Amazon’s A9 algorithm places a high value on ranking products, making Amazon backend keywords a crucial factor in boosting visibility. But visibility alone won’t lead to sales. A compelling product title, readable bullet points, and engaging descriptions are essential for capturing customer interest.
Simply stuffing your listing with keywords can hurt readability, so strategically using backend keywords is critical. These keywords stay hidden from shoppers but help Amazon index your product for relevant searches, boosting your chances of reaching the right audience.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to find, implement, and optimize backend keywords to improve rankings, increase visibility, and drive more sales.
What Are Amazon Backend Keywords?
Amazon backend keywords are hidden search terms added by sellers to enhance their product’s relevance in Amazon’s search algorithm. Unlike visible keywords in titles or descriptions, backend keywords aren’t seen by customers.
Instead, they help Amazon match your product to related searches, boosting the chances of your listing appearing in search results when shoppers look for similar products.
These keywords are important because they allow you to target additional, relevant terms without cluttering your product listing. By using backend keywords effectively, you can reach a broader audience, improve your search visibility, and drive more traffic to your listing, ultimately increasing your sales potential on Amazon.
How to Find Amazon Backend Keywords for Better Listings
Begin with In-Depth Keyword Research
For successful Amazon listing optimization, start by conducting detailed keyword research. This process ensures your product appears in front of the right customers, maximizing visibility and sales potential.
Focus on identifying the most relevant and impactful keywords your target audience will likely search for. Doing so lays a solid foundation for the entire optimization process.
Utilize Advanced Keyword Research Tools
Make use of various tools to refine your keyword strategy:
- Amazon Search Term Report: This tool gives insights into the search terms customers use to find products similar to yours. It has been updated to provide more detailed data, including trends, to help you plan your keyword strategy throughout the year.
- Top Search Term Report: This identifies the most successful keywords in your product category. It’s valuable for recognizing emerging search trends and adjusting your strategy accordingly.
- AI-Powered Tools: Machine learning-powered tools analyze large datasets and predict future keyword trends. Using these tools helps you stay ahead of competitors by discovering keywords that could become popular soon.
- Competitor Research Tools: Studying competitor listings can reveal keywords you may not have considered. Analyzing their strategies can uncover hidden opportunities to improve your keyword selection. With Amazon keyword research tools such as Helium 10 you can find keywords that can help you optimize your listings better.
Focus on Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords, which are specific, multi-word phrases, tend to generate higher conversion rates. These phrases often have a lower search volume but are more precise in targeting customers closer to purchasing.
For example, a “lightweight waterproof jacket for hikers” could connect you with a focused group of buyers more likely to convert.
Optimize for Voice Search
With the rise of voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa, optimizing for voice search is crucial. Voice queries tend to be longer and more conversational.
By integrating natural language and question-based phrases, such as “best waterproof jacket for hiking” or “affordable camping gear,” you can capture voice search traffic.
Localize and Adapt for International Markets
Adapting your keywords to different regions is vital if you’re selling internationally. Each market has unique language and cultural preferences. You ensure your product’s visibility and relevance in foreign markets by using localization services or translation tools.
Comply with Amazon’s Guidelines
When optimizing backend keywords, follow Amazon’s SEO rules to maintain a professional listing. Key considerations include:
- Do not exceed the 250-byte limit for backend keywords.
- Avoid keyword stuffing, as this can negatively impact your ranking.
- Steer clear of using competitor brand names or unrelated keywords.
By adhering to these guidelines, you ensure your listings remain compliant with Amazon’s best practices.
Prioritize Relevant Keywords
Choose backend keywords that closely align with your product, but don’t repeat the same terms already included in your front-end content.
For example, if your product is a “waterproof backpack” and your title includes terms like “durable” or “large capacity,” use related terms such as “rainproof rucksack” or “outdoor backpack” in the backend keywords. This approach helps maximize keyword relevance without redundancy.
8 Tips for Optimizing Your Amazon Backend Keywords
Optimizing your Amazon Backend Keywords is critical to improving product visibility and ranking. Here are some essential tips to ensure you’re making the most of this feature:
- Prioritize Relevant Keywords
When choosing your Amazon Backend Keywords, focus on your product’s most relevant and high-converting terms. These should align with potential buyers’ features, categories, and search intent. By prioritizing relevance, you increase the likelihood of your product being shown to the right customers.
- Be Concise and Strategic
Avoid overloading your backend keyword section. With limited space, choosing keywords that are effective and directly related to your product is essential. Resist the temptation to add too many variations of the same keyword; instead, be strategic in your selection to maximize the impact.
- Avoid Punctuation, Use Clear Phrases
Skip using punctuation or special characters in your backend keywords. These can take up valuable byte space. Instead, focus on precise, logical phrases that describe your product accurately. For example, instead of “waterproof, camera, bag,” use “waterproof camera bag outdoor photography.”
