TL;DR
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- Amazon is always changing, so regularly optimising your listings is key to staying competitive.
- Re-optimize if your sales or rankings drop—small updates can make a big difference.
- Pay attention to customer trends and update your listings to match what they want now.
- Algorithm changes can affect rankings—keep your content fresh to stay visible.
- Watch out for new competitors; update keywords and images to stay ahead.
- Amazon policy changes? Stay compliant by removing restricted words ASAP.
Amazon is constantly evolving, and if you don’t keep up, you’ll quickly get left behind. Few marketplaces are as dynamic as Amazon, and staying ahead of the game requires constant adaptation. How can you keep up? Well, one crucial way is by optimising your listings. Surprised?
If you thought listing optimization was a one-and-done task, buckle up—because you’re in for a surprise! As we mentioned, Amazon is ever-changing. What ranks on page 1 today might not even be there tomorrow. Harsh, but true. To stay ahead, you need to ensure your listings are always optimised and ready for the shifting marketplace.
Why should you re-optimize your listings?
Let me tell you why. Just like a car needs regular maintenance to keep running smoothly, your Amazon listings need the same kind of attention. If you don’t fix and update them, they’ll start dropping in rankings. And guess what? While you’re sitting there with an outdated listing, your competitors are optimising theirs—and they’ll rank higher than you. You don’t want that, right?
Another reason to re-optimize is that Amazon can be unpredictable. Things can change in a heartbeat. For example, Amazon might suddenly decide that a word in your listing, like “inflammation,” goes against their policy. If you’re not paying attention, your listing could get suspended. A few months ago, that’s exactly what happened—listings with the word “inflammation” were suspended. So, if you’re not making updates, you could lose your listing too.
Bottom line: if you want to stay on top, you need to make re-optimizing your listings a habit. It’s as simple as that!
When to re-optimize your Amazon listings?
#1: When your sales or ranking takes a hit
If you notice your sales or ranking on Amazon suddenly dropping, it’s a clear sign that your listing needs a little attention. This could happen for some reasons—maybe a competitor has optimised their listing and is now ranking higher, or perhaps customer preferences have shifted and your product isn’t as appealing anymore.
For example, if you’re selling a popular fitness supplement and notice a drop in sales, it could be because your keywords are outdated or your Amazon infographic images no longer stand out.
By re-optimizing your listing, like updating the keywords to match current search trends or refreshing your product images, you can boost visibility and regain your spot in the rankings. The sooner you address these issues, the quicker you can get back on track and recover your sales.
#2: When there is a shift in customer trends
Customer tastes change, and if your listing doesn’t keep up, you could be losing sales without even realising it.
Maybe people are suddenly looking for eco-friendly options, but you haven’t mentioned that your product is made from sustainable materials. Or perhaps a new feature that competitors offer has become super popular, and your listing doesn’t highlight it.
For example, if you’re selling kitchen gadgets and everyone’s now searching for silicone, non-stick tools, but your listing still focuses on traditional materials, you might get overlooked.
By staying tuned into what customers want and updating your listing to reflect those changes—whether it’s new materials, styles, or features—you’ll keep your product relevant and appealing.
#3: When Amazon’s algorithm shake-ups
Amazon’s algorithm is always changing, and those changes can affect how your product ranks in search results.
What worked a few months ago might not work today. For instance, a keyword that is used to boost your ranking could lose its power, or Amazon may start prioritising listings with different types of content, like more detailed descriptions or higher-quality images.
Imagine you’ve been consistently ranking on page 1 for a specific keyword, but now you’re slipping. It could be because Amazon’s algorithm now favours listings with more customer reviews or more relevant keywords.
By revisiting your Amazon optimization —updating keywords, improving content, and making sure your product pages align with the latest algorithm shifts—you’ll give your listing a better chance of staying competitive and visible to potential buyers.
#4: When there are new competitors on the block
New competitors can shake things up, and if you’re not watching them, they might steal your spotlight. Let’s say you’ve been doing great for months, then suddenly, a new seller appears with a similar product but with flashier images, better keywords, or even a lower price. Suddenly, your sales start to dip.
To stay ahead, it’s important to re-optimize your listing when new competitors show up. Study what they’re doing differently—maybe they’ve updated their product title with trending keywords or added lifestyle images that connect better with customers.
By adjusting your listing with fresh keywords, better photos, or more engaging descriptions, you can stand out and keep your edge, even with new competition around. Staying proactive will help you stay at the top!
#5: When Amazon’s policy curveballs
Amazon is known for changing its policies unexpectedly, and if you’re not paying attention, it can seriously impact your listings. For example, Amazon might suddenly decide that certain words—like “inflammation” or “cure”—are restricted.
If you haven’t updated your listing, you could wake up to a suspended product, all because of one small word you didn’t realise was an issue.
To avoid this, it’s crucial to stay on top of Amazon’s policy changes and re-optimize your listings when necessary. If Amazon decides certain phrases are no longer allowed, you need to act fast—update your listing, remove restricted terms, and make sure your content stays compliant. This will help keep your listing live and prevent any unpleasant surprises!
#6: When seasonal trends or holidays roll in
Seasonal trends and holidays are the perfect time to boost your sales, but only if your listing keeps up with the moment! If you’re not updating your product to match what people are looking for during these times, you could miss out.
For example, when New Year’s rolls around, everyone’s searching for fitness gear. If your listing doesn’t reflect that, you might get left behind.
To catch shoppers’ attention, update your keywords to match the season—think “perfect holiday gift” or “back-to-school must-haves.” You can also tweak your images to show your product in a holiday or seasonal setting.
Even simple changes like adding festive touches or mentioning how your product fits into the season can make all the difference. It’s all about showing customers that your product is exactly what they need right now!
#7: When you upgrade or improve your product
If you’ve upgraded or improved your product, don’t keep it to yourself! Whether you’ve added cool new features, made it more durable, or introduced new colours, your listing should show it off.
Imagine you’ve enhanced your product, but your listing still reflects the old version—potential buyers won’t know about all the great improvements you’ve made.
Make sure to re-optimize your listing by updating the description, highlighting those new features, and adding fresh images that show off the changes.
You can also tweak your keywords to match any new benefits your product offers. Keeping your listing current with the latest upgrades helps attract more buyers and shows that your product is better than ever!
See you next week!
Don’t take your listing lightly! What you say and how you say it can make a huge difference. And like we’ve mentioned before, listing optimization isn’t a one-time task. But it’s also not something you need to do constantly, like every week—not. You should only update your listing when there’s a real reason to; we’ve already covered those reasons above.
If keeping track of when and what to update feels overwhelming, don’t worry—that’s where we come in. Our team of Amazon experts specialises in Amazon listing optimization. Whether you’re starting from scratch or just need to re-optimize, we’ve got you covered, and we’ll do it better than anyone else!
