Did you know that you need to have bilingual product listings on Amazon Canada? Well, if your listings aren’t available in both English and French, you’re already losing visibility, compliance points, and sales.
Localization is a key part of listing optimization, no matter which Amazon marketplace you’re selling in. And for Canada, that means making your listings bilingual to meet regional language requirements and reach French-speaking shoppers.
French is one of Canada’s two official languages, and nearly 8 million people speak it as their first language. If you’re not speaking to them in their language, chances are your competition is, and they’re getting the sale.
Selling on Amazon Canada means adapting your content for both English and French-speaking customers. This article explains the importance of bilingual listings, how to create them properly without using BIL, compliance rules you need to follow, and answers to common seller questions.
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Why Amazon Canada Is Not Just a "Mini US Market"
Although selling on Amazon Canada and the U.S. might seem similar, there are major differences that impact how you should approach each market. The shoppers are different, the competition is different, and the rules aren’t exactly the same either.
So, if you’re coming from Amazon U.S. and want to expand to Amazon Canada, you’ll need to adjust your strategy. That means adapting your listings, pricing, and logistics to fit the Canadian market, and yes, that includes going bilingual to stay compliant and competitive.
The Real Value of Bilingual Listings on Amazon Canada
Around 76% of online shoppers prefer buying products in their native language, so skipping French could cost you sales in Canada. Below are the key reasons why bilingual listings are a must for growth and compliance.
1. Legal Compliance
Canadian law requires certain products, like food, cosmetics, and supplements, to include both English and French on their labels and listings. Amazon.ca enforces these laws, and non-compliant listings risk takedowns or legal issues.
2. Reaching More Customers
Canada has two official languages, and millions of shoppers prefer to browse in French, especially in Quebec. Having bilingual listings opens the door to a wider customer base and helps you compete more effectively.
3. Better Customer Experience
When shoppers can read listings in their preferred language, they’re more likely to understand the product and feel confident in their purchase. This leads to fewer returns, higher satisfaction, and better reviews.
4. Increased Sales Potential
A recent survey showed that shoppers are more likely to buy when product info is in their native language. Bilingual listings make your offer more accessible and appealing, leading to more conversions.
5. Competitive Edge in a Less Crowded Space
Many sellers ignore the French side of their listings, which gives you a chance to stand out. Targeting French-speaking shoppers with well-written content gives you an edge in a less saturated search pool.
6. Building Trust with Canadian Buyers
Going bilingual shows that you’re serious about the market and respectful of its unique language needs. This creates a stronger brand presence and builds long-term trust with local customers.
How to Effectively Create Bilingual Listings for Amazon Canada
Creating bilingual Amazon listings that convert can be confusing, especially if you have no idea how it works. So here are some tips on how to do it properly, so you can get a better understanding of how to make effective listings:
1. Start with a Strong Base Listing
Begin with a clear, detailed, and benefit-driven listing in either English or French because this becomes the foundation for your bilingual content. Weak base listings will only result in weak translations, so get it right from the start.
2. Translate Every Customer-Facing Element
This includes your title, bullet points, and product description, not just one or two sections. If it’s something a shopper will read, it needs to exist in both English and French.
3. Don’t Rely Solely on Auto-Translation Tools
Amazon has automated translation, but it often misses nuance for technical terms or marketing copy. Hiring a professional translator or working with a team like ours ensures your French copy makes sense and converts.
4. Translate and Optimize Keywords
Do separate keyword research for both languages since just translating English keywords won’t cut it. Include those keywords in the front-end content and the backend search terms to increase visibility across both language audiences.
5. Make Sure A+ Content is Localized Too
It’s easy to forget that A+ Content needs bilingual versions, but shoppers interact with this content heavily. Translating your A+ modules ensures consistency, improves UX, and keeps you in Amazon’s good graces.
6. Proofread with a Native Speaker (or Get Help)
Even if you’re fluent, it’s worth having your French content double-checked by a native speaker to catch awkward phrasing or grammar issues. This makes your brand look polished and trustworthy.
7. Verify Listing Display Using a Personal Amazon Account
Switch between English and French in your buyer account to preview how the listing looks in both languages. It’s an easy way to catch display issues before your shoppers do.
8. Follow Canadian and Quebec Regulations
For products like food, cosmetics, and supplements, Canada requires bilingual labeling by law, specifically in Quebec, where the Charter of the French Language (Bill 96) often mandates French prominence or stricter requirements for certain elements. Amazon mirrors this, so failing to comply can result in removals or account suspensions.
9. Keep Messaging Consistent Across Both Languages
Make sure your branding, tone, and product messaging stay the same, even when the language changes. This builds trust and helps your brand feel cohesive.
10. Avoid Creating Duplicate Listings
Don’t try to make one English listing and one French listing for the same product because Amazon will consider that a policy violation. Use a single listing and translate it properly within Seller Central’s tools.
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Mistakes Sellers Make When Localizing for Amazon Canada
When creating bilingual product listings on Amazon Canada, there are mistakes you can make that could break your chances of ranking, converting, or even staying compliant. Knowing about these mistakes can help you avoid them, so you can create listings that actually work for the Canadian market.
1. Relying on Machine Translation or Poor Translators
Using tools like Google Translate or hiring cheap translators can lead to clunky, inaccurate listings that confuse shoppers and damage your brand. To avoid this, hire a professional translator who’s fluent in Canadian French and experienced with Amazon listings.
2. Skipping Keyword Research in French
If you’re just translating English keywords, your listing might never show up in French search results. Instead, do proper keyword research in French using tools like Jungle Scout and verify terms with native speakers.
3. Ignoring Cultural Context and Localization
Some listings fail because they use idioms, humor, or language that doesn’t resonate, or worse, offends French-speaking Canadians. Make sure your content is culturally appropriate and tailored to local preferences, tone, and expectations.
4. Not Converting Measurements or Product Specs
Listings that keep U.S. units like inches or ounces confuse Canadian shoppers and make the product feel foreign or unreliable. Always convert sizes, weights, and any technical details (like voltage) to Canadian standards, like centimeters, kilograms, and 120V, where applicable.
5. Forgetting to Translate A+ Content and Backend Details
Even when the main listing is bilingual, sellers often forget to translate A+ modules, alt text, or backend search terms, which can hurt both UX and discoverability. Translate every piece of content the customer might see or search for, and don’t skip the backend fields in Seller Central.
FAQs About Amazon Canada Bilingual Listings
Speak the Language, Win the Customer
Localizing a product is one of the most effective ways to optimize for any search engine, since it increases the number of customers you can attract on the platform. The same goes for when you start selling on Amazon Canada.
And one of the best ways to implement localization on Amazon Canada is by making bilingual product listings using the Canadian French language. It’s not just a requirement but a smart move to build trust and boost your reach across both English and French-speaking shoppers.
Need help building your brand on Amazon Canada? Reach out to our full-service Amazon agency and let our experts create high-converting bilingual listings that meet compliance and drive sales.
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