Overview

Amazon has outlined specific listing template requirements for sellers who list books published in 1973 or later. These updated guidelines emphasize accurate product data as a key driver of discoverability and sales, while establishing a consistent format that keeps customers informed and helps book listings perform better in search results.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Accurate data drives sales — Amazon stresses that the quality and accuracy of your book listing data directly impacts how easily customers can find and purchase your products. Incomplete or incorrect fields can suppress your listing in search results.
• Consistent formatting is required — All book listings for titles published in 1973 or later must follow a standardized template format, ensuring uniformity across the catalog and a better shopping experience.
• Specific required fields — The listing template includes a defined set of mandatory attributes that sellers must populate when creating or updating book listings.
• Template updates have been applied — Amazon has made changes to the Books 1973 and Later listing template, and sellers should review the updated field requirements to ensure compliance.

Required Listing Fields

Sellers listing books from 1973 onward must complete several key attributes in their listing template. The required fields include language_published (the language the book is written in), item_type (the product classification), item_sku (your unique inventory identifier), external_product_id (typically the ISBN), and external_product_id_type (specifying whether the ID is an ISBN-10, ISBN-13, or other format). Additionally, sellers must provide the item_name (the book's full title), manufacturer (the publisher), main_image_url (a direct link to the cover image), author (the book's author or authors), binding (format such as hardcover, paperback, or Kindle), and publication_date (the original date of publication).