CJ & Data Feeds

[apaiktos]

Hello all,

Lately, i was looking for information on how to use data feeds so i can promote products and/or services of my partners/advertisers further.

However, i was not able to collect the appropriate information which would help me to create these links. And the question has as follow:

Anyone, who might know if CJ makes it possible to create affiliate links to RSS or other data feed format? If yes, is it free of charge? And how can been done that?

I also experience some difficulties in understanding the whole idea even when i read the documentation. I am not totally irrelevant on that but i am not specialized either. So any specific information could be very helpful.

Many thanks in advance,

Giannis

[Linda Buquet]

Last I knew CJ charged something like $250 for datafeeds unless you were doing a pretty high sales volume, then they waive the fee.

Some merchants offer their feeds for free outside of CJ. Only a few merchants offer RSS feeds.

Here's a very simple DF guide. Datafeeds 101 - A Beginner's Primer

You can also use Popshops - MUCH EASIER than doing datafeeds yourself and most CJ merchant feeds are available.

[affmeter]

Originally Posted by Linda Buquet

You can also use Popshops - MUCH EASIER than doing datafeeds yourself and most CJ merchant feeds are available.

I really like popshops. Plus you can also get datafeeds from other networks such as Linkshare, Google Ad Network, Linkconnector, Shareasale, Pepperjam.

Dealing with datafeedsare a little bit complex not because the lack of technical info of an affiliate instead networks are struggling to find good solutions for datafeeds.

[7 Days Ron]

In addition to PopShops, check out GoldenCan.com. If you use wordpress, check out datafeer.com.

[apaiktos]

Many thanks for your answers first.

@Linda Buquet: This is the second time that a person (not even with 100% certainty) speaks for charges relating to the CJ data feeds. And even with such high prices. A few days ago, in another forum (which for now forgot the name), someone claimed that he/she was an official of the company and said that there is not any kind of fee and that the service is completely free of charges. As for the links (both Data Feeds 101 and Popshops), they are indeed very interesting. I have already read the contents. Very helpful.

@7 Days Ron: I would say that the contents of this link are similar to the contents of the DataFileFeeds.com website which i discovered last night during my last research through Google. Both of them are very good and seems that might be very easy to use data feeds with the help of their tools and services, but they are not what am i looking for at this time. However, thanks for sharing it. Might be useful in the future.

[Linda Buquet]

Yes like I said, last I knew they charged, but it's been a long time since I've had anyone ask or heard anything about fees, so it's entirely possible they no longer charge. Best thing is always to ask the source. (CJ tech support, not someone on a forum.)

[apaiktos]

Yes i agree with what you said, but i did not expect to be such difficult. Compared to other networks (like linkshare), provision of such service is directly, so affiliates can promote instantly without delays and technical knowledge requirements (even in the most light form). Thanks anyway.

[7 Days Ron]

Same here, last I knew CJ charged for the feed. If they are not charging any more then they have really opened the door for more affiliates to use their feeds.

One thing to realize, and it may have been why they originally set a fee, is that CJ can customize the feed in several ways and even send it directly to your server.

My personal feeling is that CJ started charging that fee to only allow serious affiliates use of it plus something for their time and effort.

If anyone knows for sure that the feeds are now free, please chime in here as an update would be helpful.

[apaiktos]

A couple hours ago, i sent a message to CJ concerning this matter. I am waiting for a response. Those who possibly have the same concern i will keep them informed by posting the answer here. Until then....

[apaiktos]

Ok, i receive a quick and precise answer and has as follow:

Dear Commission Junction Publisher,

We have received your request to enable product data functionality for your Commission Junction account. We offer this service free of charge. Please review the “Scheduled Data Transfer Guide - Product Data Feed for Publishers” at cj com/downloads/tech/scheduled_pub_transdata.pdf for more information regarding the feed.

....and continues with three additional questions about the form of the data feeds, the transfer type (http, ftp) and the advertisers that want to advertise through this method. So all i have to do now is to email the replies of these questions and wait for a new message about the next step, while reading the documentation.