What is Amazon ASIN Number?

What is an ASIN Number?

The ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) is a code that, as users, we can see in any product publication, and we will see it on the details page. The ASIN is a type of Amazon internal identity number, and each ASIN is different; it is a unique code per product, and there is no other like it. This code is always associated with a product or with a specific variation of that product.

The Identification Number on Amazon is a code that contains approximately ten characters and is a combination of numbers and letters. The ASIN will allow you to track your product every time you enter your Amazon catalog. You could even track it from the Amazon web store, entering the ASIN code in the general search engine of the Amazon store, and you will find your product.

It’s worth noting that the Amazon ASIN number matches the book’s ISBN (International Standard Book Number) in the case of books. The ISBN is a unique barcode that can be seen on every commercially available book.  

The ASIN number is the fastest way for Amazon to locate an item, so when you contact Amazon support, it will be the first thing they ask you to help you.

Where is Amazon ASIN Number Used?

The AISN of a product is unique, and its use is not limited to Amazon.com. It is also used in different marketplaces like Amazon.cn, Amazon.it, Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, Amazon.fr, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.es, and others.

For example, the ASIN of a particular Dove shampoo is the same on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, etc. So, if you want to find the ASIN of a product, you can find it in any of the Amazon marketplaces.

Why is Amazon ASIN so Important?

The ASIN code for Amazon is essential to inventory tracking. It is a reliable reference for indexing catalog pages for searching or browsing purposes. Since there are already millions of products listed on Amazon, it won’t be easy for customers to find their desired products without a unique identifier. Therefore, the Amazon ASIN number is essential for your business to maintain its identity in the marketplace and help customers find what they need without the hassle.

So, it’s safe to say that assigning the ASIN number Amazon to your products is of great importance. It is mainly used for:

• Controlling or tracking inventory
• Used as a reference for catalog data
• Simplifying search results for both the customer and the seller
• Help to find the keywords used for each product
• Identifying keywords that rank better than your products

This identification number is significant for the classification of Amazon catalogs. If you know your way around SEO on Amazon, your products will have more opportunities to appear among the first positions in searches.

In addition, you will need to list your products under an ASIN to sell them on Amazon. You’ll be surprised to find out Amazon probably already has an ASIN for your product. But this is because there are two types of ASINs on Amazon: regular and unique.

Imagine you’re selling a well-known toy on Amazon that other sellers have already listed. In this case, you can use the same regular ASIN for your products, and Amazon will display one product page, even if several suppliers are selling it. On the other hand, if you are selling a unique product or an item that hasn’t been listed, you can get a new and unique ASIN number from Amazon.

Know More: How to Answer Questions on Amazon as a Seller?

Is it Better to Create a New ASIN or Use an Existing One?

It’s not a question of which one is better, but rather a question of which one suits your products more. We already know that there are two types of ASINs on Amazon: the unique or new ASIN and the regular or existing ASIN.

Remember that you cannot create a new ASIN for a product already listed on the Amazon marketplace. So, before making a new ASIN for your product, make sure it is not already listed. Failing to do so can lead to your selling privileges being temporarily or permanently suspended.

If your product already exists on Amazon, you’ll have to match it to its existing ASIN. You’ll share this ASIN with every other seller offering the same product on Amazon. The reason for sharing ASINs is because Amazon wants to keep search engine results pages undiluted. Most resellers and products with wide distribution use the existing ASINs on Amazon.

On the other hand, if you’re offering a product that has never been sold on Amazon, you’ll have to create a new product listing before Amazon can assign it an ASIN. Brand owners, private labels, and accounts with exclusive distribution rights are the leading sellers needing a unique ASIN number.

If the concept of new vs. existing ASINs is still vague, imagine that you search for “Tresemme Shampoo” on Amazon. Even though multiple sellers offer the same product, only one search result comes up, which means that all these sellers’ products share the same ASIN number.

As you can see, the ASIN number should not be a concern for the private label sellers. Most of the products of individuals are items purchased from wholesalers that are traded on Amazon. Therefore, it is most likely that this item already has an ASIN code on Amazon that identifies it, and the individual seller only has to know how to find it. For their part, manufacturers must be aware of the procedure for creating the ASIN code and improve their sales so that Amazon grants them a more significant number of newly created ASIN codes. To improve its sales, the company needs to improve its positioning, reach its customers more efficiently, and consequently, its sales rise exponentially.

