Online Marketing Glossary: Data Feed

Posted on Aug 8, 2008 in Affiliate Marketing, Conferences & Networking |

Data Feed:

  • A text file that contains the information needed to generate a website.  It is provided either directly to the affiliate or indirectly through a network.  The affiliate then converts the data feed into a database, which is then used to populate webpages full of products.

glossary bookThere are a lot of questions in the affiliate world surrounding data feeds.  What content is required?  How should they be formatted?  I know that one of the hopes of the budding Performance Marketing Association is to set some industry standards on this rogue content generation tool.

Unfortunately for me, data feeds are something that I’ve yet to master.  It’s one of those things I keep meaning to research and learn how to generate and use, but haven’t yet had the time.  If you want to learn more about the PMA’s efforts, they’re hosting a Q&A on Monday at Affiliate Summit East in the Harbor View Ballroom from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm.

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Glossary Definition From
ABC’s of Online Marketing by Alexandra Wharton, Issue 22, Revenue Magazine