As an Amazon seller, you are likely familiar with the term “listing hijacking.” This is when another seller posts a listing for a product that is very similar to your own and uses your brand name or trademark in the title. This can be very frustrating, as it can lead to lost sales and damage to your brand reputation. In this blog post, we will discuss 12 ways that you can create a brand protection strategy from hijacking on Amazon.
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What is listing hijacking on Amazon, and how can it damage your brand reputation and sales?
Listing hijacking is when someone takes over your listing on Amazon, usually for the purpose of selling counterfeit or knock-off products. This can damage your brand reputation and sales, as customers may think they are buying your product when they are actually getting a cheap knock-off. There are a few ways to protect your listing that we will discuss below.
1. Use unique product identifiers such as UPCs and MPNs
When it comes to online retail, Amazon is the 800-pound gorilla. As such, it’s no surprise that many brands are eager to list their products on the site. However, Amazon can also be a minefield for brand protection. With millions of products available for sale, it can be all too easy for unscrupulous sellers to hijack a listing and sell counterfeit or inferior goods under another brand’s name.
So how can you protect your brand on Amazon? One key way is to use unique product identifiers such as UPCs and MPNs. This will help to ensure that only authorized sellers can list your products on the site. This will give you greater control over your brand’s presence on the site and help to prevent hijacking
2. Use a private label product
Private label products are another way to protect your brand on Amazon. When you sell a private label product, you own the product and its branding. This means that no one else can use your trademark or logo to sell a competing product. Private label products are also less likely to be hijacked, as they are not as lucrative for counterfeiters.
3. Use a trademark monitoring service
Trademark monitoring services can help you to protect your brand on Amazon by tracking any unauthorized use of your trademark or logo. If you find a listing that is using your trademark without permission, you can report it to Amazon and take steps to get the listing removed. It is also wise to register your trademark with Amazon’s Brand Registry program can help to protect your brand on the site.
4. Work with an amazon agency that specializes in brand protection
Working with an amazon agency that specializes in brand protection can be a helpful way to protect your products from hijacking. These agencies have expertise in dealing with trademark infringement and counterfeiters, and they can help you to take steps to protect your brand on Amazon.
5. Use amazon's Brand Registry program
Amazon’s Brand Registry program can also help you to protect your brand on the site. This program gives you greater control over your brand’s presence on Amazon, and it can help to prevent hijacking by unauthorized sellers.
6. Add your branding to your product and product packaging
If you’re selling your products on Amazon, it’s important to make sure that your branding is well represented. One way to do this is to add your branding to your product and product packaging. This can be a great way to promote brand awareness and protect your brand from potential knockoffs. Of course, you’ll need to work with an Amazon agency that specializes in this type of thing. But it’s definitely worth it to invest in this kind of brand protection. By doing so, you’ll be able to rest assured knowing that your products are being properly represented on Amazon.
7. Check your listings regularly for signs of hijacking
It’s important to check your listings regularly for signs of hijacking. If you find a hijacked listing, you can report it to Amazon and take steps to get the listing removed.
8. Use a unique product description & unique title
When you list your products on Amazon, be sure to use a unique product description. Similarly, use a unique title for each of your products. This will help to prevent hijackers from using your product description to sell their own products.
9. Bundle your products
Bundling also makes it more difficult for hijackers to change the product title or description since they would need to change the listing for each individual product in the bundle. In addition, bundling can help you avoid getting lost in the search rankings since your products will be listed together.
10. Use a unique ASIN
When you create an Amazon listing, be sure to use a unique ASIN, Amazon Standard Identification Number. It’s a unique identifier of 10 letters and/or numbers for a product that’s assigned by Amazon.com. It’s primarily used for product-identification within their product catalog of billions of items. This will help to prevent hijackers from using your ASIN to sell their own products.
11. Monitor your product ratings and reviews
Monitor your product ratings and reviews regularly for signs of hijacking. Review hijacking is a problem for shoppers as well as ethical sellers, says Chris McCabe, a former seller account investigator at Amazon who now runs a seller consulting firm, ecommerceChris. “Buyers who can’t base a buying decision on accurate reviews are harmed because many of them never scroll down to the older reviews that relate to a totally different product.” In other words, they can be duped into buying a subpar product. If you find a hijacked listing, you can take steps to get it removed.
12. Use Amazon's "Brand Guidelines" to learn how to protect your brand on the site
Amazon’s “Brand Guidelines” can help you to learn how to protect your brand on the site. This is going to increase your brand value in the long run. These guidelines provide information on how to register your trademark with Amazon, how to use Amazon’s Brand Registry program, and how to protect your brand from hijacking.
13. Invest in Amazon Sponsored Products Ads
If you’re looking for a more aggressive approach to brand protection, you may want to invest in Amazon Sponsored Products Ads. These ads allow you to place your products in front of potential buyers who are searching for your product on Amazon. This can help to protect your products from hijacking by unauthorized sellers.
As you can see, there are several steps that you can take to protect your brand on Amazon from hijacking. By using Amazon’s Brand Registry program and Sponsored Products Ads, and by using strong product descriptions and images, you can deter hijackers from copying your listings. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you to protect your brand on Amazon. Thanks for reading!
Looking for an amazon agency to help protect your brand on Amazon? Contact Laser Sight Digital today for a free consultation. We can help you to use Amazon’s Brand Registry program to protect your brand, and we can also help you to place Sponsored Products Ads to deter hijackers from copying your listings. Contact us today for a free consultation!
