Have you listened to Taylor Swift’s latest drop of her new album called “The Tortured Poets Department”? Go have a listen to it if you haven’t yet!
For us, though, we’ll be dropping you the latest Amazon and ecommerce news. 👀
HOT TOPIC
Is Amazon ranking its products higher on the search rankings?
Joel Waldfogel, a professor of applied economics at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, thinks so.
In his email to The Register, Waldfogel discloses his study of eight million Amazon search listings across 22 Amazon domains in the US, Europe, and elsewhere, between late June 2023 and March 2024.
Quick recap
In September 2023, the US Federal Trade Commission sued Amazon, alleging biased search results – among other things.
But Amazon denied these, claiming they do not base the ranking on whether the product is sold by Amazon Retail or a third-party seller.
Europe’s Digital Marketers Act (DMA) called Amazon a gatekeeper. They urged them to comply with new policies.
Waldfogel’s finding
What does it mean for sellers?
For now, Amazon has lessened its self-preferencing tendencies. But the competition to rank remains the same. It’s still open for debate if this change will do harm or good to both buyers and sellers alike.
But it all boils down to what you think—is Amazon ranking its product higher on the search results?
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BITES OF THE WEEK
SOCIAL PULSE
TikTok has announced 3 innovations to keep their promise of creating a “brand-safe environment for advertisers.”
TikTok Inventory Filter updates
Launched in 2022, the Inventory Filter allowed advertisers to control where the content will appear in the For You feed. Now, it has expanded to include additional controls. Advertisers can choose from three inventory tiers—Expanded, Standard, or Limited—based on sensitivity or risk levels.
It looks like TikTok’s stepping up its game to safeguard its advertisers. Not advertising on this platform yet? You may want to consider it. After all, it’s gaining more casual viewers every month!
SELLER REFRESHER
Good product listing optimization can take you to the search pages. But high-quality photos can convert into sales.
These can enhance customer satisfaction, maintain brand reputation, and reduce return rates.
Amazon offers 6 tips to help you give customers the best visuals possible.
By following these tips and utilizing available resources, brands can create compelling product photos that attract customers and drive sales in any ecommerce marketplace.