Setting Up Your Affiliate Datafeed
Optimizing Your Datafeed
Taking the time to set up your datafeed properly and "Optimized" for Affiliate Marketing will reap you great rewards in the long run. Your Affiliates will be able to utilize your program to it's full potential. Here are just a few Datafeed Tips I have put together for Merchants looking for a good example of what a datafeed should contain.
This is an ongoing project for me and I will be updating this post whenever I find any new information or get some feedback from merchants and affiliates.
-
Datafeed Format »
(Delimiters, Text Qualifiers etc..) -
Datafeed Delivery Options »
(FTP, HTTP, etc..) -
Datafeed Column Layout »
(Datafeed Category Structure & Content etc..) -
Making Changes To Your Datafeed Format »
(Category & Structure Changes etc..)
Datafeed Format
This is a huge issue and no matter what I say here there will be someone that disagrees. The best I can do is direct you to some of the most universal problems and what not to do. If you are an Affiliate Manager (AM) and want to provide your IT Department with "Datafeed Specs" please refer to the tables below:::
Note: all of these options are "Affiliate Friendly"
| Affiliate Datafeed Layout | |
| Delimiter | TAB - TILDE - PIPE (TAB is the best choice) Do Not Use COMMAS ","or SEMICOLONS ";" |
| Row Delimiter | Windows Line break With Carriage Return Unix Line break Without Carriage Return |
| Text Qualifier | Avoid using any text qualifiers - most text qualifiers end up in the actual record data, this causes issues with some scripts and programs. |
| Column Headers | You must include column headers in the first row only. Use Only characters 0-9, a-z, A-Z . Avoid using: !,?,&,%,#,',",(,),\,/ . Any SPACES should be replaced with "-" or "_". |
| Record Content | Use only ASCII code 32 (space) to 126 (tilde ~) for the content (called 7 bit ASCII, US-Char set, ISO 636 or ANSI [American National Standards Institute] Standard x3.4). Do Not Use HTML in any records |
| Rows & Columns | Delimited datafeeds must have the same number of columns for all records. If no record content is available then the initial value should be used — "0" for numbers and "0.00" for currency (you do not need anything for character or text values) |
| Compression | 5mb+ files should be in the GZip format. Avoid using only WinZip or the .zip extension. |
Datafeed Delivery Options
Giving your Affiliates access to your datafeed is crucial to how well it will perform. Giving access only through an Affiliate Network is not advised. Some Networks charge a fee to access your datafeed through them. Networks also have their own datafeed format which is not always the best. The more options you have the more "universal" your program is.
Updating your datafeed should be on a consistent schedule weekly, daily — you decide. Once you decide stick with it.. Affiliates like to see consistency in an Affiliate Program.
| Affiliate Datafeed Delivery Methods | |
| Note: To Be More Affiliate Friendly You Should Offer More Than One Of The Options Below. | |
| FTP | Secure Password Protected FTP Site. Avoid giving affiliates access to your FTP site via a STATIC IP ADDRESS. |
| HTTP | Password protected (or Not) HTTP location. Always a nice option. |
| XML | XML Data should be provided via a web service (SOAP/WSDL) Do Not make this your only option. |
| If you choose this option try setting up the options above and then just sending an "e-mail reminder" with a link to the updated datafeed. This will save your e-mail server a lot of work. | |
Datafeed Column Layout
Establish a well formatted column layout and stick with it. Once your Affiliates get to "know" your datafeed it will become second nature for them to include it in any new projects they have, and it makes it easier to update on a regular basis (Especially If It Is Put Together Well).
| Affiliate Datafeed Columns | |
|
SKU |
Unique Product ID |
| Manufacturer Id |
Unique Manufacturer ID |
| Brand Name |
Manufacturer Name |
| Product Name |
Name of product (Avoid using anything but the name - exclude sizes and colors) |
| Long Description |
A detailed description of the product (Avoid including any "non-affiliate links" -OR- "site specific" references like "See Below" - "Click Specs For More Info" etc. |
| Short Description |
A Shortened down version of the Long Description (Or new information) |
| Category Subcategory Product Group |
Categories Can be in several different structures. You can include each category, subcategory, productgroup or "micro categories" in their own columns or put them into one column. If this category structure were to be put into a single column then a delimiter must be included - PIPE "|" or TILDE "~" are your best options. This "3 Tier" category structure is common and if possible should be the standard. The data should be flexible enough to be broken down in several different ways. |
| Thumb URL Image URL |
HTTP URL's to the image files. Always include the Large and Small image URL's for more flexibility. If the choice has to be made try to include the LARGE image (it can be resized to a smaller image) |
| Buy Link |
Affiliate Tracking Link (Include a constant in the url where the Affiliate ID should be example: YOURPID) |
| Keywords |
A small list of comma separated keywords for each product if possible. |
| Reviews |
If product reviews are applicable use a delimiter between each review. Example: Review Number One~Review Number Two etc. |
| Retail Price |
Current Retail Price |
| Sale Price |
Current Sale Price (If No Sale Price "Retail Price Is Preferred In This Field") |
| Brand Page Link |
If your site is "Optimized" for Affiliate Marketing then you have a "BRAND" section and it is well organized. Example url > yoursite.com/brand/"BRANDID".html Where BRANDID or Manufacturer ID. This will allow your affiliates to create more targeted links from information in your datafeed. |
| Brand Logo Image |
If your site is "Optimized" for Affiliate Marketing this is a plus for creating more targeted links to your "BRAND PAGES" from within specific product pages and throughout your Affiliates' sites. |
| Product Page View | "Impression Url" -OR- "Tracking Pixel" for tracking the impressions on individual products. |
Making Changes To Your Datafeed Format
Regardless of why, sometimes datafeeds need tweaking and updated or better categorized. What ever makes you have to or want to, change your datafeed you MUST let your Affiliates know before the changes go LIVE.. Keep in mind that some established datafeeds have hundreds of thousands if not millions of pages depending on the information for content. The slightest change could create chaos across your affiliate sites. So before you rename CATEGORY "X" to CATEGORY "A" give your Affiliates a heads up on the changes so that they can make changes to their software programs or scripts, and avoid chaos. Your Affiliates will appreciate it.
No Comments Yet