Benefits of Creating New Amazon ASIN Numbers?

As you already know, Amazon is a vast marketplace with millions of sellers competing to sell more of their products. The high competition means that many listings have dozens, if not hundreds, of sellers offering the same product. Having a new and unique Amazon ASIN number means you are the only seller (at least for the time being) offering that item. By creating a new ASIN number, you can enjoy benefits such as:

• Protecting your brand: Amazon has a way of protecting brands from unauthorized use called brand gating. You can protect your brand by having Amazon review your ASINs for gating by enrolling in the Amazon brand registry and providing a support case plus a list of ASINs you want to have gated.
• Getting access to A+ content: By enrolling in the Amazon brand registry and getting new ASINs, you’ll get access to better description options, including a unique brand story, enhanced images, and text placements which will increase conversion rates and traffic, and sales.
• Winning Amazon Buy Box: Another benefit of creating new ASIN numbers is the increased probability of winning the buy box, which is a fantastic way to boost sales.

How Can I Find My Amazon ASIN Number?

If the item you’re selling is already listed on Amazon, it will have an ASIN number created, so you’ll need to find it to add it to your product. There are several ways to find it:

• Look at the URL: An alphanumeric code appears after the item name refers to the product’s ASIN.

• Details section: The product must have its ASIN code indicated in the details section. This method, like the previous one, is only recommended if a small number of products will be sold.

• Specialized tools: Different software or tools help the seller to find the ASIN number more easily. The fastest is BigCommerce, which also offers its tool for free.
• Amazon Seller Central: The Amazon page for sellers has an Inventory tab. You will need to click ‘Add a Product,’ and you will be able to find the ASIN number.
• Find the UPC: Barcode that the manufacturer gives to the product.

It is essential to understand that each product has a different ASIN, but each variant also has its own ASIN. This way, if a product has different sizes or colors, each garment or item variant will have an ASIN. For example, a women’s t-shirt might be sold in four sizes and two colors to have eight different ASINs.

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How to Create Unique Amazon ASIN Numbers?

To avoid fraud and scams, Amazon places different limitations when creating the ASIN by individuals not associated with the brand’s owner, as long as it is registered in the Brand Registry. Also, sellers with fewer sales are more restricted in creating ASIN codes to ensure customer safety. As mentioned, the Amazon ASIN is a unique code for each product. Therefore, it is prohibited to create a new ASIN when the product in question is already in the Amazon catalog. The seller must link their product to the ASIN already created beforehand.

1) Using the “Add a Product” Feature

By using Amazon’s admin panel, you can manually add each piece of product information. If the item is not in the catalog, the seller will need to provide the following information for Amazon to create the ASIN:

• Product name
• Brand
• Maker
• Category
• Description
• SKUs
• UPC, EAN or JAN
• Product title includes color variants, sizes, measurements, model or part numbers, etc.
• The batch number from the processing report of the inventory upload file.
• Images of the product. The images must show the front and back of the product, including a barcode, UPC, and brand name with and without packaging and, if it is clothing and accessories, with the items extended).

2) Using Amazon Inventory Templates

You’ll have to download a category-specific file template from Amazon for this method. These templates can be found in your Amazon Seller Central account’s “Add products via upload” section. After filling the information in the template, upload the file to Amazon for processing. Amazon will create new products and assign them ASINs. This method works best for a large number of products.

3) Using a Feed Solution

Automated feeds are another great way to create new products and ASINs on Amazon. By using feeds, sellers can create large numbers of products efficiently and systematically. Feeds pull data from various sources such as your eCommerce shopping cart or backend system and then send them to Amazon.

Note: Upload Errors!

Amazon has a strict ASIN creation policy and data requirements that you need to meet. If you don’t, you’ll receive errors, and your new products may not get created.

You’ll see many errors if you use Amazon’s admin panel to create products. But if you’re using an inventory file template or a feed solution, the errors will come after Amazon has processed your file or feed upload. The errors will be shown in codes and need specific knowledge to understand and debug.

Final Thoughts

To kickstart your sales on Amazon, the ASIN can lead more customers directly to your listed products. This way, linking the ASIN to the product can help increase your Amazon sales. Therefore, knowing how to use the ASIN and other information mentioned in this article is essential.

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