In this case, your account may have the following:

Low ratingsHigh defect ratesLate shipmentsCancellationsRefundsReturnsA-to-z Guarantee claims

How to Prevent Listing Deactivation

The best way to prevent listing deactivation is to follow Amazon’s rules and policies. You should also monitor your account health and performance. This way, you can address any issues or problems quickly.

Here are some tips on how to prevent listing deactivation:

1. Product Quality Issues

Ensure your product meets Amazon’s standards for quality, safety, and authenticity.

Check your product for defects, damages, or expiration dates.

Avoid selling counterfeit or recalled products. Use the following to protect your brand and products:

Amazon’s Transparency programProject Zero program

2. Policy Violations

Read and understand Amazon’s guidelines and agreements.

Review your listing regularly and comply with Amazon’s policies.

Avoid the following:

Prohibited or restricted productsInaccurate or misleading informationInappropriate or offensive contentContent without permission

3. Intellectual Property Infringement

Respect other people’s intellectual property rights.

Register your own intellectual property rights with Amazon’s Brand Registry program.

4. Customer Complaints

Provide excellent customer service and satisfaction. 

Respond to messages, feedback, and reviews politely. 

Offer fair and reasonable prices, delivery times, refund policies, and guarantees.

Resolve any disputes with customers professionally.

5. Seller Performance Issues

Monitor your account performance regularly. Ensure they are within Amazon’s thresholds. You can track your metrics and notifications using the following tools:

Amazon’s Seller Central dashboardPerformance Notifications page

How to Reactivate Your Listing

The deactivation of a listing on Amazon doesn’t necessarily imply permanence. There exists the possibility of reinstating your listing, provided you adhere to the appropriate procedures.

Here are the essential steps to follow when seeking to reactivate your Amazon listing:

Step 1: Identify the cause of deactivation

Read the message from Amazon carefully and understand why your listing was deactivated. Check the email you received from Amazon. It may contain instructions or requirements for reactivation.

Step 2: Fix the problem

Resolving the issue hinges on your strict adherence to Amazon’s policies. It’s imperative to rectify the situation by eliminating any content or products from your listing that violate these policies.

Step 3: Submit a Plan of Action

Write a plan of action explaining how you fixed the problem. It should also include how you will prevent it from happening again. Include any evidence or documentation that supports your plan of action.

Step 4: Contact Amazon

Contact Amazon’s Seller Support team and submit your plan of action. You should also request for reactivation or reinstatement of your listing.

Step 5: Wait for Amazon’s Response

You should wait patiently for Amazon’s response and follow up if necessary. Remember to check your email and Seller Central dashboard regularly. That’s because Amazon could communicate updates or notifications on the platforms.

How to Optimize Your Listing for Better Results

Congratulations on successfully reactivating your listing! 

Now, your focus should shift towards optimization, aiming for improved outcomes. Your objective is to enhance visibility, popularity, attractiveness, and overall value, ultimately resulting in higher rankings. 

This, in turn, translates to elevated conversion rates and increased sales. Wondering how to achieve this feat? 

Here’s how you can optimize your listing:

You need to employ Amazon’s best practices and tools. You can use the data and feedback to try different strategies and techniques.

Here are some tips on how to optimize your listing:

Tip 1: Use Relevant and Descriptive Keywords

Keywords are very important for every seller on Amazon. That’s because they help customers find your product. Amazon also ranks your product higher.

You need to use good keywords in your listing. So, what’s the best strategy? Use them in the following areas:

Your titleBullet pointsDescriptionSearch terms

You also need to use keywords that match customer searches. For better results with this, use long-tail keywords and search phrases.

Tip 2: Use High-Quality and Professional Images and Videos

Images and videos are very important. They help customers see your product’s features, benefits, and value. Your customers can see themselves using or enjoying your product.

That’s why you need to use good images and videos in your listing. Use images and videos that show your product well. They need to show the products’ different angles and perspectives.

Tip 3: Use Clear and Compelling Copy

Successful sellers on Amazon know too well not to underestimate the power of words. Copy is very important. It helps customers understand your product’s selling points, advantages, and differentiators. This is important in helping customers decide to buy your product or not.

You need to use a good copy in your listing. A good copy shows why your product is better. Use copy that appeals to customer emotions and needs. You also need to use copy that provides social proof and testimonials.

Tip 4: Use Rich Media and Interactive Content

Rich media and interactive content are very important. They help customers learn more about your brand and product story. Customers can also engage with your product more.

You need to use rich media and interactive content in your listing. You can use Amazon’s A+ Content program or Enhanced Brand Content program. Remember to use images, videos, charts, tables, comparison modules, FAQs, and testimonials.

Tip 5: Use Advertising Programs

Advertising programs are very important. They help customers discover your product on Amazon or other websites and platforms. Advertising helps customers remember your product and visit again.

You need to use advertising programs for your listing. 

You can use Amazon’s Sponsored Products program or Sponsored Brands program. 

There’s also Amazon’s Sponsored Display program and Sponsored Video program. You can exploit them to boost your product visibility.

Tip 6: Use Amazon’s FBA Program

Use Amazon’s FBA program or Seller Fulfilled Prime program. 

They offer fast and free shipping to your customers. You can also use Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program or Prime Exclusive Discounts program. 

These offer recurring deliveries or special deals to your customers.

Conclusion

Listing deactivation can hurt your account and business on Amazon. It can happen for many reasons, including breaking Amazon’s rules. Customer complaints and intellectual property infringement may also lead to listing deactivation.

But you can prevent listing deactivation by following the practices we’ve shared. You can also get your listing back after deactivation. To do so, you need to find out why Amazon deactivated it. Afterward, you can begin solving the problem. Talk to Amazon and wait for their response regarding your request.

You can also make your listing visible when you incorporate keywords. Use nice images, videos, and clear and catchy words for better customer interaction. You can also use fast and free shipping to increase customer satisfaction.

Following these tips and best practices to help keep your listing on Amazon. They’ll help you make your listing more visible, popular, attractive, and valuable. 

Happy selling!