What is Amazon ASIN Number & How to Create One
As the world's most popular marketplace, Amazon is home to over 350 million products and this number keeps growing with every passing day. Obviously, there has to be a way to organize all of them, and that’s when Amazon ASINs step in.
In this article, learn what Amazon ASIN is, what purpose it serves, how and when do you create your own one to have better control over your product detail pages.
What is an ASIN Number?
An ASIN, which stands for “Amazon Standard Identification Number,” is a unique code made up of 10 letters and numbers that get assigned to a product on the marketplace. Amazon uses this code to identify products in its catalog and avoid duplicating.
Every product on Amazon gets its own special ASIN, which is like a unique ID. If a product has different variations, each one will have its own ASIN as well. This helps Amazon keep track of all the different options available for a single product.
* Exception: books, as they are identified using ISBN number.
It’s also good to know that even though every product is assigned a unique ASIN, it can be different in other Amazon marketplaces. For example, a product sold on Amazon US and Amazon UK might have separate ASINs.
How to Find a Product’s ASIN on Amazon?
There are 3 ways of locating a product’s ASIN:
1. Product URL
2. Product detail page
3. Third-party software
Let’s have a closer look at each of the methods.
1. By Product URL
To quickly find the Amazon ASIN for a product you want to sell, check the address bar in your browser. Look for the ASIN right after the product name and the term “dp” in the URL.
In this example, the ASIN is “B09299QV9Z”.
2. In Product Details
Another place to locate the ASIN is in the product details section, usually found nearly at the bottom of the product page.
3. Using Third-Party Tools
If you have hundreds or even thousands of products you need ASINs of which, there are many free and paid-for tools you can use. Some well-known ASIN lookup tools include Jungle Scout, Helium 10, AMZScout, etc., each offering a unique set of features to fit different needs.
This can be useful for reverse ASIN lookup, allowing sellers to analyze high-performing keywords of competitors’ similar products.
When to Create a New ASIN
You need to create a new ASIN when you’re adding a brand-new product to Amazon that doesn’t already have one. This could be a completely new item or a different version of a product that isn’t yet listed.
By setting up a new ASIN, your product gets correctly identified and listed, making it easier for customers to find and buy it.
When to Use an Existing ASIN
If you’re selling a product that’s already on Amazon, it’s best to use the existing ASIN. This avoids duplicate listings and means all sellers of the same product use the same ASIN.
This makes it simpler for customers to compare the offers of different sellers and eventually purchase the product they find the most fitting. Using the existing ASIN also helps you stay in line with Amazon’s rules and improves the shopping experience for everyone.
ASIN Creation Policy
Amazon has rules about creating new ASINs, especially for branded products. More specifically, sellers who aren’t directly connected with the brand owners cannot create ASINs for those brands. This helps prevent fake products and protects brands from misuse.
To list such products, sellers need to have an Amazon Seller Central account approved by the brand owners. They might need to pay a fee, get permission from the brand, provide recent purchase invoices and other necessary documents, etc.: there aren’t certain criteria.
How to Create a New ASIN
If your product isn’t yet available in the Amazon store, you can get a new ASIN by creating a product detail page. Once Amazon reviews and approves your product page, they will assign a new ASIN to your product.
But before you can make a detail page itself, make sure your product complies with the rules:
1. If the product is part of a brand listed in the Amazon Brand Registry, you must be a brand representative or a reseller authorized by the brand. This requires you to log in and list the product using Amazon’s standard procedures.
2. If the product falls under specific categories, Amazon might ask you to get approval during the listing process.
If you’re certain your product follows the aforementioned requirements, you can now start creating a product page to get your ASIN:
Step 1:
Use Amazon Seller Central and hover over “Catalog” in the main menu, proceed to click on the “Add products” button.
If your product is already available, you can link it to the corresponding ASIN. If it’s not, you’ll have to create a new ASIN.
* Note: if you create a new ASIN, other sellers can also use this ASIN number to list and sell the same product.
Step 2:
On the Add Products page, select Product IDs and input your product’s GTIN. After entering the GTIN, click Submit. If your product doesn’t show up in the search results, proceed by selecting the option to create a new listing.
The most common GTINs include UPCs (Universal Product Codes, 12 digits), ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers, 10-13 digits), EANs (European Article Numbers, 13 digits) and JANs (Japanese Article Numbers, 13 digits).
Step 3:
To create an informative product detail page, you’ll have to complete several sections, including:
1. Product Identity: Enter essential details like product name, type, keywords and a brand name. If your product has variations like size or color, check the Variations box to link related items.
2. Description: Here you can describe your product to inform customers on what your product is and how it works. Include bullet points for key features and upload up to nine images.
3. Product Details: You may add specific information such as unit count, components, and color. Requirements may vary based on the product.
4. Offer: In this tab, you’ll have to specify the number of items available, pricing, condition, and fulfillment method.
5. Safety and Compliance: Provide safety information, especially if the product poses hazards, requires certifications, or includes components like batteries. Ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
As you fill out product details, you can enhance visibility by adding relevant keywords for search optimization. Additionally, link different versions of your product, such as variations in size or color, to make it easier for customers to make their choices.
Step 4:
Once you fill up all the information, you can either Submit your product page for review or Save it as a draft if you’d like to make some changes to it later.
Final Thoughts
We hope you now have a better understanding of ASINs and their purpose when it comes to product management and organization. Applying this knowledge will make sure your products are accurately represented, easily found and ideally positioned for every possible customer.
If you have any questions concerning this topic, need help with your ASIN management or Product Listing Optimization – Contact Us.
Table Of Glossary
FAQ
Amazon has a strict rule: you can’t create more than one ASIN for the same product. Each different product, including variations, will be assigned a unique ASIN to keep the catalog organized.
Once you submit a new ASIN, Amazon typically takes a few hours to process it before it becomes live in their catalog. However, this can sometimes take up to 24 hours.
There’s no limit to how many ASINs you can create, even as a new seller. However, Amazon emphasizes the importance of maintaining high-quality and accurate product listings.
ASIN, assigned by Amazon, is used for product identification, while SKU is created by retailers for managing inventory internally.
ASIN is unique to Amazon, whereas UPC (Universal Product Code) and EAN (European Article Number) are global barcodes used for product identification across industries.
ASIN is for all Amazon products, while ISBN specifically identifies books.
