Amazon Listing Optimization
UPC, EAN, ISBN, or ASIN: Let's Find Out
Product codes help identify what products are selling and where. Here's how to understand codes such as UPC, ISBN, ASIN, EAN, etc.
Classifying the product accurately is important. Suppose you have an item you believe is unique and may not already be on the Amazon site. On Seller Central, for example, you just click on the Add a product link under the Inventory heading of the main Seller Central dashboard. Amazon recommends using the product name, UPC, EAN, ISBN, or ASIN.
I'll Use the Codes, but Can You Tell Me What They Mean?
Most of us know about ISBNs and UPCs. It's hard to shop without getting an education in those little fields that get scanned at checkout. But, how do you use them in your own business?
Let's take a look at each one, and then you won't have to wonder where they came from or what they're for any longer.
I'll Use the Codes, but Can You Tell Me What They Mean?
Most of us know about ISBNs and UPCs. It's hard to shop without getting an education in those little fields that get scanned at checkout. But, how do you use them in your own business?
Let's take a look at each one, and then you won't have to wonder where they came from or what they're for any longer.
- UPC: The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a bar code widely used to identify and track trade items in stores throughout the United States and Canada. The 12 digits of the code are all numeric and identify things like whether the item needs to be weighed for sale (think produce and meat) and what category of item the product occupies, like over-the-counter medicines.
- EAN: The European Article Number (EAN) is a bar-coding standard that is a subset of the original UPC from North America. This 13- digit number can also be called the Japanese Article Number.
- ISBN: The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) originated as a 9-digit number in the United Kingdom during the 1960s. It was then known as the Standard Book Number (SBN). In 1970, an additional digit was added and the code became the International SBN. It was developed by the International Organization for Standardization. As of January 1, 2007, there is also a 13-digit ISBN. A similar code, the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), is for periodicals.
- ASIN: The Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN), unlike its companions, has no meaning outside of Amazon itself. It is a number issued by Amazon as an internal control number within the Amazon site. In the case of books, the ISBN is also the ASIN.
