Amazon Listing Reinstatement: Restore Your Product Pages and Maximize Sales

When an Amazon product listing is suspended or suppressed, your item disappears from search and sales grind to a halt. Listing reinstatement is the process of identifying the issue, fixing your detail page, and appealing to Amazon so the ASIN goes live again. This guide explains why listings get removed or hidden, how to bring them back online, and how to optimize your pages to avoid future takedowns.

We’ll also cover related topics like suppressed listings, adding video and images, backend keywords, driving traffic, and when to hire an Amazon listing expert. By following these best practices, new and experienced FBA sellers,  even those with suspended listings, can recover fast and start selling again.

Why Amazon Suppresses or Removes Listings

Amazon enforces strict product detail page rules. A listing can be suppressed (hidden from search) or removed entirely if it violates policies. Common causes include inaccurate or misleading content, prohibited product claims, intellectual property complaints, or listing errors. For example, listing a product with unverified medical or dietary claims can trigger a policy violation. Using copyrighted images or a trademarked brand name without permission can also get a product taken down. Even honest mistakes like exceeding title character limits or missing required product details can lead to suppression.

Suppressed vs. Removed vs. Suspended: A suppressed listing is deactivated in search results but still exists in your inventory. Shoppers cannot see it until you fix the issues and save the listing. In contrast, a removed or closed listing is fully taken off Amazon (often requiring an appeal to recover). A listing suspension (often confused with account suspension) is a serious action usually due to policy or account health problems. Regardless of type, any offline listing must be addressed quickly, since prolonged downtime erodes sales rank, inventory momentum, and your IPI and Health scores.

How to Reinstatement a Suppressed Listing

If your listing is simply suppressed (hidden) due to a page quality issue, you can usually fix it without formal appeals. To check for suppressed listings, go to Seller Central > Inventory > Manage Inventory, and click the Suppressed button (if visible). Amazon’s “Fix Your Products” tool will list each flagged issue. Common fixes include: correcting missing or incorrect attribute values, adding or replacing non-compliant images, choosing the correct category, and ensuring the title/description comply with guidelines. For example, if an image fails Amazon’s requirements, upload a new high-resolution photo with a white background (the product should fill ≥85% of the frame). Always save and finish after corrections – the listing should automatically go live once Amazon verifies the fixes.

Key image requirements: Main images must be on a pure white background with the product covering 85% of the image. Images must be at least 1000 pixels on the longest side (1600px recommended) to allow zoom. Avoid text or logos on images (no “Amazon’s Choice” badges, watermarks, etc.). Upload the allowed six secondary images (or six plus one video) showing your product from different angles, in use, or with infographics to answer common questions. Poor-quality or non-compliant images are a leading cause of suppression. In fact, an infographic on image issues (below) highlights that violations like text overlay, non-white background, or low resolution will get a listing flagged.

Common Amazon image compliance issues that trigger listing suppression. To prevent this, each photo must accurately depict the product (no extra graphics, text or props) and meet Amazon’s size and formatting rules.

If Amazon suppressed your listing for incomplete data (missing price, description, dimension, etc.), simply provide the required info in Seller Central and save. No appeal is needed; Amazon will reinstate the listing once all mandatory fields are valid. Use Seller Central’s Inventory reports or the Listing Quality Dashboard to catch missing elements before they cause problems. Always double-check titles, bullet points and descriptions against Amazon’s Product Detail Page Rules to ensure compliance and keyword accuracy.

Reinstating a Removed or Suspended Listing

When a listing is removed due to a policy violation (for example, Amazon cancels it in a notification email), you’ll often need to appeal. If you received an email from Amazon about an inactive ASIN or listing cancellation, it will often say “To reactivate, fix your product detail page and save, then submit an appeal describing your corrections.” In practice, here’s what sellers should do:

1. Identify the violation. Check Performance Notifications or Account Health. Amazon will usually mention the ASIN, the policy, or keywords like “inaccurate information,” “restricted product,” or a specific complaint type.

2. Fix the root problem. Edit the listing to remove the violation: update images, correct the title/description, adjust variations, or remove prohibited claims. For example, if your listing was canceled for “inaccurate product detail page” (as in [16]), you must edit and save the listing so it no longer violates those rules.

3. Compile a Plan of Action (POA). This is required if Amazon gave you an appeal form. A good POA has three parts: (a) Root Cause (explain clearly how the issue happened), (b) Corrective Actions (what you did to fix it), and (c) Preventive Measures (steps to prevent recurrence). For example, you might write: “Root Cause: The original listing included an unsupported health claim. Corrective Action: We immediately removed the claim and replaced it with verified benefits. Preventive Measure: We now require all product copy to be reviewed against Amazon’s guidelines by a compliance team before listing.” Being honest and specific builds credibility.

4. Submit the appeal. Go to Seller Central > Account Health > Product Policy Compliance. Find the deactivation record for your ASIN, click Appeal, and paste your POA into the form. If Amazon does not provide an appeal button (common if the ASIN is fully canceled), you can open a case with Seller Support or use the “Appeal” dialog under Account Health. Be concise and factual.

5. Follow up. After submitting, monitor your case. Amazon may request additional info or evidence (invoices, test reports, screenshots). Respond promptly. If the appeal is accepted, Amazon will state that the listing is reinstated. If it’s rejected, revise your POA and try again; sometimes persistence is needed.

Act quickly: the longer a listing stays down, the worse the sales and ranking damage. Also remember, if your account’s health deteriorates (too many suppressed listings or complaints), Amazon could escalate to an account suspension. Staying proactive keeps your seller account in good standing.

