If you're having issues with your Alibaba account this article is for you! Here's some tips and tricks to not get your account deactivated.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:
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After opening your Alibaba account, make sure to verify it using your phone number. Rather than immediately contacting a supplier, take some time to explore the platform by browsing different products. It's a good idea to wait a few days before reaching out to a supplier.
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When you do decide to reach out to suppliers, it's important to do so carefully in order to avoid having your account banned. To prevent this from happening, limit your outreach to 5-10 suppliers per day and spread out your contact attempts throughout the day. If you try to contact too many suppliers in a short period of time, Alibaba may flag your account as spam, and it can be very difficult to recover it. Even if you create a new account, it's likely to be closed down right away. So, it's best to be cautious and deliberate in your outreach efforts.
If your Alibaba account has gotten deactivated, try using a new email from a different location or VPN. Follow the steps above, and don't rush things to start with. We don't want the system thinking you are a bot!! Be slow and intentional to start, and overtime, your account will be able to handle more activity.
Step 1 - Search Products!
Search products by using the search bar 
Step 2 - Check out supplier profiles!
Remember: You're looking for a supplier that works with the same material of the product you're wanting. You don't need to find an exact picture.
You can also check off some "supplier features" on the left hand side - to get verified suppliers and ones with trade assurance. We recommend to check these off when you first start out.
HOWEVER, new suppliers to market may give you better pricing and great service (even if they aren't verified or have trade assurance!) If its your first time sourcing though, play it safe and use the supplier features to filter down. 
Step 3 - Contact suppliers!
Use the "Contact Supplier" button to reach out and send your product offering.
Remember - Google Docs/Sheets is banned in China, so you need to download a PDF version of your product offering to send to them.
Don't worry if the listed price if out of budget for you at the moment. You will be able to negotiate this and talk to your supplier. 
To see your messages, click "Messages" in the upper right area. 
HAVE FUN WITH IT!
When you first start sourcing, its normal to feel overwhelmed. Use the Supplier Data Sheet to organize all your thoughts and data vs having them in tons of conversation on Alibaba.
Don't be scared to click around in Alibaba to discover all the features it has to offer. Just know to start slow with out reaches so that you aren't flagged as a bot (and verify your account with phone/email).