How does Pinduoduo prevent price comparison?

This article deeply explores the price comparison system and anti-price comparison strategy on the Pinduoduo platform. By analyzing the principles and logic of the price comparison system, targeted anti-price comparison methods are proposed, including anti-image and anti-text techniques. The core of anti-price comparison is to create original materials. By changing the main image, SKU image, text and other elements, the link is not easy to be compared, thus avoiding the problem of traffic interception. It is suitable for merchants and operators to read, helping them to better cope with the platform competition environment and improve the exposure and conversion rate of links.

When mentioning Pinduoduo, the first word that pops into everyone’s mind is low price. Low price is the feature of Pinduoduo. In order to maintain this feature, the Pinduoduo platform has a powerful price comparison system.

The price comparison system is something we Pinduoduo merchants love and hate. When we want to make money by intercepting traffic from competitors, we appreciate the price comparison system; when our original links just start to gain volume and enter the list, they are intercepted by our competitors, and we want to destroy the price comparison system; whether the price comparison system is good or bad depends on our role switching.

After all, only a minority of players are using the traffic interception tactic on Pinduoduo. Most of our merchants still rely on making their own links and capturing their own user groups as their main approach. The key to whether this approach can take off is to avoid traffic interception, which is commonly known as avoiding price comparison.

If you are compared in price, not only will you lose traffic, but most importantly, you won’t be able to register for an event because the suggested price for the event is lower than your cost, so you simply won’t be able to do it.

If it is impossible to do it, then don't do it? Of course not. What is our operation for? Isn't it to solve problems when they occur? You compared my prices, and the link cannot be used for activities. So if I do a good job of preventing price comparison, can't I go to the activities at the original price? Yes, that's right. As long as we do a good job of preventing price comparison, Pinduoduo platform can still make a lot of money. So how to prevent price comparison?

1. The principle of price comparison

Before we can prevent price comparison, we must first know the logic of price comparison on the platform, and then we can prevent price comparison by countering this logic. Price comparison on the platform is mainly for the same product, so how can we identify that two different links are the same product?

The system compares the main image, SKU image, SKU text, title, and product attributes of the two links. If the system finds that the number of identical elements of the two links exceeds a certain value, they will be labeled as the same link.

For example, summer is coming and the sales of mosquito repellent will increase. Merchants who make mosquito repellent will soon enter a bloody red ocean battle, and price comparison will definitely be fierce.

How do you identify the same type of mosquito repellent? The system first identifies the main image of your mosquito repellent and the main body of the product. The system knows the appearance of your product, the style of the bottle, the color of the packaging, etc.

Then we will dig into your title and find out that you are a certain brand; then we will grab the attributes of your products, the most important of which are the specifications and models of the products, which are basically unique and accurate when compared;

Then the system looks at your SKU, 1 bottle, 2 bottles, 3 bottles, plus the SKU picture, to identify the product. Based on the above, the system already has N attribute features for your linked product: brand, appearance style, specifications, model, etc.

Then the system will identify another link, capture the above features of that link, and compare the features of the two links. According to my experience, when the number of matching features reaches a certain value, it will be identified as the same product.

Because I changed the SKU name before and changed one character, it was not recognized. I guess it was because the number of matching features was reduced, so it entered the safe zone where it was not compared.

2. Beware of price comparison first

As everyone knows, Pinduoduo's price comparison determines whether they are the same products through pictures and text. The N links of my product videos are all the same, and the details are also the same. They are not identified as the same products at all, so the videos are not included in the price comparison.

This is quite user-friendly. Otherwise, if you shoot a video for each link, it will kill all the merchants present. Let’s talk about preventing pictures first. This is also a big problem for most small and medium-sized sellers, because no one has an artist and can’t modify the pictures. There is no other way. If you don’t want to be compared with others, you have to overcome this problem.

According to my test, the main picture only needs the first main picture and the SKU picture to be original to effectively prevent the price comparison rate to 95%. Try to use different angles for the main picture of the product. I have tried to use cutout software to cut out the main picture of the competitor's product, change the background, and put it on the shelf. It was quickly compared.

Then I used a light or object to block one-third of the product, and it was not compared. Therefore, the product has a variety of angles and different backgrounds. In the eyes of the system, this is a brand new product and will not be compared.

The same idea applies to SKU images. Since there are many SKUs, each SKU may require a different image, which does require more work. My suggestion is to work overtime. There is no other way. I have multiple links with different main images, so they are not compared.

However, the SKU was the same, so the system saw the same product in ten different main pictures. It was really annoying to compare prices with myself. Later, I used different SKU pictures, and the same product was easily linked to many billions of links. This is because the anti-picture system was in place.

3. Prevent text after price comparison

What is the main text for comparison? SKU text. If we remove the SKU text, it will not be compared immediately. The weight of SKU text price comparison is at least 70%. It is much easier to prevent text than to prevent pictures. It is just a few words. It is not that simple.

When you are writing words, if it is an adjective, you can turn over several pages in the input method. The more obscure the words are, the lower the probability of price comparison. For example, if you want 5 bottles of mosquito repellent, you can write 5 bottles of mosquito repellent, which can prevent price comparison very well.

There are also reports that you can use tools to add special characters. I have never seen any link SKU with special characters on the platform, so I think this function should be banned. Don’t think about special characters.

It is simple to prevent price comparison with text, but it is also easy to be copied. As soon as you link up, others will copy your SKU 1:1 and use it. At this time, you will be compared with the price. Change the SKU again, for example, change 5 bottles of Quqiye to 5 bottles of Quqishui. Chinese characters are profound and you can always find the answer as long as you think about it.

4. Tips to prevent price comparison

After we have created original materials and texts, the biggest worry is that they will be copied by others. So we need to take some measures to prevent copying. The most effective way is to add a watermark. Adding a watermark is a double-edged sword. While preventing theft, it will affect the user's perception and reduce the conversion rate. So, this is an option.

My experience is that if this link can quickly increase in volume, then there will be no need to put a watermark. My daily sales are thousands of orders, and my GMV is high enough. My bid is high, so if you intercept my traffic, it's like hitting a steel plate. I'm not worried.

If my link needs to slowly increase in volume over a long period of time, then a watermark is necessary. If the period is long, many people will intercept the traffic in the middle, which will affect the growth of my link. Even if my conversion rate is low, it is okay as long as it is overall upward.

There are also complaints about image infringement. I have never done it specifically, but I have been complained about. Once I receive a notification of image infringement, I either remove the link or the image.

Sometimes, the system will forcibly remove the link. The power of complaining about image infringement is indeed very strong. It may be more suitable for brands with brand qualifications, but it is not applicable to those of us who make white-label products or public models.

5. Final Thoughts

If you want to run well on Pinduoduo, you must prevent price comparison. If you want to do a good job of preventing price comparison, just one sentence, original materials can solve all problems.

My current links are all one link for a set of original materials. When they go online, they are brand new products. If I want to participate in an activity, I will participate in the activity. If I want to sell a product, I will sell it. If I want to set a high price, I will set a high price. If I want to set a low price, I will set a low price. You can do it as you like. This is the benefit of preventing price comparison.

Author: Tiger Talks Operations

Source: Tiger Talk Operations "(ID: laohujiangyy)"