What is Amazon SEO and how is it different from Google SEO?
Amazon SEO is the practice of optimising product listings to rank higher in Amazon's internal search results — specifically on Amazon.ca for Canadian sellers. The fundamental difference from Google SEO is the buyer's intent at the point of search: someone searching on Amazon is already in purchase mode, comparing products and deciding which to buy. Google SEO addresses users at various stages of the research and buying journey. Amazon SEO targets the final step — the transactional search. The ranking signals are also entirely different. Amazon's A9 algorithm prioritises keyword relevance in the title and backend fields, conversion rate, and sales velocity. Google prioritises backlinks, topical authority, and on-page relevance. An Amazon SEO strategy that applies Google SEO logic will not produce results.
How does the A9 algorithm work on Amazon.ca?
Amazon's A9 algorithm ranks product listings on Amazon.ca based on two primary dimensions: relevance and performance. Relevance is determined by how closely your listing's keywords — in the title, bullet points, product description, and backend search term fields — match the buyer's search query. Performance is determined by click-through rate and conversion rate: how often buyers who see your listing click on it, and how often those clicks result in a purchase. A9 also factors in sales velocity, price competitiveness, and review count and recency. On Amazon.ca, A9 operates identically to Amazon.com in its core structure, with the addition of bilingual keyword relevance as a meaningful differentiator for sellers targeting Quebec and French-Canadian buyers.
Do Amazon.ca listings need to be in both French and English for Quebec?
For sellers targeting Quebec, French-language listing content is strongly recommended and, in some cases, legally required. The French Language Charter (Loi 101) requires French to appear on product labelling, product descriptions, and commercial documentation for products sold in Quebec. While Amazon's platform enforcement has historically been inconsistent, court decisions and the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) have increasingly scrutinised digital product listings. Beyond compliance, French-language listings convert better with Quebec buyers who prefer to evaluate products in French — and French keyword coverage in your title, bullets, and backend search terms expands the search queries your listing is eligible to rank for on Amazon.ca.
How long until Amazon.ca rankings improve?
Most Amazon.ca listings see measurable ranking movement within 30–60 days of optimisation, which is substantially faster than typical web SEO timelines. Title and backend keyword changes take effect as soon as Amazon re-indexes the listing, which usually happens within 24–72 hours of the change. Conversion rate improvements from A+ Content and rewritten bullet points feed into A9's performance signals over 4–8 weeks. Review velocity improvements compound over 60–90 days. We set a 90-day timeline for the full programme and report on ranking movement at the 30-, 60-, and 90-day marks.
Do Amazon.ca listings rank on Google Canada?
Yes. Amazon.ca product listing URLs are indexed and ranked by Google Canada. When a Canadian buyer searches Google for a product category or specific product, Amazon.ca listing pages frequently appear in the organic results — particularly for specific transactional product searches where Amazon has strong domain authority in Google's index. An optimised listing title, which functions as the page's title tag from Google's perspective, and a keyword-rich product description improve the listing's Google Canada ranking alongside its Amazon.ca ranking. We structure listings to perform in both environments simultaneously.
Can Amazon.ca listings also appear on Amazon.com?
Yes, and many Canadian sellers dual-list on both marketplaces. Amazon.ca and Amazon.com are separate marketplaces with separate inventory, pricing, and listing management — but Seller Central's Build International Listings (BIL) tool can synchronise listings across them. We handle both Amazon.ca-specific optimisation (bilingual listing strategy, Canadian buyer intent, FBA Canada fulfilment copy) and Amazon.com alignment for sellers who want to reach US buyers with the same product catalogue. The keyword strategy for Amazon.com requires separate research — US buyers use different search terms and different English phrasing from Canadian buyers.
What's the difference between Amazon SEO and Amazon PPC?
Amazon SEO (organic ranking) and Amazon PPC (Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, Sponsored Display) are distinct but complementary disciplines. PPC places your listing at the top of search results in exchange for a cost-per-click — you pay for every visit. SEO earns organic ranking positions that generate traffic without a per-click cost. Most effective Amazon.ca sellers use both: SEO to build a sustainable organic ranking foundation, and PPC to accelerate visibility for new listings or to defend high-priority search terms. A key difference: SEO improvements compound over time — a well-ranked listing keeps ranking — while PPC traffic stops the moment you pause spend. Investing in organic ranking first makes your PPC spend significantly more efficient.
How much does Amazon SEO cost in Canada?
Amazon SEO engagements at Ignited Nepal are structured as either project-based or ongoing retainer engagements. A project-based listing audit and optimisation for a single product catalogue — covering English and French keyword research, title and bullet rewrites, bilingual backend search term strategy, and image compliance audit — typically ranges from CAD $2,000 to CAD $6,500, depending on ASIN count and whether A+ Content creation is included. Monthly retainer engagements covering ongoing ranking monitoring, iterative listing optimisation, and review velocity management typically start from CAD $1,000 per month. We price in Canadian dollars for Canadian sellers. Contact us for a diagnostic scoped to your specific ASIN count and marketplace situation.