Data Feed - What do you need?

[SillyJokes]

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Phil here from SillyJokes

I'm currently designing a data feed for our independent program and via Paid on results

And here is your opportunity to give me some input

Currently I only have CSV format, do you need other formats? if so what?

Fields, do you want the option of all available fields? or just the common ones
EG I could include: Vat code, postage uk, Europe, rest of the world, image sizes (W, H) but would that just be information overload.

Do you need to specify field names or will my defaults be OK.

Finally, has anyone got any good links for implementing a data feed from an affiliates point of view, I want to add them to my data feed page as a useful affiliate resources, I do not have the time (or skills) to help my affiliates with implementing a data feed (other than the most basic help).

[ianm]

Phil,

CSV is good, the only other format you really need to think about is XLM.

Personally, things like the VAT code, image H&W etc are just overkill, but others might like them. Postage would be useful for giving users a price comparison.

As a bare minimum you need to provide Product Name, Description, Image URL, Deep Link URL, Price and if possible Product Category.

Your default field names should be ok (as long as their descriptive enough).

There's no resource on deep linking that I've seen - but really it is just a question of having the right scripting skills - if the affiliate isn't familiar with on of the server side scripting languages then they are going to have problems. Why not include a link to the affiliate scripts forum - one of us can normally answer the questions that come up.

Ian

[drivetowin]

CSV wins for me every time - xml is fine but can be a pain to parse the data.

Fields should be productname, description, imageurl, deeplinkurl and price - anything else is overkill imho

[999gi]

A category field is essential for me

[Barry]

i'd prefer the field name 'decripition' was 'productdescription' and the field name 'name' be 'productname'.

As 'decripition' and 'name' are reserved words in asp and sometimes cause problems specially with my sloppy coding.

[drivetowin]

Originally posted by 999gi
A category field is essential for me

Damn - I knew there was one I forgot!! - cheers

[drivetowin]

Originally posted by the-jigsaw.com
i'd prefer the field name 'decripition' was 'productdescription' and the field name 'name' be 'productname'.

As 'decripition' and 'name' are reserved words in asp and sometimes cause problems specially with my sloppy coding.

If you put decription every time you mean description no wonder you have problems

[NaturalInstinct]

the other important one is a thumbnail image, otherwise affiliates have to download all you images and resize them, or shrink them in the browser which looks really naff.

[scifind]

Phil did you see the PM I sent, please have a look

[SillyJokes]

Originally posted by 999gi
A category field is essential for me

On the category is this OK
Dressing Up > Wigs > Ladies
(Easy to Produce, pull it straight out of the database)

Or would you prefer
Ladies Wigs


Thanks everyone.

To sum up this is what I intend to do
CSV and XML
Just the basic fields, I will probably list all the available fields and implement if and when I get a request.

[tsilva]

Would be great if all "Paid on results" merchants used identical formats ie like CJ and Awin.
Other suggestions on what to do are, single paragraph in description with no HTML or formating.

[Jeff]

I'd rather have too many fields than not enough.

The minimum would be item name, item description, price, image url, link url.

I like to have the following (not all may be appropriate for Silly Jokes)

Merchant name. Easy enough to add ourselves, but it would be nice if it was already there.

Product code. A unique identifier for the product.

Manufacturer. Useful for brand name items.

Category. Ie, what type of product is it.

Keywords. Words people may search for that aren't in the product name/description. Useful if a product has an alternative name. For example someone may search for 'fridge' when the description says 'refrigerator'


Also with the image/link urls, I prefer just the url, rather than the html that goes with it. I got a product feed from one merchant that included the html to make the links and had to remove it all before putting it into my database.

[ianm]

Also with the image/link urls, I prefer just the url, rather than the html that goes with it. I got a product feed from one merchant that included the html to make the links and had to remove it all before putting it into my database.

Yep agree with Jeff - just the URL and for the deep link - just the merchant part of it and not the network part (unless you are going to generate the correct affiliate ID)

Ian

[NaturalInstinct]

and thumbnail