[Music]
hey guys Ryan here with my buddy Murph
again today I want to talk about the
most important thing after getting
accepted into Amazon merch now I know a
lot of you guys watching are still in
the struggle phase of getting accepted
into the program but once you get past
that hurdle the next thing you need to
worry about is keeping your account
you'd be astounded at the number of
sellers that get kicked off the platform
because they don't read the content
policy now a lot of the stuff that's
shared in the content policy it's not
gonna be breaking news for instance
don't go ripping off Star Wars designs
you may see Star Wars designs posted
that's because people with the rights to
sell them have a partnership with the
Amazon emerge and that's why they show
up in search results now I'm gonna read
the whole content policy in this video
it is extremely important personally I'm
not the guy who likes to read I'm
typically the guy who would be watching
a video like this where someone just
reads it to me but you know what for the
greater good I'm gonna read it to all of
you guys so that we can keep our Amazon
merge accounts safe and avoid getting
strikes from submitting designs they're
gonna trigger a rejection so let me go
jump on my computer and we'll get
started let's dive into things this is
part 4 of my Amazon merge mini course
and we're gonna talk about the content
policy real quick before we start let me
introduce myself for the new viewers on
Rhine Hogue I've sold over 1.6 million
dollars on Amazon to date and I've sold
250 thousand through Amazon merch if you
want to follow the links in the
description I've got a free 7-day Amazon
merge mini course that'll help you get
acclimated if you're new to the platform
I also have an Amazon merge Facebook
community I'd love to see you there and
I wanted to let you know that I publish
monthly passive income reports if you
subscribe to my channel or join my email
list you can follow my journey as an
Amazon merch seller as well as an FBA
seller KDP seller etc last but not least
I've got a full Amazon merch course
almost 60 lectures covering the whole
spectrum things like niche research
trends evergreens how to design how to
upload it's really good stuff strategy
based on what tier you're in if you want
to check that out there's a link in the
description it's been extremely popular
lately since they let a new wave of
sellers in
all right so today I want to cover the
content policy this is not the most
exciting stuff but it is incredibly
important seriously there's two ways to
learn the content policy guys there's
through this video this is called the
proactive way or I'm calling it the
proactive way and then there's the other
way and that's the hard way and that's
how a lot of people choose to learn the
thing is you don't have a massive margin
for error with your Amazon merge account
if you violate the content policy enough
times they will just remove you from the
platform and that's that so if you want
to know how you can find the content
policy log in to Amazon merch click
resources it'll be up in the top right
corner of your dashboard and then when
you're on the resources page click
content policies now I'm gonna do a live
demo where we'll take a look at the
content policy
all right let's dive into the content
policy so the first thing that they say
is all designs submitted through the
merch by Amazon program must adhere to
our content policy guidelines to help
you get started with these policies
please watch the following video so that
video is two minutes long and it is
quite boring and quite slow the only
thing you really need to take away is on
this frame right here that I paused it
on you get the thumbs up for original
ideas and designs you get the thumbs
down for infringing on someone's
intellectual property that's not yours
and abusive designs now if we go and
read the first sentence here it's
already kind of like waiving their
liability it says this list is not
exhaustive and the guidelines may change
over time there may be additional
guidelines that are not shown here
guidelines should be considered global
unless called out otherwise your design
may be rejected for any of the following
reasons now there they're saying that it
could be for any of the following
reasons what we're gonna read through
but just so you know you may get
rejections and they won't cite anything
on this page you're supposed to just be
able to figure it out but also like they
can reject you for something that's not
on this page so I'm just letting you
know I mean I've been in Amazon merged
for over three years now like this
resource didn't even used to exist so
used to just be sellers trying to help
each other out figure out what was
allowed what wasn't allowed at least
this is a step in the right direction
but I just want you to know like it says
the list is not exhaustive so this is
not a perfect science is what they're
saying alright legal copyright we do not
allow designs that incorporate
copyrights which you don't have the
rights to use or copied from someone
else it's your responsibility to ensure
that your content doesn't violate
copyright laws ask yourself did I design
this or did I copy someone else's work
to create this designs with the same
idea and concept are allowed the artwork
itself however cannot be copied without
the owner's permission a big problem
probably the biggest problem with print
on demand is that people do steal each
other's work and you know it's just a
part of doing business unfortunately I'm
not condoning it I'm just saying that
like if you have a really good selling
design in a high value niche someone may
copy your stuff I've seen it done to my
stuff you know it just is what it is
trademark we do not permit designs that
incorporate trademarks which you don't
have the rights to use it's your
responsibility to ensure that your
content doesn't violate trademarks or
other rights you can use resources
linked below to check for trademarks so
in the next video I will show you guys
how to check trademarks so that you have
a better idea of how to stay safe but
right now it extends beyond trademarks
what we're covering right here so that's
why I don't want to mix the two up too
much but trademarks are the most common
