Search cheating refers to the intentional use of false behaviors such as repeated distribution, misplacement of categories, and false transactions by some suppliers to affect the platform search ranking effect and defraud the platform search exposure resources. Search cheating seriously undermines the fair competition market order and greatly harms the buyer’s search experience. It is a behavior that the platform severely cracks down on.
1. Repeated distribution
Duplicate distribution refers to the use of some suppliers to increase the exposure of products in the platform search results by spamming duplicate products. Alibaba will deal with such behavior in accordance with the relevant platform rules. It is recommended that suppliers pay attention to reflecting the differences and characteristics of different products in product images, titles, attributes, detailed descriptions, etc. when publishing store product information to avoid repeated distribution.
The images, titles and other important information of the same category of products in the supplier’s store are highly repeated, which is considered to constitute a cheating behavior of “repeated distribution”.
2. Misplacement of categories
Misplacement of categories refers to the behavior of some suppliers deliberately publishing their products in categories that do not match the actual description of the products in order to obtain high exposure of products in popular categories. Once such behavior is identified, the platform will deal with the relevant product information by lowering the search ranking or blocking the search. It is recommended that suppliers choose the appropriate category based on the actual description of the product to obtain better search exposure and avoid misplacing the category.
It should be noted that the cheating behaviors identified by the search ranking mechanism of Alibaba International Station are not limited to the above two. Any dishonest behavior, false effect behavior, etc. will be severely punished once identified.
In order to facilitate suppliers to conduct self-examination and self-correction of search cheating, Alibaba currently provides relevant prompts for two types of search cheating behaviors, namely misplacing the category and repeated distribution, in the “Search Diagnosis” tool of the supplier management background (i.e. the supplier’s My Alibaba background). Suppliers can perform corresponding operations according to the background prompts. At the same time, Alibaba recommends that suppliers pay enough attention to search cheating and related penalties, and cultivate relevant awareness among corporate employees to avoid being punished and suffering losses.
3. False transactions
Acts such as points to obtain improper benefits. Once such behavior is identified, the platform will process the relevant product information by lowering the search ranking or devaluing the search ranking. False transactions refer to increasing the sales volume or transaction volume of an account and increasing website membership points and credit by improper means (9). Suppliers will be restricted from participating in platform marketing activities and from having their international site accounts partially or fully authorized.
As mentioned above, Alibaba International Station’s search ranking is based on user needs and is committed to maintaining a fair and orderly market environment. At the same time, Alibaba International Station will continue to be committed to providing better services to the majority of Chinese supplier users. If suppliers can draw inspiration from this, start from the needs of buyers, follow the principles advocated by the platform, and avoid the bad behaviors that the platform combats, it will help them to enhance and improve the platform’s information display effect and promote good, orderly interaction and long-term development among buyers, suppliers and the platform.