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Compliance2025-09-287 min read

Amazon Restricted Keywords: The Ultimate Guide for Merch by Amazon Sellers

Avoid rejections on Merch by Amazon by learning which restricted keywords to stay away from and what safe alternatives to use.

Amazon Restricted Keywords: The Ultimate Guide for Merch by Amazon Sellers

Amazon Restricted Keywords Visual Guide

If you're selling on Merch by Amazon, your success doesn't just depend on great designs — it also depends on compliant listings. Many sellers face frustrating rejections because of restricted keywords. These rules apply across all niches, whether you're designing for fishing, gaming, AI, sports, or any other theme.

🚫 Why Amazon Restricts Certain Keywords

Amazon’s main goal is to protect customers from misleading, exaggerated, or low-quality listings. That means your titles, bullets, and descriptions must stay clean and descriptive.

Amazon flags:

  • Promotional claims (best seller, free shipping, new product, 100% quality guaranteed).
  • Subjective terms (perfect, great for, high quality).
  • Medical/health claims (cure, safe, eco-friendly, natural, organic).
  • Amazon-specific references (Amazon choice, top rated).

If you use these words, your design risks:

  • ❌ Rejection or delisting
  • ❌ Suppressed search visibility
  • ❌ Account warnings or suspensions

📋 Comprehensive Restricted Keyword List

Amazon's restricted keyword list is long and constantly monitored. Here are the most common triggers:

gift
gift idea
perfect gift
perfect for
great for
best seller
best price
top quality
guarantee
guaranteed
warranty
authentic
certified
patented
eco-friendly
natural
organic
100% safe
tested
new / brand new
Amazon choice
Amazon suggested

(Full extended list is available in our resource guide.)

✅ Safe Alternatives You Can Use

Instead of using restricted words, reframe your listing with neutral descriptive language:

  • Replace “perfect gift for anglers” → “designed for anglers and outdoor lovers”
  • Replace “great for birthdays” → “suitable for birthdays and Father’s Day”
  • Replace “best fishing shirt” → “retro fishing themed design”
  • Replace “high quality print” → (remove entirely, Amazon handles quality)

This way, your listings stay SEO-rich and compliant.

🔑 Amazon Listing Best Practices (2025)

  • Titles (3–60 chars): Neutral, descriptive, keyword-rich. No hype words.
  • Bullets (≤256 chars each): Always fill the space with audience, use case, and emotional meaning — but avoid banned terms.
  • Description (75–2000 chars): Tell the story of the design. Who it’s for, why it matters, when to wear it. Stay descriptive, not promotional.
  • Brand Name (3–50 chars): Consistent across designs, niche-focused.

📌 Conclusion

Restricted keywords are not just a suggestion — they’re strict rules that apply to every Merch listing. Ignoring them can cost you valuable uploads or even your account. By staying descriptive, neutral, and keyword-smart, you can maximize SEO without risking compliance issues.

At Merch Radar, we’ll keep sharing resources to help you stay ahead of Amazon’s rules while building profitable, long-term merch businesses.

💡 Pro Tip: Always run your titles through a trademark and keyword check before uploading to Amazon. Tools like Merch Radar can help you spot risks before it’s too late.