Preventing Listing Suppression and Suspension

Prevention is better than a cure. Closely follow Amazon’s product policies and detail page rules. Keep listings updated with accurate information, and never use prohibited claims (e.g., “cures” unless FDA-approved). Enroll in Amazon Brand Registry if eligible – it offers additional tools (A+ content, Brand Dashboard) that help maintain high-quality pages. Use the Listing Quality Dashboard to see at-risk listings before they get suppressed. Maintain high performance metrics (fast shipping, low defect rates) so Amazon’s algorithm favors your listings.

Optimizing Your Listing: Images, Video, and Content

Even after reinstatement, your goal should be to optimize the listing for visibility and sales. A polished, keyword-rich listing not only ranks higher but is less likely to attract negative attention.

• Image design: As noted, use all image slots. Show the product clearly (85% frame fill) on a white background. Include lifestyle shots (product in use), infographics (callouts of key features), and close-ups to highlight details. High-resolution images (1600–2000px) enable zoom and instill buyer confidence. Always comply with Amazon’s image rules: no extra props (unless showing usage), no logos or watermarks, no offensive content. Splitting tests on different main images can also help improve click-through rates.

• Adding video: Videos are now a powerful listing element. Brand-registered sellers can upload product videos in Seller Central’s A+ Content Manager (“Video Gallery”). According to recent data, listings with video can see 30–50% higher conversion rates and more organic rank. In fact, one source notes, “72% of customers say they would rather watch a video about a product than read about it”. To add video: log into Seller Central, go to Catalog > Upload & Manage Videos, upload a high-quality video (720p or higher, <5 minutes), then attach it to your ASIN. Ensure the video is short, engaging, and product-focused (demonstrating key features or usage). Optimize the video title and description with relevant keywords as well. Videos boost buyer trust and satisfy Amazon’s preference for “rich content,” helping your listing stand out.

• Keywords and copy: Use relevant keywords everywhere: in the title, bullet points, description, and backend search fields. The title should include the most important keywords upfront (e.g. brand and product name, then key features) and follow Amazon’s format guidelines. Write clear, benefit-driven bullet points (use all 5 bullets) – each should start with a feature, then explain the customer benefit or usage. Fill the backend Search Terms (up to ~250 bytes per field, up to 5 fields) with additional keywords and synonyms (plural forms, alternate spellings, related uses) that don’t fit naturally in the visible copy. For example, if your product is “portable blender,” backend terms might include “personal blender,” “travel smoothie maker,” etc. A recent guide notes sellers often underuse the available keyword space: “Amazon provides up to 1,000 characters for keyword tags… This hidden field is low-hanging fruit for improving visibility”. Just avoid repetition and prohibited terms.

• Product listing design: Beyond images and video, consider your listing’s overall layout. If you’re in Brand Registry, use A+ Content (Enhanced Brand Content) to add large images and formatted text blocks below the description. Engaging visuals and infographics can answer customer questions and reinforce trust. The listing design (images + A+ content + bullets) should clearly communicate the product’s main benefits and use cases. Weak design can lead to low conversion; Amazon’s algorithm favors listings with high conversion rates.

• Price and promotions: Competitive pricing and promotions (coupons, deals, Prime eligibility) can improve sales velocity. Higher sales send positive signals to Amazon, boosting organic rank.

• FBA considerations: If you use FBA, ensure your inventory levels are healthy and your IPI score is high. Amazon tends to rank FBA listings higher due to better buyer experience (fast shipping, easy returns). Also, watch for Stranded Inventory – if an ASIN becomes stranded, fix it promptly (sometimes by relisting or contacting Seller Support) to prevent suppression.

Driving Traffic to Your Listing

Creating an optimized listing isn’t enough on its own – you still need to drive traffic so people see it. Use a mix of internal and external strategies:

• Amazon PPC (Sponsored Ads): Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands and Display ads are the quickest way to increase visibility. Launch targeted ad campaigns for your top keywords and ASINs. One expert recommends using PPC “to increase traffic and sales in the short term,” which can help improve your organic ranking over time. Pair Amazon ads with off-Amazon advertising (Facebook, Instagram, Google ads) to funnel customers into your product page.

• SEO and keywords: Continuously refine your search terms based on performance. Higher search rank brings more organic traffic. Monitor keyword trends and adjust your listing copy accordingly. Tools like Seller Central’s Search Query Performance report or third-party keyword tools can identify high-traffic terms to target.

• Content Marketing: Use social media, email newsletters, or blogging to highlight your product. If you have a brand presence, linking from your website or Store page can boost traffic.

• Deals and promotions: Lightning Deals, coupons, BOGOs or prime day specials drive bursts of sales traffic. These events spike your sales rank, which has a long tail effect on visibility.

• Reviews and ratings: Social proof drives clicks. Encourage reviews through Amazon’s “Request a Review” button or automations. A well-reviewed listing attracts higher click-through from search.

Overall, increasing traffic is about being visible in Amazon search and beyond, and converting that traffic with a compelling listing. As PickFu notes, improving conversion (e.g. via better images or A/B testing) also signals Amazon to show you to more customers.

When to Use Professional Listing Services

If reinstating or optimizing listings seems overwhelming, consider hiring experts. Agencies and consultants specialize in Amazon listing creation and optimization services. They can audit your account, write compliant product copy, design images/video, and handle appeals. For example, My Brand Genius offers tailored services for creating high-converting listings and handling reinstatements. Professional help is especially valuable if multiple listings are affected or if IP issues are involved. An Amazon listing expert will know the latest guidelines and trends (e.g. 2025 SEO best practices) and can expedite recovery. However, basic reinstatements (especially suppressed listings) can often be managed by diligent sellers following the steps above.