reason you'll get rejected trademark
violations and again it's not a perfect
science but we'll talk more about that
in the next video in the mini series all
right 1.3 international law we prohibit
designs that violate the laws of the
countries where your products being sold
if you sell your design outside the
United States make sure that you're
following the specific laws for those
countries you choose to sell in check
with an attorney to discuss your legal
rights regarding your design I'm sure we
all have attorneys ready to talk to
about designs that may never even sell
right objectionable content two point
one right at the top pornographic
content designs with pornography or
offensive depictions of graphic sexual
acts are not allowed and now that I just
said that word I'm assuming this video
will probably just get demonetized on
YouTube or something
hopefully not but we'll see 2.2 child
exploitation all right now I'm screwed
we do not permit designs that depict
minors in a sexually suggestive manner
all right so right off the top guys
those two do not even come close to it's
just it's not
just remember any funny joke that even
if it's not a photo if it's like words
that fall into the pornographic childx
anything like that just stay away it's
not worth it your account is worth so
much more than one design so please
don't two point three profanity is not
allowed on youth sizes but is allowed on
designs in adult sizes so remember when
you're uploading the youth check box is
not checked by default
if you check that you're gonna be
subject to a stricter content policy
remember that profanity associated with
hatred or violence against race ethnic
origin gender gender identity sexual
orientation religion or disability is
prohibited on all sizes kind of
open-ended there especially in the world
we live in in 2020 where people get
offended quite easily but you know just
you know it's up to you when you make
these designs if you want to roll the
dice or not to point for promotion of
hate or intolerance we do not allow
designs that explicitly promote glorify
or incite hatred intolerance or
exploitation of a group or individual
based upon any of the following traits
race ethnic ethnic origin gender gender
identity sexual orientation religion or
disability so again those subjects just
make sure that they are all if you touch
them make sure it's a straight up
positive message human tragedy designs
that depict a human tragedy are directly
connected with a tragedy or treat human
life satirically are prohibited 2.6
promotion of violence we do not allow
designs that promote violence glorify
violence or attempt to incite violence
through cruelty death or torture against
an individual or a group of individuals
content depicting or encouraging mass
murder and suicide are not acceptable
see also human tragedy policy so for
instance you can make like a blue lives
matter shirt or don't quote me there
because I didn't check for those
trademarked but you can make a I support
police shirt you can't sell a I hate
police shirt or defund police right you
wouldn't make those shirts but you'd
make the I stand with the the men in
blue you know whatever you want to say
keep the message is positive all right
two point seven Nazism promotion designs
that promote Nazism are strictly
prohibited in all countries
examples include images featuring Adolf
Hitler swastika or not see related
symbols now I'm deaf if this video
wasn't demonetised it is officially
demonetised now but you know what I'll
be ok those of you guys that watch my
income reports I think I can survive one
day without a video giving me some ad
revenue note that designs referencing
unconstitutional organizations listed
under the German Federal Office for the
prosecution okay so in Germany it's like
especially you cannot talk about Nazis
especially especially like if you upload
a Nazi shirt to amazon.de through Amazon
merch you might just get an instant ban
I would not be the one to test that
theory 2.8 mental illness this is
specific to the UK we do not allow UK
designs that make light of mental
illness and disabilities this includes
play on words light jokes and puns
related to mental illness so that's
pretty strict alright the only exception
to this policy is designs that promote
awareness for a specific illness which
by the way I wouldn't touch if it's that
uptight in the UK I would not even touch
it at all because again this is
algorithms there are algorithms
determining what's okay him what's not
like we're reading something that a
human wrote right now but it is being
trusted to algorithms to determine how
to enforce all right just remember that
it's people all the time get mad about
rejections and whatnot and they think
that there's some team of humans that
suspend all day determining if it's ok
not ok it's like no no Jeff Bezos why
would he hire somebody no Jeff Bezos was
greedy he's he said ok I'll hire an
engineer engineer can write an algorithm
algorithm will work for us that way I
get more money for me
so yeah just understand that 2.9 this is
really important youth content policy
youth size policy we will protect our
customers from questionable content on
youth sizes designs and youth sizes
cannot be associated with the following
content one sexually suggestive this
includes sexual India into endows
scantily clad models and sex jokes to
promotion of violence content that
implies inflicting physical harm to
others promoting the use of armed
weapons and depictions of blooding
three vulgarity or profanity for drug or
alcohol use one note to make just
touching on these guys you may be able
to find Amazon merge products that
violate these rules but just so you know
Amazon merge has been open for some time
now I think maybe as early as like 28
2015 our Li 2016 and when it initially
opened you didn't have upload
restrictions and you didn't really have
a content policy like there wasn't
really a filter now I was not on the
platform that early if I was I'd be rich
I'd be mega mega wealthy because if the
people that were on early that realized
what an opportunity this was yeah
they're I'm assuming that they're all
like super rich but please just remember
that some of those old t-shirts they may
still be lingering on the platform I'm