- Track Keyword Performance
Keep an eye on how your backend keywords are performing. Regularly analyze which keywords are bringing in traffic and conversions. This will help you refine your strategy and optimize your Amazon Backend Keywords over time for better results.
- Don’t Add Plurals
Plural versions of keywords are typically unnecessary in the backend keyword section. Amazon recognizes both singular and plural forms, so there’s no need to duplicate keywords. Stick to the singular form to make better use of the available space.
- Stick to Simple Characters
Avoid using special characters or symbols like hyphens or slashes in your backend keywords. These take up more bytes and reduce the number of keywords you can include. Keep it simple with alphanumeric characters (A-Z, 0-9) to optimize the space effectively.
- Update Regularly
The landscape of keyword trends changes frequently. Review and update your backend keywords regularly to stay current with market shifts, seasonal changes, and evolving customer needs. This will help keep your product listings optimized for long-term success.
- Follow Amazon’s SEO Guidelines
Ensure you’re following Amazon’s official SEO guidelines for backend keywords. Stay within the byte limit, avoid keyword stuffing, and never include competitor brand names. Adhering to these rules will prevent your listing from being penalized and help improve your ranking.
How to Add Backend Keywords on Amazon
To add backend keywords to your Amazon product listing, follow these simple steps:
- Log in to Seller Central: Access your Amazon Seller Central account.
- Go to Manage Inventory: From the Inventory menu, select Manage Inventory.
- Edit Your Listing: Find the product you want to update and click Edit.
- Open Keywords Tab: In the edit section, select the Keywords tab.
- Enter Backend Keywords: Type your target keywords in the Search Terms field.
- Save Changes: Click Save and finish to update your listing.
When adding backend keywords, remember Amazon limits entries to 250 bytes, not characters. This difference is essential. Regular letters and numbers (A, 0-9) use one byte each, but symbols and special characters—like “ü” or “€”—use two or three bytes.
Keep track of your byte count to stay within the 250-byte limit, mainly if you use accented or special characters. If you go over 250 bytes, Amazon won’t save your keywords. So, always double-check to ensure your backend keywords fit within this limit for successful optimization.
Why Are Amazon Backend Keywords Important?
Amazon Backend Keywords are essential for improving your product’s visibility on the platform. While these keywords aren’t visible to shoppers, they help Amazon’s A9 algorithm match your product to relevant customer searches.
For example, if you’re selling a waterproof hiking backpack, adding backend keywords like “camping gear” or “outdoor backpack” allows you to reach more potential buyers who may use different search terms.
Incorporating Amazon backend keywords is vital to your SEO strategy on Amazon. These keywords enable you to target long-tail phrases that wouldn’t fit naturally in the visible sections of your listing.
Using the right backend keywords can increase impressions, improve search rankings, and drive more traffic to your listings, ultimately leading to more sales.
Difference Between Backend and Frontend Keywords
| Feature | Amazon Frontend Keywords | Amazon Backend Keywords |
| Visibility | Visible to customers on product listings. | Hidden from customers, only used by Amazon’s algorithm. |
| Placement | Found in product title, bullet points, and description. | Located in the “Search Terms” section of Seller Central. |
| Purpose | Directly used to attract and inform customers. | Used to help Amazon categorize and index the product. |
| Keyword Types | Must be relevant and naturally integrated into the listing. | Can include synonyms, misspellings, and additional relevant terms. |
| Character Limit | Limited by the space available in the listing format. | Limited to 250 bytes, but with more flexibility in content type. |
| SEO Impact | Directly affects how customers find your listing. | Influences Amazon’s A9 algorithm to improve search visibility and rankings. |
| Optimization Flexibility | Must be carefully chosen to match the title and description. | Can include more variations or related terms that don’t fit into the frontend. |
The Techload Will Help You Optimize Your Amazon Backend Keywords
Choosing the right Amazon backend keywords is crucial for improving your product’s visibility. At The Techload, we specialize in finding the best backend keywords to help your Amazon listings reach the right customers.
We are a full-service Amazon agency with years of experience in Amazon SEO. Our team understands how to make your product listings more effective using the right backend keywords.
When you work with The Techload, you partner with a results-driven team. We’ve helped many businesses grow and improve their Amazon sales. Let us help you optimize your backend keywords and drive better results for your listings.
Ready to boost your Amazon rankings? Let The Techload show you how to get there.
How to Optimize Amazon Backend Keywords: FAQs
Log in to Seller Central, go to the “Inventory” menu, select “Manage Inventory,” and click “Edit” on your product. Then, enter your backend keywords in the “Search Terms” field under the “Keywords” tab.
To check if a backend keyword is indexed, search Amazon using that keyword. If your product appears in the results, the keyword is indexed. Allow a few days for new keywords to be indexed.
Helium 10, Jungle Scout, and Keyword Tool are great for finding, tracking, and managing Amazon backend keywords. They provide keyword suggestions, indexing checks, and performance insights.
