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Amazon Ads scrambles to clean up its mess after ad scandal

Posted on by SellerBites

Amazon is making some big moves—first, it pulled the plug on its App Store, and now, it’s taking full creative control of James Bond.

Out with the old, in with the new? Looks like Amazon is reshaping its empire one decision at a time.

What else is shaking up ecommerce? Here’s what’s on the radar this week:

  • Amazon scrambles to fix its ad transparency problem 🚹 
  • USPS rate hikes could hit businesses hard 📩
  • Amazon’s auto-flagging nightmare catches sellers off guard ⚠ 
  • Losing followers? 3 Instagram fixes before more leave 📉

HOT TOPIC

If you’re running ads through Amazon DSP, you might notice some updates to its transparency tools. And it’s not alone—other ad platforms are making similar moves. 

According to Digiday, advertisers and agencies have been putting the pressure on, demanding better ad transparency.

👀 Here’s why:

  • Adalytics uncovered ads running on problematic websites—including ones hosting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). đŸ˜± Yeah, not a good look.
  • Amazon, DoubleVerify, Google, and IAS all got a firm warning from U.S. senators. The CEOs of the Media Ratings Council and the Trustworthy Accountability Group weren’t off the hook either.

🏃 No time to waste

A spokesperson said they took “swift action” to block these sites and refund affected advertisers.

  • They pointed out that Amazon DSP and Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) already offer domain-level transparency through its Inventory Report.. Now, they’re rolling out page-level reporting through the Traffic Events API to step up their brand safety game.
  • Amazon insists this only impacted a “tiny portion” of ad spend and “a small number of advertisers.”

đŸ›Ąïž Why it matters

Brands invest in ads to reach the right audience—not to show up on sketchy sites. This kind of slip-up can damage trust and reputation.

Thankfully, ad tech companies are making moves to tighten up their systems. Will these changes actually make a difference? Advertisers are taking a wait-and-see approach.

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BITES OF THE WEEK

ECOMMERCE NEWS

USPS might hit businesses with an 11.5% rate hike

EcommerceBytes reported that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) may be gearing up for yet another rate hike. Whether it happens or not, sellers and businesses should brace for potential shipping challenges.

📚 What we know so far

  • USPS used to raise rates just once a year. Then, under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, that jumped to three times a year—January, July, and a holiday-season increase.
  • The 2025 Postage Price page already confirmed a 9.2% average hike for Parcel Select shipping services, which took effect on January 19, 2025.
  • Nonprofit advocacy group Keep US Posted claims USPS is planning an 11.5% rate hike in July and is calling for a freeze, arguing that Americans can’t afford another increase.
  • On February 18, 2025, DeJoy announced he’s stepping down after five years as Postmaster General.
  • President Trump hinted at potential USPS reforms, with financier Howard Lutnick reportedly “looking into” changes—sparking rumors of a possible privatization.

🚚 Impact on commerce

Shipping is the backbone of ecommerce, and USPS instability could mean trouble for businesses that rely on affordable, reliable shipping.

With uncertainty ahead, sellers may want to explore alternative carriers to stay ahead of potential disruptions.

SELLER REFRESHER

Amazon’s auto-flagging nightmare is catching sellers off guard

Sellers know the drill—when product listings are optimized, they drive traffic and sales. But when things go south? Listings can get flagged, deactivated, and cause major headaches. With Amazon constantly updating its listing requirements, keeping up is a full-time job.

And sometimes, despite best efforts, unfair flagging happens—just like the case of one seller who shared their experience on a seller forum.

📱 Flagged listing drama

A seller shared their frustration about being unfairly flagged over a product listing. The reason? Alleged disease claims. The seller double-checked Amazon and FDA policies—no violations.

But many sellers chimed in, pointing out a common issue:

  • Amazon’s system tends to flag certain words like wellness, stress, anxiety, mood, and immune. The list of restricted keywords is long, and just one wrong word can get a listing taken down.

The big question: Will this mistake mark them as a high-risk seller?

✅ The good news: One flagged listing won’t put you on Amazon’s blacklist.

❌ The bad news: Repeated flags? That’s when Amazon starts watching.

đŸš© Prevent the flag

  • Stay updated! ICYMI, new product title requirements went into effect on January 21.
  • If flagged, submit and win your appeal. Then clean up your listing.
  • Check for restricted keywords in titles, bullet points, and descriptions.

Amazon’s algorithm isn’t perfect, but staying ahead of its ever-changing rules can save you a ton of trouble.

TACTIC TALKS

3 tips to fix your Instagram strategy before more followers leave

One day, your follower count is thriving, and the next—poof!—it starts dropping. But before you panic, know this: even the biggest brands experience follower dips. The key is figuring out why—and turning things around.

HubSpot offers insights on why you’re losing them—and how to win them back.

  1. You’re posting too little—or too much. Too little content means low reach. Too much can flood your followers’ feeds. 📆
    • What you can do: Post once a day. Use Stories to stay visible, then share in-feed posts 2–3x a week. Don’t forget engagement strategies help keep followers interacting with your brand.
  2. You’re selling too hard. People come to Instagram to socialize—not to scroll through ads. A feed that’s all about selling is a major turn-off. 😏
    • What you can do: Balance your posts. Share content that reflects your brand values and builds community. Funny and witty posts never hurt either.
  3. You’re not consistent. For followers to recognize your brand, your aesthetics and voice must be cohesive. Instagram is a visual platform, so curate your feed accordingly. 🎹
    • What you can do: Define your brand’s look. Stick to a color palette and harmonizing fonts. If you’re rebranding, a “before and after” can help your audience transition smoothly.

Still losing followers?

It could be bot accounts dropping off or simply an evolving audience—tweens don’t follow their childhood idols forever. 

Sometimes, it’s not just about retention but attracting fresh eyes. 😍