not saying they are I'm just saying that
every now and then you see shirts that
get through they get live that are sold
through Amazon merch that are in direct
violation of the content policy and you
may be wondering like is it okay then no
no always revert back to this and
understand that you may be able to see
things that contradict this that are
live on the platform all right three
designs and descriptions blank images
fully transparent artwork is prohibited
you need to have some design 3.2 content
mismatch and spelling spelling should
match in the title description and
imagery used for example your title
states I really love cats okay and the
image text states I really love cats
okay where really is misspelled in the
design product descriptions should also
match the products design and content
for example if your design displays a
cat with lasers but the description
describes the product as a dog playing
poker the content does not match alright
so make sure your text descriptions line
up with the design this helps customers
find products that they're actually
looking for on Amazon's catalog plus if
customers aren't clicking your stuff in
search results guess what Amazon does
they bury it on page 2 page 3 page 4
they say the best place to hide a dead
body is on page 2 of search results
because nobody goes there three point
three inaccurate product metadata
metadata that does not relate to the
image or is used to manipulate search
results are prohibited some examples
include inaccurately describing your
product as glow-in-the-dark metadata
that implies the product contains a
textured material are also prohibited
including wood metal marble sequin
glitter leather rubber fuzzy or furry
glass diamond and gem so careful with
including those words in your listing
metadata in addition metadata that
implies a special printing effect is
used are prohibited examples include
neon metallic foil rose gold gold
sparkling glow glows in blacklight and
glow in the dark so don't include those
people gotten because sellers were doing
that for a while until this policy
change solicitations for customer
reviews metadata that solicits reviews
for your image product or testimonial
quotes are not allowed we all you've
probably heard even if you are brand-new
to Amazon mercs you probably heard that
Amazon is pretty strict about gaming the
system with fake reviews they don't want
that external contact information don't
include any no phone numbers email
addresses addresses social media sites
QR codes website URLs none of that image
and design quality low quality images
and designs are prohibited including
images that are blurry or contain low
resolution and designs with blurred
lines unclean backgrounds or watermarks
so that's essentially like hey if you
steal low-quality designs don't bother
uploading them to Amazon merch however
I'm just saying you may get away with it
if you do because lots of people who
steal designs upload really crappy lower
quality versions of them and they seem
to get away with it so I'm not telling
you to do that I'm just letting you know
you may see it if you go looking through
merch products three-point-seven pop
sake brand-name usage designs that use
the pop sockets brand name or any
variation of the brand name and the
title brand name key product features or
product description that use it I don't
know what that sentence doesn't make
sense to me
but ok please remember that merch by
Amazon automatically adds the correctly
formatted pop sockets name to each pop
socket product title to ensure accuracy
and consistency will prohibit any
references to the pop sockets brand or
its variations in the content you submit
for your title brand bullet points and
descriptions so don't include the
word pop sockets okay try to remember
that because if you do you may just get
an instant rejection that's so pointless
alright almost done for charities
nonprofits and campaigns four point one
benefit and charity donations we do not
allow descriptions that give the
impression that Amazon donates sale
proceeds to charity or that your sale
proceeds will be donated so don't say
anything about that political campaign
donations we prohibit descriptions that
give the impression so same thing about
politics don't imply that you're
donating any of the proceeds 5 shipping
and fulfillment quality shipping and
fulfillment designs or items that make
promises about the quality of the
product speed of shipping or fulfillment
and the manufacturing country of origin
are not allowed for example using terms
such as high quality satisfactory
satisfaction guaranteed ships in two
days prime shipping available or printed
in the USA leave all of those off of
your product listing so it's funny is
like when I think back to when I got my
roots on Amazon merch as a seller like
every listing I feel like had at least
one of those things in it you know like
the the high quality or you know my
favorite to you know how if you may not
know this but you can upload to standard
t-shirts but you can also upload to
premium t-shirts well if you upload to a
premium t-shirt and you say the word
premium like they implemented this
change I don't know a couple years ago
but it's like all of a sudden if you
called the premium t-shirt a premium
t-shirt which is what Amazon merch calls
it it was a rejection every time so you
know it's just weird things like that
happen guys
just be careful I don't know what else
to say there's definitely a learning
curve but thank you for watching this
video till the end and hopefully you'll
be better off for it guys so again next
video in this series we're gonna cover
how to look up trademarks because it
only was one sentence on this page but
by far the most common rejection reason
has to do with violating trademark so
anyways guys thank you for watching hit
the like button if you haven't already
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drop a video we're dropping videos on
how to scale out your ecommerce
businesses how to sell print-on-demand
how to sell FBA how to sell KDP a lot of
intersections at Amazon
of course that makes sense that's where
the customers are anyways guys I'll see
you at the next video
enroll now and riots method calm
[Music]
you